Quadrophenia

R

Released Nov 2, 1979

1h 55m

Musical

Drama

List

100%

15 Reviews

Tomatometer

83%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

An angst-ridden London youth, Jimmy Cooper (Phil Daniels) escapes the drudgery of his postal job as a member of the Mods, a sharply dressed gang constantly at odds with their rivals, the Rockers. When the Mods and Rockers clash in the coastal town of Brighton, England, it leads to both trouble and an encounter with the lovely Steph (Leslie Ash). Returning to London, Jimmy, who aspires to be like Mod leader Ace Face (Sting), becomes even more disillusioned and longs to return to Brighton.

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JOHN B

Still as good today as it was first time round

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/18/24

Full Review

Unriveted M

This is an interesting where people with too much money got involved with the direction and production. Quality of content is relatively low, Actor and screen play is weak. Then add, tie in with music that is not really associated with the period movie takes place.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

12/27/23

Full Review

Ellie D

I was first given this film to watch by an older volunteer at a place I was volunteering at, because he said it was a perfect representation of his youth, when he'd been a mod. I watched this as a very innocent 18 year old and was absolutely shocked. It's been five years now and I still want to text him about it every time I watch this film, because honestly I struggle to see him (as the older man I know him as) acting like this, but I take his word as truth! It's a reasonably shocking film when you consider that my friend says it was accurate having been there, but the film feels it as well. It's raw and sharp and you want to flinch away sometimes by some of the decisions that were made by the characters, which makes it a phenomenal film. I live in Brighton now and wanted to see how the film compares now that I ride these roads on my own scooter every day now, and it is just as brilliant as I remember it. The end is devastating in the most literal sense, but I won't give anything else away. If you have an interest in the mods and rockers, or the history of Brighton in general, you need to watch this

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/20/23

Full Review

Marcus S

Unique, real and very entertaining

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/04/22

Full Review

jason b

I first saw this film in my teens. And ever since then, its been up there amongst my favourites. I was already into The Who at this point, and my dad had been telling me about when he was in his 20's in the 1960's - he was a Rocker. Rode a Triumph T100, called scooters 'hairdryers', had crappy tattoos done to rebel against general public conformity. Having picked up all this new information, I figured I'd give Quadrophenia a go. In mine, and my dads opinion, this film really captures the essence and grittiness of young-gang life of the 60s. The struggles, the riots, rebellion. There's not many other pictures that really grasp this as well as Quadrophenia does. Because on the front of it all, its all fashion, looking smart, having a flash scooter. No one really gets to see what happens underneath. In The Who's own words, from the song 'Cut My Hair', "Why do I have to move with a crowd of kids that hardly notice I'm around; I work myself to death, just to fit in". Kind of says it all really. But amongst all this, its a very fun and enjoyable watch. One that I will enjoy watching time and time again. Even though I am more on the Rockers side, I really do appreciate this film. And I am glad that it exists. Not to mention, the amazing music that comes with it! Highly recommended.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The best film adaptation of a concept album (sorry, The Wall lovers).

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

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Franc Roddam

Director

Phil Daniels

Jimmy

Mark Wingett

Dave

Philip Davis

Chalky

Leslie Ash

Steph

Garry Cooper

Pete

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

It’s not really a musical as much as a rough and ready drama inspired by the story suggested in the rock opera (though the Who’s music underscores the film quite nicely), and it has aged very well over the years.

Oct 6, 2023

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

It manages to be both quintessentially British and irrefutably universal.

Rated: 3.5/4

Apr 27, 2023

Full Review

Dick Nusser

Billboard

It is unabashedly a period piece, fashioned for the screen in the same straightforward, cinema verite style much in vogue among British filmmakers of the 1960s.

Mar 24, 2023

Full Review

Tom Cassidy

Common Sense Media

Quadrophenia is every bit as fun, occasionally ugly, and upsetting as the heady days of discovering early independence and finding a direction in life can be.

Rated: 3/5

Mar 25, 2021

Full Review

Brian Gibson

Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Alberta)

Roddam's look back at an angsty young man in '65 is a throwback to the kitchen-sink dramas that began plumbing the depths of lower-class lives then. Reeking with a restless teen spirit, Quadrophenia leads us down adolescence's blind alleys of rebellion.

Dec 27, 2013

Full Review

Eric Melin

Scene-Stealers.com

Director Franc Roddam shot the film with a gritty, realistic feel and the themes of youthful rebellion and confusion are absolutely timeless, magnified by the specificity of the setting rather than being limited by it.

Rated: 3.5/4

Sep 12, 2012

Full Review

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Synopsis

An angst-ridden London youth, Jimmy Cooper (Phil Daniels) escapes the drudgery of his postal job as a member of the Mods, a sharply dressed gang constantly at odds with their rivals, the Rockers. When the Mods and Rockers clash in the coastal town of Brighton, England, it leads to both trouble and an encounter with the lovely Steph (Leslie Ash). Returning to London, Jimmy, who aspires to be like Mod leader Ace Face (Sting), becomes even more disillusioned and longs to return to Brighton.

Director: Franc Roddam
Producer: Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, Keith Moon, David Gideon Thomson, Pete Townshend
Screenwriter: Dave Humphries, Franc Roddam, Martin Stellman
Distributor: Rhino Entertainment Company [us], World Northal
Production Co: Polytel, The Who Films
Rating: R
Genre: Musical, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 2, 1979, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 23, 2017
Runtime: 1h 55m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround

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