Wild in the Streets

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Wild in the Streets

R

Released May 29, 1968

1h 37m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

67%

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21 Reviews

42%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

Archetypal 1960s musician Max Frost (Christopher Jones) lends his backing to a Senate candidate who wants to give 18-year-olds the right to vote, but he takes things a step further than expected. Inspired by their hero's words, Max's fans pressure their leaders into extending the vote to citizens as young as 15. Max and his followers capitalize on their might by bringing new issues to the fore, but, drunk on power, they soon take generational warfare to terrible extremes.

Joe Morgenstern

Newsweek

It is nothing substantial and everything urgent.

Jul 6, 2022

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

This blatant, insensitive, crummy-looking American International Pictures movie is entertaining in a lot of ways that more tasteful movies aren’t; it has wit without any grace at all, and is enjoyable at a pop, comic-strip level.

Jul 6, 2022

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Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

It's a dark, dark comment on 1968 youth culture, not always elegant to watch but unusual for its time.

Jun 4, 2014

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Stephen Farber

Los Angeles Free Press

A sort of political-science-fiction cartoon, heavily exaggerated but sometimes funny.

Jan 30, 2020

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Richard Schickel

LIFE

A movie entirely made by untrustworthy-older 30s, it is an attempt to cram into an antique philosophical and esthetic frame a phenomenon that had, long before they began shooting, transcended that frame.

Aug 30, 2019

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

[UPDATED 2025 REVIEW] Even acknowledging it as a sign of the times, it comes off as awfully obvious in its satiric implications.

Rated: 2/4

Sep 17, 2016

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Kathy P

I saw this movie at a drive-in when I was a teen. Pretty awesome in the 60's!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/05/22

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Dean S

I guess you had to be there. Sure glad I was! Great sixties soundtrack.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/20/21

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dave s

Despite the fact that it is wildly outdated stylistically, Wild in the Streets is a periodically interesting satire on politics and the social unrest of the late 1960s. The use of freeze frames, superimposition, split screens, jarring camera angles, and flash editing, among other things, are uncomfortable to watch, despite being somewhat innovative at the time the movie was made. The storyline is interesting, as implausible as it may be, but lacks the finesse and subtly that would have made it more impactful. As is, it's a raucous, in-your-face sort of experience that can be an interesting viewing if you can overcome its shortcomings.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

loved this when it was first released and it hasn't lost it's edge for me. shows how a cult of personality can lead to pandemonium and disaster. also, a reminder to be careful what you wish for. classic hippie flic.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

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Audience Member

My first movie by myself at 11yo. I was totally amazed and loved it - still do > 10/10

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

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Audience Member

A psychedelic satire that is a lot of fun. Not to be taken seriously, just groove to its absurdity.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

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Barry Shear

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Synopsis

Archetypal 1960s musician Max Frost (Christopher Jones) lends his backing to a Senate candidate who wants to give 18-year-olds the right to vote, but he takes things a step further than expected. Inspired by their hero's words, Max's fans pressure their leaders into extending the vote to citizens as young as 15. Max and his followers capitalize on their might by bringing new issues to the fore, but, drunk on power, they soon take generational warfare to terrible extremes.

Director: Barry Shear
Producer: Samuel Z. Arkoff, James H. Nicholson
Screenwriter: Robert Thom
Distributor: American International Pictures, MGM Home Entertainment, Home Box Office (HBO) [us]
Production Co: American International Pictures (AIP)
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 29, 1968, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 17, 2017
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Mono