Trainspotting

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Trainspotting

R

Released Jul 19, 1996

1h 34m

Comedy

Drama

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Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

96 Reviews

93%

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250,000+ Ratings

Heroin addict Mark Renton (Ewan McGregor) stumbles through bad ideas and sobriety attempts with his unreliable friends -- Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller), Begbie (Robert Carlyle), Spud (Ewen Bremner) and Tommy (Kevin McKidd). He also has an underage girlfriend, Diane (Kelly Macdonald), along for the ride. After cleaning up and moving from Edinburgh to London, Mark finds he can't escape the life he left behind when Begbie shows up at his front door on the lam, and a scheming Sick Boy follows.

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Critics Consensus

A brutal, often times funny, other times terrifying portrayal of drug addiction in Edinburgh. Not for the faint of heart, but well worth viewing as a realistic and entertaining reminder of the horrors of drug use.

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Kevin Maher

Times (UK)

Easy to start, all-consuming, impossible to quit.

Rated: 5/5

May 29, 2024

Full Review

Jay Carr

Boston Globe

The unsinkable vigor coursing through the veins of Trainspotting leaves no doubt that it intends to come down on the side of life. In its chance-taking, its virtuosity and its ultimate morality, it's an exhilarating film.

May 1, 2024

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Eleanor Ringel Cater

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Choose Trainspotting... if you think you can take it.

Rated: 3.5/4

May 1, 2024

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Eleanor O'Sullivan

Asbury Park Press (NJ)

It lacks the harrowing quality of a loser's life, but neither does Boyle have the heart to go for all-out farce.

Rated: 2.5/4

Apr 30, 2024

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Aaron Neuwirth

Why So Blu

This original spin through this specific moment in time continues to play as a high-energy display of wit, tragedy, and style in a manner that solidified so much for all involved.

Rated: 5/5

Jan 31, 2024

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

The film resists a moralized discussion of drug use to instead presents a story whose ugly, darkly comic details pulse with Boyle's kinetic touch.

Rated: 4/4

Mar 2, 2022

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Trausti L

Simply a perfect movie from all aspects. It changed everything that came after

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/23/24

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Faiz D

What a frickin' fantastic film this is.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/29/24

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Sams K

I like the aesthetic of this, but I think it's a bit overrated. Soundtrack is great!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/25/24

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Jerry F

This movie was so much better that I expected. Very realistic yet entertaining and a little hard to watch some scenes, but totally worth it. Performances were excelent as well as plot and direction.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/05/24

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r96 s

Not the most enthralling, but 'Trainspotting' does have plenty to say - and boy does it portray it! There are particularly strong performances from Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner and Robert Carlyle. I didn't like watching the bunch of characters given how severely unlikeable they are. Of course, that is very much the intention so it's a credit to the actors and the filmmakers at how convincing it all is. The humour is weaker than expected, perhaps due to the horrors of the plot taking centre stage. Their struggles are showed in a heavy manner, to the point I did feel uncomfortable seeing them do their thing. I do feel post-watch that I'm missing something from it in regards to being able to appreciate it higher, I can't shake that feeling. That's probably the only negative at nailing the realness so much, you miss out on other bits to enjoy about a film; or at least to me. Cool to see this on the big screen, mind. I think it's the first movie I've ever watched at the cinema that isn't a contemporary release. I evidently hadn't seen this before so thought what better way to watch it for the opening time! Now for the sequel (albeit back in the doldrums of home release!😁).

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/30/24

Full Review

Alec C

The downsides of being a drug addict have never been so hilarious and heart-breaking! Mark Renton spends his days with his addict friends getting high and following no direction, until reality forces him to make a decision to step up. Bleak and boisterous, this dark comedy of life in the streets is as energetic as it is engrossing!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/21/24

Full Review

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Danny Boyle

Director

Ewan McGregor

Mark "Rent-boy" Renton

Ewen Bremner

Daniel "Spud" Murphy

Jonny Lee Miller

Simon David "Sick Boy" Williamson

Kevin McKidd

Tommy MacKenzie

Robert Carlyle

Francis (Franco) Begbie

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Synopsis

Heroin addict Mark Renton (Ewan McGregor) stumbles through bad ideas and sobriety attempts with his unreliable friends -- Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller), Begbie (Robert Carlyle), Spud (Ewen Bremner) and Tommy (Kevin McKidd). He also has an underage girlfriend, Diane (Kelly Macdonald), along for the ride. After cleaning up and moving from Edinburgh to London, Mark finds he can't escape the life he left behind when Begbie shows up at his front door on the lam, and a scheming Sick Boy follows.

Director: Danny Boyle
Producer: Andrew Macdonald
Screenwriter: John Hodge
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Figment Films, Noel Gay Motion Picture Company, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Rating: R (Nudity|Graphic Heroin Use|Sex|Some Violence|Strong Language)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 19, 1996, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 19, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $16.6M
Runtime: 1h 34m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, Stereo, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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