Blue Velvet

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Blue Velvet

R

Released Sep 19, 1986

2h 0m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

140 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

College student Jeffrey Beaumont (Kyle MacLachlan) returns home after his father has a stroke. When he discovers a severed ear in an abandoned field, Beaumont teams up with detective's daughter Sandy Williams (Laura Dern) to solve the mystery. They believe beautiful lounge singer Dorothy Vallens (Isabella Rossellini) may be connected with the case, and Beaumont finds himself becoming drawn into her dark, twisted world, where he encounters sexually depraved psychopath Frank Booth (Dennis Hopper).

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Critics Consensus

If audiences walk away from this subversive, surreal shocker not fully understanding the story, they might also walk away with a deeper perception of the potential of film storytelling.

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Neil Norman

London Evening Standard

At the risk of being called a sick son of a bitch, I believe it to be one of the most extraordinarily erotic and mesmerising experiences I have ever had in the cinema. Blue Velvet has the power to unsettle and disturb like nothing else.

Jan 22, 2025

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Eleanor Ringel Cater

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Lynch pushes audiences into places not everyone wants to go, and Blue Velvet is not a conventional good time at the movies. But it is one of the most brilliant and provocative films of the year.

Jan 22, 2025

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Marsha McCreadie

Arizona Republic

It's as if Fellini were suddenly taking on the punk world of '50s memorabilia. It makes no sense, but it sticks in your mind. Lynch may be brilliant, but I bet he's a little bonkers, too.

Jan 22, 2025

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Megan Fisher

Loud and Clear Reviews

If you were asked to close your eyes and visualize an image from the cinematic work of David Lynch, there’s a strong possibility the mental picture you conjured is found somewhere in Blue Velvet.

Jan 24, 2025

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Noah Berlatsky

Everything is Horrible (Substack)

Lynch’s first noir is also, inevitably, his first meta-noir.

Jan 23, 2025

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Bob Campbell

Arizona Daily Star

Its skittish humor is a survival device to head off utter desolation. Blue Velvet is also fiercely moral, and that explains its stunning force. Only a moralist can be shocked, and shock, on such a seismic scale.

Jan 22, 2025

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Ollie W

It has a great soundtrack. Some good performances. Something of a vibe. But ultimately it’s a silly film that doesn’t really go anywhere. Tries to build up mystery but, like all David Lynch films, doesn’t have a coherent or thought-through or developed storyline. Lynch is a mystery writer who can never come up with a conclusion that makes sense, but rather than throwing the script in the bin, goes ahead and makes the film anyway. Shameless. Dennis Hopper is creepy but other than that there’s nothing interesting about this film. A made-for-TV crime mystery is bound to have a better story.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/10/25

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Audience Member

A great movie that certainly isn't for the faint hearted. You may have to fast forward a couple of shocking scenes for certain people you are watching it with but it's thrilling ride.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/30/25

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sandra h

I saw Blue Velvet years ago and some of the scenes still stick with me. Don't know if I have the heart to see it again. I hope they release Mulholland Dr. That movie still sticks in my mind...loved arguing about the meaning of the end with others online.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/25/25

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Arya S

I hated this movie when it first came out, but it has taken a lifetime of living to finally understand the truths and insights into the human experience that Lynch conveys in this film. Aside from unforgettable scenes that stick in your mind forever, there is also true horror of human nature when a totally broken Dorothy cries, "Hit me! HIt me!", and more horrifying to the audience and himself, Jeffrey complies. The beast within us all. Makes you wonder if all is really back to blue skies and sunshine as Dorothy sings the haunting Blue Velvet into closing credits.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/25

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stephen z

I was excited to see this, as I've been told it's a "classic." Other than the directing and music, I thought this movie was pretty bad. The script is terrible, even by 80s movie standards. Me and my wife found our selves laughing at several scenes. Several scenes are just cringe, and not because they depict graphic violence but because they are just horribly over acted or the characters do illogical stupid things. I went in wanting to like this film, but we just turned it off about 2/3 through.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/24/25

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Fer S

It is good, but at some point I started to lose interest in the plot. Very unique cinematography, obviously.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/25

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David Lynch

Director

Kyle MacLachlan

Jeffrey Beaumont

Isabella Rossellini

Dorothy Valens

Dennis Hopper

Frank Booth

Laura Dern

Sandy Williams

Hope Lange

Mrs. Williams

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Synopsis

College student Jeffrey Beaumont (Kyle MacLachlan) returns home after his father has a stroke. When he discovers a severed ear in an abandoned field, Beaumont teams up with detective's daughter Sandy Williams (Laura Dern) to solve the mystery. They believe beautiful lounge singer Dorothy Vallens (Isabella Rossellini) may be connected with the case, and Beaumont finds himself becoming drawn into her dark, twisted world, where he encounters sexually depraved psychopath Frank Booth (Dennis Hopper).

Director: David Lynch
Producer: Fred C. Caruso
Screenwriter: David Lynch
Distributor: Warner Home Vídeo, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Paramount Pictures
Production Co: De Laurentiis
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 19, 1986, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 3, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $8.6M
Runtime: 2h 0m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround

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