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Pink Floyd - The Wall

Play trailer Poster for Pink Floyd - The Wall R Released Aug 6, 1982 1h 39m Musical Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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73% Tomatometer 30 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
In this visual riff on Pink Floyd's album "The Wall," successful but drugged-out musician Pink (Bob Geldof) is looking back on his isolated childhood from the confines of a Los Angeles hotel room. Through a swirl of flashbacks and chemical-induced hallucinations, Pink recalls his lonely upbringing, during which he built a symbolic wall to the world as he coped with the death of his father (James Laurenson) and the overbearing ways of his mother (Christine Hargreaves).
Pink Floyd - The Wall

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Critics Consensus

Pink Floyd's expression of generational angst is given striking visual form The Wall, although this ambitious feature's narrative struggles to marry its provocative images and psychedelic soundtrack into a compelling whole.

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Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times This isn't the most fun to listen to and some viewers don't find it to much fun to watch, but the 1982 film is without question the best of all serious fiction films devoted to rock. Rated: 4/4 Nov 6, 2018 Full Review Yardena Arar Associated Press It's a pretty grim portrait, but even worse it is often repetitive and boring. There are probably enough powerful segments for half a dozen or so outstanding rock videos but not a full-length feature. Oct 23, 2018 Full Review Bruce McCabe Boston Globe The film is explosively wild, raw, primitive, sometimes inarticulate. It is also totally theatrical and compelling. It's film as primal scream; seething with anger, alienation and despair. Apr 27, 2018 Full Review Quentin Crisp Christopher Street The scenes of violence are marvelously put together. It is hard to realize that we are watching fiction... However, although The Wall is horrifying, it is not lurid; we are never allowed to derive from this film any satisfaction for our kinkiness. May 7, 2024 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Not for everyone. Rated: B- Aug 3, 2022 Full Review Wesley Lovell Cinema Sight What is the price of fame and is it vicariously experienced in concert with the successful or is it in the foundational underpinnings of a life lived in turmoil. Pink Floyd The Wall attempts to examine this unusual notion in cinematic form. Rated: 4/4 Feb 12, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mark Awesome movie, it's a musical to most of the wall cd. There's no real talking or anything. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/15/24 Full Review Anthony A This movie is a bit different than any other one out there. There is mostly no dialog and voice acting, it’s all being translated by music. Pink Floyd has made a fever dream monstrosity about a famous musician “Pink.” Who is ignorant about society and the world around him and just watches war. All of his childhood memories and war-like flashbacks of his dead father connect throughout the film. In fact the storytelling is so good that not only is the imagery and music heavily provided by a host of great animation, unique sections and really good music. But scene by scene, you're seeing Pink grow as a character and how he acts. Never does anything feel disconnected or loose throughout this flick. Except for the ending where it’s not really explained why Pink is in court, but is provided by some of the best animation in the film. If I was to rank the overall presentation, animation and music; it would go like this. The music is genuinely great with a lot of catchy and emotional tunes and some decent ones here and there. Dirty Woman is my least favorite because of how it’s played out and the overall theme. But I cannot deny that the fantastic animation has really helped shine this movie in a way. Details within the presentation are astonishing because it’s portrayed very well scene by scene, and helps the storytelling and overall structure feel natural. If you dig unique movies like this or just a fan of Pink Floyd’s work, you will love this. It is a great and fascinating film of storytelling and emotional rides through musical tunes and wonderfully surreal animation. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/10/25 Full Review Audience Member The Wall movie is strongly subjective to politics, music career, and most importantly, life issues that lead people into madness. The movie combines all possible factors of life that play a huge role in altering someone's mental health. The Metaphorical Wall, representing mental isolation from the world, is by far the most creative idea I've seen in both music and film industry. Loved and enjoyed the animations (keep in mind that the movie was small-budget and released in 1982.) definitely would recommend watching and listening to the album independently Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/01/24 Full Review Tommi V Maybe not the most coherent film as the non-linear storyline doesn’t make it always easy to follow. But the movie is very sincere in the way it grapples multiple themes and the wall both as a metaphor and the album blends quite well in. If you like Pink Floyd, this does add good visualisation to many of the songs on the album. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/30/24 Full Review Cohen V Great while on shroom Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 08/22/24 Full Review Jay H A truly exceptional motion picture. Alan Parker was a great director. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/09/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Pink Floyd - The Wall

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Movie Info

Synopsis In this visual riff on Pink Floyd's album "The Wall," successful but drugged-out musician Pink (Bob Geldof) is looking back on his isolated childhood from the confines of a Los Angeles hotel room. Through a swirl of flashbacks and chemical-induced hallucinations, Pink recalls his lonely upbringing, during which he built a symbolic wall to the world as he coped with the death of his father (James Laurenson) and the overbearing ways of his mother (Christine Hargreaves).
Director
Alan Parker
Producer
Alan Marshall
Screenwriter
Roger Waters
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Tin Blue, Goldcrest Films, Ltd.
Rating
R
Genre
Musical, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 6, 1982, Wide
Release Date (DVD)
Jan 25, 2005
Runtime
1h 39m
Sound Mix
Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Dolby Stereo, Surround
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)