Over the Edge

Play trailer

Over the Edge

PG

1979

1h 35m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

Planned suburbia, teenage wasteland

Sep 25, 2009

Full Review

Read all reviews

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

Full Review

Alana M

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/07/25

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Vik D

I have read this is one of Kurt Cobain's favourite films and I can see why

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/25/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Jonathan Kaplan

Director

Michael Eric Kramer

Carl

Pamela Ludwig

Cory

Matt Dillon

Richie

Vincent Spano

Mark

Tom Fergus

Claude

Tex

85%

66%

Tex

Watchlist

Urban Cowboy

71%

80%

Urban Cowboy

Watchlist

Kramer vs. Kramer

90%

89%

Kramer vs. Kramer

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Kramer vs. Kramer

The Escape Artist

80%

64%

The Escape Artist

Watchlist

The Great Santini

95%

76%

The Great Santini

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

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

Most Popular at Home Now