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S.F.W.

  • 1994
  • R
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
5.6K
YOUR RATING
Reese Witherspoon and Stephen Dorff in S.F.W. (1994)
Home Video Trailer from Gramercy Pictures
Play trailer0:31
1 Video
43 Photos
Dark ComedySatireComedyDrama

An alienated and misanthropic teenager gains sudden and unwanted celebrity status after he's taken hostage by terrorists where his indifference to their threats to kill him makes news headli... Read allAn alienated and misanthropic teenager gains sudden and unwanted celebrity status after he's taken hostage by terrorists where his indifference to their threats to kill him makes news headlines.An alienated and misanthropic teenager gains sudden and unwanted celebrity status after he's taken hostage by terrorists where his indifference to their threats to kill him makes news headlines.

  • Director
    • Jefery Levy
  • Writers
    • Andrew Wellman
    • Danny Rubin
    • Jefery Levy
  • Stars
    • Stephen Dorff
    • Reese Witherspoon
    • Jake Busey
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.7/10
    5.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jefery Levy
    • Writers
      • Andrew Wellman
      • Danny Rubin
      • Jefery Levy
    • Stars
      • Stephen Dorff
      • Reese Witherspoon
      • Jake Busey
    • 61User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    S.F.W.
    Trailer 0:31
    S.F.W.

    Photos43

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    + 36
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    Top cast62

    Edit
    Stephen Dorff
    Stephen Dorff
    • Cliff Spab
    Reese Witherspoon
    Reese Witherspoon
    • Wendy Pfister
    Jake Busey
    Jake Busey
    • Morrow Streeter
    Joey Lauren Adams
    Joey Lauren Adams
    • Monica Dice
    Pamela Gidley
    Pamela Gidley
    • Janet Streeter
    David Barry Gray
    David Barry Gray
    • Scott Spab
    Jack Noseworthy
    Jack Noseworthy
    • Joe Dice
    Richard Portnow
    Richard Portnow
    • Gerald Parsley
    Edward Wiley
    • Mr. Spab
    Lela Ivey
    • Mrs. Spab
    Natasha Gregson Wagner
    Natasha Gregson Wagner
    • Kristen
    Annie McEnroe
    Annie McEnroe
    • Dolly
    Virgil Frye
    Virgil Frye
    • Earl
    Francesca P. Roberts
    Francesca P. Roberts
    • Kim Martin
    Soon-Tek Oh
    Soon-Tek Oh
    • Milt Morris
    • (as Soon Teck Oh)
    Blair Tefkin
    • Allison Ash
    Steve Antin
    Steve Antin
    • Dick Zetterland
    Melissa Sullivan
    Melissa Sullivan
    • Sandy Hooten
    • (as Melissa Lechner)
    • Director
      • Jefery Levy
    • Writers
      • Andrew Wellman
      • Danny Rubin
      • Jefery Levy
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The filmmakers described this movie as a "serio-comedy about terrorism, beer, and talk shows."
    • Goofs
      In the opening before the gun fight cliff, Wendy and Joe are dirty and disheveled, however during the gun fight flashback they are well groomed and clean.
    • Quotes

      Cliff Spab: I'd like to live forever... but only for a little while.

    • Crazy credits
      The GWAR video seen in the movie follows the credits in its entirety.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Bad Company/Far from Home: The Adventures of Yellow Dog/Murder in the First/Higher Learning/S.F.W./Strawberry and Chocolate (1995)
    • Soundtracks
      Jesus Christ Pose
      Performed by Soundgarden

      Written by Chris Cornell, Matt Cameron (as Matthew D. Cameron), Kim Thayil (as Kim A. Thayil), Ben Shepherd

      Courtesy of A&M Records, Inc.

    User reviews61

    Featured review

    Very much like reality TV itself – has nothing to say but says it very loudly and brashly

    5 people are taken hostage in a convenience store for 36 days until a fight allows them to escape. During these 36 days the terrorists' only demand is that their video feed from inside the store is broadcast live on the networks. Spab and Wendy emerge as the only survivors to find themselves heroes of the media generation.

    Don't let the plot summary fool you into thinking this is some type of thriller with a media slant. The hostage thing is over in the first 3 minutes and any flashbacks are dull and meaningless (except one powerful one). Instead we have a mixed up satire on media and the fade of fame. The plot never makes sense and really loses the point after only a few minutes. The fact that the whole hostage thing is never explained and barely touched on just shows it is nothing but a poor plot device to get to where the makers wanted to be to make their point.

    It manages to come across as just an angry youth movie – with it's anger not directed anywhere in particular. This causes it to be very loud and with far too much swearing, causing you to start to switch off. The only point that the film manages to make clearly is that no matter who is the 15 minute celeb or news story that night, TV is all the same. Wow! What cutting edge comment!

    Dorff is OK but just plain annoying in his videos (that apparently the world love). Witherspoon is vapid, Busey is just loud and annoying and Adams is totally misused. The cast put more effort into saying the F word than anything else. It is very off putting because it is unnecessary – I guess they thought the `kids' would dig it.

    Overall this is just like the media that it tries to criticise. It is loud, meaningless, lacking substance and totally forgettable – physician heal thyself............
    • bob the moo
    • Aug 7, 2002
    • Permalink

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    FAQ18

    • How long is S.F.W.?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 20, 1995 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • So Fucking What?
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Polygram Filmed Entertainment
      • A&M Films
      • Propaganda Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $63,513
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $44,227
      • Jan 22, 1995
    • Gross worldwide
      • $63,513
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 36 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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