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FM

PG

Released Apr 20, 1978

1h 44m

Musical

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

20%

Tomatometer

10 Reviews

62%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Los Angeles radio station QSKY tops the ratings charts by playing the best music with little advertising. When the corporate higher-ups push for more commercials, radio station manager Jeff Dugan (Michael Brandon) refuses to comply, which sends sales manager Regis Lamar (Tom Tarpey) running to the bosses. Dugan quits in defiance, but his loyal disc jockeys -- including Mother (Eileen Brennan), Eric Swan (Martin Mull) and the Prince of Darkness (Cleavon Little) -- protest with a lock-in.

Time Out

Dugan, who's heavily into the music biz, is against commercials on commercial radio (but since QSKY pumps out an endless stream of Ronstadt, the Eagles and Queen, wouldn't a few mindless jingles go unnoticed?)

Jan 26, 2006

Full Review

Janet Maslin

New York Times

A preposterously self-serving variation on 1960's themes.

Rated: 1.5/5

May 9, 2005

Full Review

Keith Phipps

AV Club

It gets the standard rock-movie formula backwards by trying to base a revolution around some of the safest, least revolutionary music in the history of rock.

May 30, 2001

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

The "us against the establishment" plotline is hoary and silly, and the movie fares better when it focuses on specific character incidents rather than any greater themes.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jul 20, 2019

Full Review

TV Guide

Mull, as a spaced-out DJ, steals the show, emanating energy with which neither the other actors nor the music can compete.

Rated: 2/4

Aug 14, 2013

Full Review

Richard T. Jameson

Parallax View

FM, for all its ingratiating players, is an unredeemable mess that can't even make it to simplistic.

Apr 21, 2010

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Rebecca B

I’ll be honest I have a short attention span anyway but it’s taken me 3 different days just to drag through this film. Something about the army, a radio station and people having mellow breakdowns.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

08/21/25

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Audience Member

Great for someone like me who grew up in that era.The music cloths and all that great 70's stereo stuff.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

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Audience Member

loved this movie. I was a senior in high school and what a great soundtrack

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Although there were a few good scenes, it's mostly over-the-top melodrama and comedy. But the soundtrack is awesome!!

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A lot more fun than I expected. Much preferred over it's competition at the time, WKRP In Cincinnati. Fun movie with great music !

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The soundtrack from this movie is awesome! The film is pretty good but predictable.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

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John A. Alonzo

Director

Michael Brandon

Jeff Dugan

Martin Mull

Eric Swan

Eileen Brennan

Mother

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Cleavon Little

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Synopsis

Los Angeles radio station QSKY tops the ratings charts by playing the best music with little advertising. When the corporate higher-ups push for more commercials, radio station manager Jeff Dugan (Michael Brandon) refuses to comply, which sends sales manager Regis Lamar (Tom Tarpey) running to the bosses. Dugan quits in defiance, but his loyal disc jockeys -- including Mother (Eileen Brennan), Eric Swan (Martin Mull) and the Prince of Darkness (Cleavon Little) -- protest with a lock-in.

Director: John A. Alonzo
Producer: Rand Holston
Screenwriter: Ezra Sacks
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Musical, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 20, 1978, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 16, 2019
Runtime: 1h 44m
Sound Mix: Surround