Can't Hardly Wait

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Can't Hardly Wait

PG-13

Released Jun 12, 1998

1h 38m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

42%

Tomatometer

66 Reviews

63%

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50,000+ Ratings

School's out, and an entire graduating class -- from football stars and cool girls to complete nerds -- gathers at a wealthy classmate's home for a party. There, the artistic Preston (Ethan Embry) hopes to move in on Amanda (Jennifer Love Hewitt), the beauty he has admired from afar for years. Dorky William (Charlie Korsmo) schemes to pay back meathead Mike (Peter Facinelli) for years of bullying, and would-be rapper Kenny (Seth Green) gets locked in a room with snarky Denise (Lauren Ambrose).

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Critics Consensus

Occasionally clever and moderately intelligent, Can't Hardly Wait also contains too many cheap laughs, recycled plotting, and flat characters.

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Mark Caro

Chicago Tribune

Kaplan and Elfont provide a real public service by showing how underage binge drinking can boost bookish students' social lives.

Rated: 2/4

Mar 19, 2014

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Carrie Rickey

Philadelphia Inquirer

Fortunately, some of the appealing young performers -- who include Ethan Embry, Charlie Korsmo, Lauren Ambrose and, especially, Seth Green -- manage to emerge from the film's generic suburban-teen backdrop.

Rated: 2.5/4

Mar 19, 2014

Full Review

Dave Kehr

New York Daily News

There are signs that Can't Hardly Wait once had more serious aspirations... But in the final edit, at least, it's the dumb, broad slapstick that prevails, short-circuiting identification with the characters before it can begin.

Rated: 2/4

Mar 19, 2014

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Allison Rose

FlickDirect

Can't Hardly Wait is the typical fare for 1990s teen movies and it is entertaining without going too far overboard.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 30, 2024

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

There’s little imagination in the scripting, meaning the movie’s main virtue is as a spot-the-rising-star game.

Rated: 2/4

Sep 14, 2024

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Can't Hardly Wait is the type of classic teen comedy that has everything.

Rated: 3.5/5

Aug 28, 2024

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Gnr E

This movie made me feel like i traveled to 90s

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/17/24

Full Review

Chelsea O

This is a 90’s core memory. I can still quote it to this day, almost 30 years later !

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/31/24

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Lukas K

Don't go watch this movie with big expectations, just enjoy, it's fun!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/10/24

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Cfunk D

It's a funny movie. Typical high school graduation party. All the little cliques and mindset that what happens in highschool is so important.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/19/23

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Tony S

Watch the John Hughes movies with Molly Ringwald instead.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/04/23

Full Review

Sean M

I love this film. People give it smack for not being as good as American Graffiti or Fast Times at Ridgemont High. I say to put it on the same shelf is already high praise. There are lots of things I like about Can't Hardly more than those other legendary films. There's a Tarantinoesque characterization I love, and the archetypes are still salient today.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/11/22

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Deborah Kaplan

Director

Harry Elfont

Director

Jennifer Love Hewitt

Amanda Beckett

Ethan Embry

Preston Meyers

Charlie Korsmo

William Lichter

Lauren Ambrose

Denise Fleming

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Can't Hardly Wait: Official Clip - It Was Fate

2:12

Can't Hardly Wait: Official Clip - Take Me Back?

2:05

Can't Hardly Wait: Official Clip - First Kiss

1:30

Can't Hardly Wait: Official Clip - Amanda's Single

1:47

Can't Hardly Wait: Official Clip - Paradise City

2:13

Can't Hardly Wait: Official Clip - A Second Chance

2:05

Can't Hardly Wait: Official Clip - Preston Kisses Amanda

2:09

Can't Hardly Wait: Official Clip - I Can't Believe She Came

1:57

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Can't Hardly Wait: Trailer 1

2:31

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Synopsis

School's out, and an entire graduating class -- from football stars and cool girls to complete nerds -- gathers at a wealthy classmate's home for a party. There, the artistic Preston (Ethan Embry) hopes to move in on Amanda (Jennifer Love Hewitt), the beauty he has admired from afar for years. Dorky William (Charlie Korsmo) schemes to pay back meathead Mike (Peter Facinelli) for years of bullying, and would-be rapper Kenny (Seth Green) gets locked in a room with snarky Denise (Lauren Ambrose).

Director: Deborah Kaplan, Harry Elfont
Producer: Jenno Topping, Betty Thomas
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation, Tall Trees Productions
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 12, 1998, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $25.3M
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Surround

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