Over the Edge

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Over the Edge

PG

1979

1h 35m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

13 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

With only a recreation center to distract them, most of the teenagers in the drab planned community of New Granada have turned to drugs and delinquency. Carl (Michael Kramer), the son of a town councilman, is an exception, but he can't seem to help falling in with a charismatic and troubled classmate, Richie (Matt Dillon). Soon after, a trigger-happy sheriff (Harry Northrup) shoots Richie, and sole witness Carl has to go on the run, eventually inciting a dramatic teenage riot.

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Anton Bitel

Little White Lies

This allegory of an America ever under construction examines, in a nuanced, even-handed manner, the money-obsessed mindset of adults, parents and entrenched authorities no less than the hostile recalcitrance of errant youth on their road to nowhere.

Jun 1, 2021

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Bruce McCabe

Boston Globe

Jonathan Kaplan's Over the Edge is a sensitive and deceptively shocking portrait of middle-class decadence and alienation set against an impersonal, dehumanized, futuristic Sunbelt society.

Apr 28, 2018

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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Script, photography and performances (including Dillon before he decided to become a teenage Stallone) are all top notch, while Kaplan directs with pace, imagination, and a fine ear for dialogue and music.

Jan 26, 2006

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Despite the sympathetic slant toward the kids, this isn’t a simplistic “us vs. them” screed.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 24, 2024

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Larry Vitacco

Philadelphia Gay News

This genre has spawned more unmemorable films than quality ones; sadly, Over the Edge falls into the former category.

Rated: 1/4

May 27, 2020

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Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

Planned suburbia, teenage wasteland

Sep 25, 2009

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mark g

A bizarre little coming of age film. In the end it's entertaining and a cultural representation of the time, where kids were lashing out at becoming an afterthought of their parents. Today one might question just what exactly these kids were protesting against. Upper middle class kids turning violent because they're bored? In the end, it was about 15 year olds opting out of the middle-aged "way of life" chosen by their parents Matt Dillon and the soundtrack are what stand out the most. In fact, the soundtrack is legendary.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/03/25

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Tonya A.

After school special. New subdivision is the perfect place to live, unless you’re a kid. They built nice homes but now thing feels r the kids. The old barracks recreation center gets shutdown, cos the kids are acting too wild while there. Kids act like punks & the kid dies, teens rebel, & parents finally notice them. The acting is bad Matt Dillion is in this.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

08/08/25

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Alana M

Jonathan Kaplan's engaging exploitation nightmarish generation gap film is effective and honest.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/07/25

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Oggie B

Jonathan Kaplan's Over the Edge is a sensitive and deceptively shocking portrait of middle-class decadence and alienation set against an impersonal, dehumanized, futuristic Sunbelt society.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/24/25

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Emily H.

This movie was good. I loved it. Matt Dillon’s first movie. It was a good movie and I loved the acting. It was good.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/04/25

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Brian A

If you wanna know what it was like growing up before cell phones and computers. Young Matt Dillon. Possibly the greatest soundtrack of all time. I have watched this movie many times over the years. Just a bunch of bored kids trying to have some fun.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/08/25

Full Review

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Jonathan Kaplan

Director

Michael Eric Kramer

Carl

Pamela Ludwig

Cory

Matt Dillon

Richie

Vincent Spano

Mark

Tom Fergus

Claude

Tex

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Synopsis

With only a recreation center to distract them, most of the teenagers in the drab planned community of New Granada have turned to drugs and delinquency. Carl (Michael Kramer), the son of a town councilman, is an exception, but he can't seem to help falling in with a charismatic and troubled classmate, Richie (Matt Dillon). Soon after, a trigger-happy sheriff (Harry Northrup) shoots Richie, and sole witness Carl has to go on the run, eventually inciting a dramatic teenage riot.

Director: Jonathan Kaplan
Producer: George Litto
Screenwriter: Charles S. Haas, Tim Hunter
Production Co: Orion Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 11, 2015
Runtime: 1h 35m

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