Hype!

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Hype!

Released Nov 8, 1996

1h 24m

Documentary

Music

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Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

27 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

This rock documentary by director Doug Pray focuses on the explosion of grunge music that took place in the Pacific Northwest during the early 1990s. While the film features the most popular bands of the movement -- namely Pearl Jam, Nirvana and Soundgarden -- it also presents lesser-known acts such as the Melvins, Mudhoney and Seaweed. Incorporating concert clips, interviews and behind-the-scenes footage, the movie paints a dynamic picture of this highly influential scene.

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John Hartl

Seattle Times

The first-time director, Doug Pray, doesn't linger long on anything, but the movie is so crisply and intelligently edited that you never feel you're being rushed through it.

Rated: 3.5/4

Mar 18, 2015

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Keith Phipps

AV Club

Hype! is a smart look at an important musical event that featured a lot of great music almost as a by-product.

Mar 18, 2015

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Jim Farber

New York Daily News

The film makers themselves don't seem to understand the deep cultural resonances created by this hype. Worse, they endorse the selfishness of the Seattle-ites who, apparently, want all this good stuff for themselves.

Rated: 2.5/4

Mar 18, 2015

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

The pièce de résistance is the footage of Nirvana in a dingy bar, performing "Smells Like Teen Spirit" for the very first time.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 3, 2021

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Dan Webster

Spokesman-Review (Washington)

An edifying, enjoyable and ultimately light-hearted look at the way that things have always gone.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 18, 2015

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TV Guide

Four years ago, Seattle was where the home of the Space Needle. Now it's a rock 'n' roll mecca: You may ask yourself -- how did we get here? And filmmaker Doug Pray has an answer.

Rated: 3/5

Mar 18, 2015

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Jack G

I did not expect to be that entertained and invested in this one. It documents very well the Seattle music scene pre-Nevermind and post. It really proves how important it is to preserve local cultures and not let the media giants have their way. I think this doc is really important for the simple fact that it documents the last real, authentic communal music culture the United States ever had.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/21/24

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mark h

First of all, I hate the word "grunge" , watch the movie and find out that some reporter called it that, and it stuck. And the whole flannel thing wasn't a fashion trend, they wore flannel because it's cold in Seattle! The Press made it a thing. A great documentary about the Seattle music scene, and worth a watch.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Great history of Seattle grunge scene before during and immediately after the apex. This was put out in '96, so its interesting 23 years later, how sad.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

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Audience Member

Maybe I'm a little biased.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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Audience Member

An excellent documentary combined with an amazing soundtrack. "Hype!" will bring anyone, grunge fan or not, into the movie and never want to leave.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

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Audience Member

É tudo o que se podia esperar de um documentário sobre o assunto.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

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Doug Pray

Director

Valerie M. Agnew

Self

Mark Arm

Self

John Atkins

Self

Leighton Beezer

Self

Nils Bernstein

Self

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Synopsis

This rock documentary by director Doug Pray focuses on the explosion of grunge music that took place in the Pacific Northwest during the early 1990s. While the film features the most popular bands of the movement -- namely Pearl Jam, Nirvana and Soundgarden -- it also presents lesser-known acts such as the Melvins, Mudhoney and Seaweed. Incorporating concert clips, interviews and behind-the-scenes footage, the movie paints a dynamic picture of this highly influential scene.

Director: Doug Pray
Producer: Steven Helvey
Production Co: Helvey-Pray Productions
Genre: Documentary, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 8, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 29, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $340.5K
Runtime: 1h 24m

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