IMDb >
Detroit Rock City (1999)
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsDetroit Rock City (1999) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 114 | slideshow) | Videos (see all 6) |
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer (WGA):
Carl V. Dupré (written by)
Release Date:
13 August 1999 (USA)
more
Tagline:
Rock and roll all night. Party every day. more
Plot:
A comedy about four teenagers in 1978 who try to scam their way into a KISS concert. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
2 nominations
more
NewsDesk:
(25 articles)
Sam Worthington to Star in “The Last Days of American Crime”
(From Filmofilia. 20 November 2009, 11:22 PM, PST)
Red Hot Chili Peppers, LL Cool J, Abba Lead 2010 Rock Hall Of Fame Nominees List
(From MTV Music News. 22 September 2009, 10:57 PM, PDT)
(From Filmofilia. 20 November 2009, 11:22 PM, PST)
Red Hot Chili Peppers, LL Cool J, Abba Lead 2010 Rock Hall Of Fame Nominees List
(From MTV Music News. 22 September 2009, 10:57 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Hilarious, and Not Just For Kiss Fans
more (183 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Giuseppe Andrews | ... | Lex | |
| James DeBello | ... | Trip (as James De Bello) | |
| Edward Furlong | ... | Hawk | |
| Sam Huntington | ... | Jam | |
| Lin Shaye | ... | Mrs. Bruce | |
| Melanie Lynskey | ... | Beth | |
| Natasha Lyonne | ... | Christine | |
| Miles Dougal | ... | Elvis | |
| Nick Scotti | ... | Kenny | |
| Emmanuelle Chriqui | ... | Barbara | |
| David Quane | ... | Bobby | |
| Rodger Barton | ... | Mr. Bumsteen | |
| Kathryn Haggis | ... | Mrs. Bumsteen | |
| David Gardner | ... | Priest | |
| Shannon Tweed | ... | Amanda Finch |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
The Kiss Movie (USA) (working title)
more
more
MPAA:
Rated R for strong language, drug use and sex-related content.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
95 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
USA:R (No. 36634) |
Finland:S |
Iceland:12 |
New Zealand:R16 |
Canada:14A |
Canada:PG (Canadian Home Video rating) |
Australia:MA |
Germany:12 |
Singapore:PG |
Spain:13 |
UK:15
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The two girls in the movie are named Beth and Christine, a reference to the KISS songs "Beth" and "Christine Sixteen".
more
Goofs:
Factual errors: In the end credits for musical listings, for the songs by the band UFO, singer Phil Mogg's last name is misspelled (as "Moog.")
more
Soundtrack:
Problem Child
more
FAQ
Headings, a semi-official version, v1.00:Songs, v1.01:
more
more (183 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Detroit Rock City (1999) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| KISS Loves You | Superbad | Almost Famous | Across the Universe | Telling Lies in America |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Adventure section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |













I was a huge KISS fan for much of my teenage life (finally seeing the original band on their 1996 Reunion Tour was one of the highlights of my life, as I was too young to witness them in their '70s heyday), so DETROIT ROCK CITY was mandatory viewing for me when it first hit video. I would've loved to have seen it during its short theatrical run, but sadly, this overlooked movie tanked at the box office and disappeared within a week of its release, which astounds me to this day, because even if you're not a KISS fan, any rock and roller past or present should be able to relate to this story of musical fanaticism, no matter what band(s) you might be into.
The film does share many similarities to an earlier classic, 1979's ROCK N ROLL HIGH SCHOOL (starring the Ramones), but thanks to the more liberal time period in which it was made, DETROIT ROCK CITY is a lot more foul-mouthed and raunchier, which may have cost the producers a PG-13 rating, but it just fine by me... after all, real high school kids don't say "darn" and "heck," they spew the F-Word liberally into every sentence! Anyway, our story revolves around four high school misfits circa 1978 whose main goal in life (other than playing bad covers of KISS songs in their basement rec room) is to finally see KISS live in concert at Detroit's Cobo Hall arena. When one boy's fundamentalist Mom discovers the "demonic" concert tickets in her son's jacket and burns them, it sets the four friends on a quest to figure out how to get into the concert at all costs, and they set a hilarious series of misadventures in motion along the way. In no particular order, the boys run afoul of a gang of disco-loving toughs on the highway, get mixed up in the middle of a convenience store robbery (thwarted by a Stretch Armstrong doll!), take the stage in a male strip joint to win money for tickets, get their car towed from the mean streets of Detroit, and rescue one of their own from a Christian boy's school. The film's eye candy quotient is filled very nicely by a cameo from Shannon Tweed (real-life companion of Kiss' Gene Simmons), and there's even a tender moment of teenage romance as one boy loses his virginity (in a church's confessional no less!). All this madness is set to an irresistible hard-rockin' soundtrack that features not only Kiss but other 70s titans like Blue Oyster Cult and Ted Nugent. Do the boys finally make it to Cobo Hall to see their heroes? I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't seen it yet, therefore I highly recommend that you check out this overlooked comedy gem. DETROIT ROCK CITY is a hysterical trip down memory lane for anyone who's ever cranked up their favorite song extremely LOUD...and as Kiss themselves once said, if it's too loud,you're too old. Thankfully I'm not too old to enjoy this movie!!