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Teenage Wasteland

Play trailer Poster for Teenage Wasteland Nov 2025 1h 50m Documentary History Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 27 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Inspired by an unconventional teacher, a group of teenagers in upstate New York in the early 1990s make a student film and uncover a vast conspiracy that is poisoning their community. Thirty years later, they revisit their film and confront the legacy of this transformative experience.

Critics Reviews

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Ben Kenigsberg New York Times Nov 26
This crowd-pleasing documentary, directed by Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss, caters to multiple niches of moviegoer who enjoy rooting for the underdog. Go to Full Review Clint Worthington RogerEbert.com Nov 26
3/4
The kids didn’t change the world, but their youthful energy still made a difference and offered a model for the kind of change we can enact if we just stay young, rebellious, and curious. Go to Full Review Nicolas Rapold Financial Times Feb 8
Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine’s Middletown restores a little faith in human nature. Go to Full Review Charles Johnston Spectrum Culture Dec 2
This look back at a group of teens who uncover an elaborate conspiracy while working on a school project in the ‘90s is heavy on nostalgia but light on catharsis. Go to Full Review Edward Douglas The Weekend Warrior (Substack) Nov 25
Teenage Wasteland proves that you have to start small with a project close to home, which will then allow you to tackle bigger issues. Go to Full Review Avi Offer NYC Movie Guru Nov 24
A mildly engaging and unevenly paced documentary. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 Nov 26 Real footage in 01 hour and 50 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All ages admitted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Read all reviews
Teenage Wasteland

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Cast & Crew

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Jesse Moss

Director

Amanda McBaine

Director

Isaac Levi Anthony

Self

Varda Appleton

Self

Jesse Moss

Writer

Amanda McBaine

Writer
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Teenage Wasteland

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Movie Info

Synopsis Inspired by an unconventional teacher, a group of teenagers in upstate New York in the early 1990s make a student film and uncover a vast conspiracy that is poisoning their community. Thirty years later, they revisit their film and confront the legacy of this transformative experience.
Director
Jesse Moss, Amanda McBaine
Producer
Jesse Moss, Amanda McBaine, Danny Breen
Screenwriter
Jesse Moss, Amanda McBaine
Distributor
Film Forum
Production Co
Closer Media, Rise Films, Participant, Matador Content, Mile End Films
Genre
Documentary, History
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 26, 2025, Limited
Runtime
1h 50m