Pump Up the Volume

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Pump Up the Volume

R

Released Aug 22, 1990

1h 45m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

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38 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

In Arizona, an introverted and insightful teenager, Mark Hunter (Christian Slater), finds an outlet for his viewpoints through a shortwave radio. Broadcasting as Hard Harry, Hunter uses his pirate radio show to rant against the injustices and hypocrisies taking place in the area, and in society in general. Hunter conceals his off-air identity, but a determined student (Samantha Mathis) discovers the truth, while Principal Creswood (Annie Ross) seeks to shut down Hunter once and for all.

Critics Consensus

Pump Up the Volume can be a bit overbearing, but this is one teen drama with the courage of its convictions -- and a killer soundtrack.

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

The fact that it does this simply and unabashedly gives the critic little to work with; it's all there, right on the surface, with nothing to decode–just a dream, and a dream of an idea, that it asks us to share and celebrate. And better yet, emulate.

Rated: 4/4

May 12, 2022

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Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

As a movie, 'Pump Up the Volume' is a lot like a teenager: at times unbearably self-important and pretentious (Nora's poems, good lord), yet undeniably, and admirably, earnest.

May 27, 2016

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: C-

Sep 7, 2011

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

The film could have been much better...or not because its intrinsic falsehood condemns it from the start. [Full review in Spanish]

Nov 3, 2022

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Christopher Wittke

Gay Community News (Boston)

While watching Pump Up the Volume I was amazed that such an anti-establishment movie was produced by 1990’s mainstream Hollywood.

Sep 8, 2022

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Jas Keimig

The Stranger (Seattle, WA)

Allan Moyle's angsty coming-of-age romp...

Dec 9, 2021

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Alex R

Forgotten 90s gem. Prophetical and still relevant today

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/16/25

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Wayne P

I loved this movie when it came out. I enjoyed watching Christian Slater's character broadcast his thoughts and notions and the fact he took down a corrupt high school principal was the icing on the cake. I still want my own short wave rig.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/22/25

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Maia C

This movie was soo good I absolutely loved it it was exciting and really fun to watch but I did not like the way they ended it they needed to make a part 2 the end just got me mad the way they ended it but like in a good way it wax the most amazing movie ever this is definitely my new no.1 fave movie ever u need to watch it and Christian Slater was amazing in this he acted amazingly he really played his character well better than we'll he's an amazing actor u have to watch this movie it is a must

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/03/25

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Todd T

Almost three and a half decades after first seeing Pump Up the Volume, it has remained firmly in my top 3 favorite films of all time. It is at the tippity-top of the mountain, putting the more famous works of teen angst genre by John Hughes to shame. The writer/director was a no-compromise type of guy who still had to compromise a small bit on this film, but whatever compromises were made were good ones. Those lucky enough of my generation to find this film in the early 90s were likely introduced to Leonard Cohen for the first time. Some of the best songs from the movie didn't even make it to the official original soundtrack, luckily in the modern era a true soundtrack can and has been created on various streaming mediums. I don't think Slater and Mathis ever did work that topped Pump Up the Volume, but again I'm probably a bit bias. Top 3 after all. But I certainly became fans of them early in their careers because of PUtV.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/05/24

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cameron c

Would have been 4 stars if I was 20, 5 stars if I was 15.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/22/24

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Jason M

Honestly, this movie always holds a place in my heart. I love the Free Speech implications here and the message of breaking out and being yourself. We need more of this messaging

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/17/24

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Allan Moyle

Director

Christian Slater

Mark Hunter (Hard Harry)

Samantha Mathis

Nora Diniro

Ellen Greene

Jan Emerson

Scott Paulin

Brian Hunter

Cheryl Pollak

Paige Woodward

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Synopsis

In Arizona, an introverted and insightful teenager, Mark Hunter (Christian Slater), finds an outlet for his viewpoints through a shortwave radio. Broadcasting as Hard Harry, Hunter uses his pirate radio show to rant against the injustices and hypocrisies taking place in the area, and in society in general. Hunter conceals his off-air identity, but a determined student (Samantha Mathis) discovers the truth, while Principal Creswood (Annie Ross) seeks to shut down Hunter once and for all.

Director: Allan Moyle
Producer: Sandy Stern, Rupert Harvey
Screenwriter: Allan Moyle
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Production Co: New Line Cinema, SC Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 22, 1990, Wide
Release Date (DVD): Aug 15, 2000
Box Office (Gross USA): $11.5M
Runtime: 1h 45m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby