Party Monster

R

Released Sep 5, 2003

1 hr. 38 min.

Biography

Drama

List

29%

78 Reviews

Tomatometer

75%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In this film based on a true story, Michael Alig (Macaulay Culkin) arrives on a Greyhound bus in New York City desperate to leave his boring Midwestern past behind. After meeting downtown club kid James St. James (Seth Green) and influential nightclub owner Peter Gatien (Dylan McDermott), a fame-hungry Alig decides to throw the most controversial and over-the-top parties in the city. In just a few years Alig's drug addiction and erratic behavior threaten to destroy the empire he's created.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Peacock

Stream Now

Peacock

Prime Video

Apple TV

Watch Party Monster with a subscription on Prime Video, rent on Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy on Apple TV.

Critics Consensus

The lurid display of camp soon turns tedious.

Read Critics Reviews

Erik A

Don't be fooled by negative reviews this movie is one of Macaulay Culkin's best. How he transforms into the Michael Aligs character showcases Macaulay Culkin's creative in-depth and personal acting skills to a new level. The music soundtrack to this movie is exceptional and still holds true 20 years later. From the over the top costumes to Seth Green and Culkins' acting abilities and skills this movie is a must see especially for those that remember the club scene of the 1980s and 1990s and club kids themselves. This movie is provocative in depth and has a sexiness about it. Culkin truly transforms himself into the Michael Allen character from the mannerisms The voice the style is spot on. I can't tell you enough how this movie is truly one of my top five favorite movies of all time. If you're a Midwest gay boy lost and yearning for the big City club and party life you don't want to miss this movie. If you were fortunate enough to live and survive that lifestyle this movie will bring back memories both good and bad. It's been 20 years since this movie has come out I wish Macaulay Culkin would have put out as many movies let's say as Leonardo DiCaprio has he truly is an equal talent I would say even more so.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/15/23

Full Review

Tristan H

Virtually nothing of consequence happens in this movie. It's basically just an hour-and-a-half showcase of people being vane, doing excessive amounts of drugs, wearing bizarre costumes, and competing for the "world's least humane person" award. And don't get me wrong, those characteristics can be entertaining... but there's no ultimate point to it here. There's no self-examination, no revelation, no evolution, no redemption or fall from grace. The characters just basically do stuff until too many people (or themselves) get hurt, are forced to stop, and don't learn anything from it. It's like watching someone's pet dog (who's in an elaborate costume) continuously shit in the house (even though you know the owner's attempted many times to teach the dog not to), and then at the end of the movie the dog's given away... but you know he's still out there shitting someplace he shouldn't. I will say, however, that Seth Green was very good in the movie. I love seeing actors act outside their generally typecast roles, and Mr. Green did a good job of being... whatever the hell he was supposed to be in this movie.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

08/08/23

Full Review

StephenPaul C

The greatest 01 hour: and 38 minutes based on a true story about the end of a drug user and his friend and their party, starring Seth Green, and Macaulay Culkin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/26/23

Full Review

m s

Tedious, silly, and disappointing. For a much grander vision/version of this beyond belief story read the book of the same name. Culkin and Green are terrible in this.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Despite the bad reviews, I enjoyed this film. Was interesting to look in to it's background and this time. Very unique and unusual, it's original, I'll give it that.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

camille l

Party Monster est un film extrêmement déroutant. Après avoir réalisé un documentaire sur le sujet, Fenton Bailey & Randy Barbato en font une dramatisation signant le retour au cinéma de Macauley Culkin dans le rôle de Michael Alig, un ancien "roi de la nuit" new-yorkaise ayant tué et démembré un de ses collègues de soirée. Bailey & Barbato livrent alors un film poisseux, d'une saleté dont le format DV n'est qu'une des nombreuses explications, qui oscille constamment entre le jugement de ce groupe de "Club Kids" et la pitié devant tant de vacuité, de narcissisme, de naïveté et de méchanceté gratuite. Plein de mal-être, de désespoir et de fièvre, Party Monster gagne toutes ses lettres de noblesse grâce à l'interprétation exceptionnelle de Seth Green, qui personnalise toutes les qualités et les thèmes du film à lui tout-seul. Il vole tous les plans, il est magnétique et attire l'oeil à chacune de ses apparitions. A l'image de Party Monster, il parvient à transcender les attentes. Un petit bijou, aussi désagréable que réussi.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Fenton Bailey

Director

Macaulay Culkin

Michael Alig

Seth Green

James St. James

Chloë Sevigny

Gitsie

Natasha Lyonne

Brooke

Justin Hagan

Freez

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

58%

51%

The Notorious Bettie Page

77%

69%

I'm Not There

42%

81%

Men of Honor

TRAILER

for Men of Honor

71%

61%

Auto Focus

53%

69%

Veronica Guerin

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Trailer Bulletin: Employee of the Month

In Other News…Natasha Lyonne, Brad ‘n Jen, and Kirsten ‘n Jake

View more photos

David Ansen

Newsweek

There isn't an ounce of genuine affection on display.

Mar 12, 2018

Full Review

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: B

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Empire Magazine

Rated: 3/5

Dec 30, 2006

Full Review

David Ehrenstein

New Times

... shows that there's a lot more to this sordid story than first meets the jaundiced eye.

Oct 3, 2017

Full Review

Film Threat

Rated: 3/5

Dec 6, 2005

Full Review

Matt Kelemen

Las Vegas CityLife

Rule No. 1: If you use black humor in a film about real-life characters and events, make sure you have a feel for it first.

Mar 30, 2004

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

In this film based on a true story, Michael Alig (Macaulay Culkin) arrives on a Greyhound bus in New York City desperate to leave his boring Midwestern past behind. After meeting downtown club kid James St. James (Seth Green) and influential nightclub owner Peter Gatien (Dylan McDermott), a fame-hungry Alig decides to throw the most controversial and over-the-top parties in the city. In just a few years Alig's drug addiction and erratic behavior threaten to destroy the empire he's created.

Director: Fenton Bailey
Executive Producer: Wouter Barendrecht, Michael J. Werner, Edward R. Pressman, John Schmidt, Sofia Sondervan, John Wells
Screenwriter: Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato
Distributor: ContentFilm, Strand Releasing, DEJ Productions
Production Co: Killer Films, World of Wonder, ContentFilm
Rating: R
Genre: Biography, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 5, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 23, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $668.1K
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo

Most Popular at Home Now