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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Andrew

Film doesn’t get any better. Absolute stunner!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/16/25

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Bruce F

Masterpiece of modern cinema!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/12/25

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Cognac

Its David Lynch. A lovely story to watch unfold, just dont get hung up on it making sense.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/09/25

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Ben

IMO the best place to start with David Lynch’s filmography.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/13/25

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Francine

One of my favorite David Lynch films. I was so lovely to watch this on the big screen. I hope our little Regency theater brings more Lynch films for throwback nights. The movie is a great dreamy noir with a fun soundtrack and gorgeous cinematography. Plenty of "ear"-iness. Disturbing and unsettling at times. All in the right ways.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/06/25

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Aye E

It's fine, kinda weird. I never could get into it since Kyle MacLachlan was so poorly cast. I think Lynch considered him a boyish everyman. But he looked too old and unique, think it's the jawline and voice.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

06/11/25

Full Review

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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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