The Outsiders

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sauce1974 This movie is timeless. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/01/24 Full Review Daniel We liked it because it stirred our emotions. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/22/21 Full Review Justine F Uniquely and stunningly overdramatic, The Outsiders is turned by Francis Ford Coppola and his cast, against all odds, into an incredibly engrossing picture. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/30/25 Full Review Horror fan 4 A timeless classic with a star studded cast. Tim Treakle Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/23/25 Full Review Axel A I remember watching this back in 6th grade. It was so sad how Johnny died. This is golden. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/16/25 Full Review Joey H. Released on March 25th, 1983 and then rereleased on September 20th, 2005 as the Complete Novel Director’s Cut with 22 minutes of additional footage and a remastered soundtrack; directed by five time Academy Award winning filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola and with a musical score composed by his father Carmine Coppola; this novel to screen adaptation of the acclaimed classic novel by Susan E. Hinton, or S. E. Hinton as she is professionally known by, this film perfectly captures all the excitement, intensity and emotions of youth. Set in Tulsa Oklahoma in the year 1965, teenagers and children are shown in two very different types of societal circles. If you are a Soc, or a Social, you have money, popularity, respect, and a bright future ahead of you. But if you are a Greaser, you grow up on what is considered the wrong side of the tracks and are commonly looked at as hoodlums or gang members with long greasy hair, raggedy clothes and very few expectations to make something out of yourself while secretly hoping that one day you will belong and not be an outcast. This story is beautifully told through the eyes of 14 year old Greaser Ponyboy Curtis. He lives with his two older brothers; Sodapop or Soda who is a high school dropout and works at a DX gasoline station; and Darrel or Darry who has to work full time and has been left in charge of taking care of his brothers after their parents died in an accident some time ago. The three Curtis brothers have a small circle of friends who live in their neighborhood; Steve Randle, who is Sodapop’s best friend and coworker at the DX; Keith “Two-Bit” Matthews, who is the most playful member of the gang and spends his free time chewing tobacco or indulging in alcohol; Johnny Cade, who is the most timid, jumpy and easily frightened member of the group because he comes from a broken home and abusive parents; and lastly is Dallas “Dally” Winston, who has been in more than his fair share of trouble with the law and has spent many times in juvenile hall or jail. One night while attending a movie at the local Drive-In theater, Ponyboy and Johnny become friendly with a pair of Soc girls named Sherrie “Cherry” Valance and Marcia after they convince Dallas to stop picking on and harassing them. The two boys along with Two-Bit offer to escort the girls home after the movie but end up incurring the wrath of their boyfriends Bob Sheldon and Randy Anderson. Later that same night, Bob, Randy and a couple of other Socs come looking for Ponyboy and Johnny intending to teach them a lesson and pick a fight. When the fight turns lethal and tragic, Ponyboy and Johnny are forced to seek help and advice from Dallas and then are forced to go on the run and hide somewhere until it’s safe. The film features a terrific ensemble cast of then up and coming actors: C. Thomas Howell as Ponyboy; future Oscar nominee Matt Dillon as Dallas; Ralph Macchio as Johnny; Diane Lane as Cherry; Rob Lowe in his film debut as Sodapop; Patrick Swayze as Darrel; Emilio Estevez as Two-Bit; Tom Cruise as Steve; Glenn Withrow as fellow Greaser Tim Shepard; singer Leif Garrett as Bob; Darren Dalton as Randy; Michelle Meyrink as Marcia; and Tom Waits as Buck Merrill. The film also features a cameo appearance by S. E. Hinton as a hospital nurse, and Francis Ford Coppola’s daughter and future filmmaker Sofia Coppola as a little girl who asks Dallas for some change. The film also features a fantastic original song called Stay Gold, beautifully performed by Stevie Wonder. While the film was only a moderate box office success, grossing $25.7 million from a $10 million budget, it received very positive reviews and numerous accolades and has had a long lasting legacy, ranging from a sequel tv series in 1990; to a stage musical in 2023; to the house used as the Curtis house becoming a museum. This was one of four films to be adapted from a novel by S. E. Hinton during the 1980s and is the most financially successful of the four and the one most remembered. This is not only one of my favorite films but also one of my favorite books. It’s a guilty pleasure for me and I give this film a sold 10 rating and high recommendation. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/11/25 Full Review Read all reviews

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