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Stranger Than Paradise

  • 19841984
  • RR
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
37K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Richard Edson, Eszter Balint, and John Lurie in Stranger Than Paradise (1984)
A New Yorker's life is thrown into a tailspin when his younger cousin surprise-visits him, starting a strange, unpredictable adventure.
Play trailer2:43
2 Videos
96 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama

A New Yorker's life is thrown into a tailspin when his younger cousin surprise-visits him, starting a strange, unpredictable adventure.A New Yorker's life is thrown into a tailspin when his younger cousin surprise-visits him, starting a strange, unpredictable adventure.A New Yorker's life is thrown into a tailspin when his younger cousin surprise-visits him, starting a strange, unpredictable adventure.

IMDb RATING
7.4/10
37K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jim Jarmusch
  • Writers
    • Jim Jarmusch
    • John Lurie(part one "The New World" from an idea by)
  • Stars
    • John Lurie
    • Eszter Balint
    • Richard Edson
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jim Jarmusch
  • Writers
    • Jim Jarmusch
    • John Lurie(part one "The New World" from an idea by)
  • Stars
    • John Lurie
    • Eszter Balint
    • Richard Edson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 129User reviews
    • 74Critic reviews
    • 86Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 9 wins & 3 nominations

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:43
    Official Trailer
    Bill Murray vs. Zombies? We're Dying for 'The Dead Don't Die'
    Clip 3:12
    Bill Murray vs. Zombies? We're Dying for 'The Dead Don't Die'

    Photos96

    Richard Edson, Eszter Balint, and John Lurie in Stranger Than Paradise (1984)
    Richard Edson, John Lurie, and Cecillia Stark in Stranger Than Paradise (1984)
    Richard Edson, Eszter Balint, and John Lurie in Stranger Than Paradise (1984)
    John Lurie in Stranger Than Paradise (1984)
    Richard Edson at an event for Stranger Than Paradise (1984)
    Richard Edson and Sara Driver at an event for Stranger Than Paradise (1984)
    Richard Edson and Sara Driver at an event for Stranger Than Paradise (1984)
    Richard Edson and Sara Driver at an event for Stranger Than Paradise (1984)
    Sara Driver at an event for Stranger Than Paradise (1984)
    Stranger Than Paradise (1984)
    Richard Edson, Eszter Balint, and John Lurie in Stranger Than Paradise (1984)
    Richard Edson, Eszter Balint, and John Lurie in Stranger Than Paradise (1984)

    Top cast

    Edit
    John Lurie
    John Lurie
    • Willieas Willie
    Eszter Balint
    Eszter Balint
    • Evaas Eva
    Richard Edson
    Richard Edson
    • Eddieas Eddie
    Cecillia Stark
    • Aunt Lotteas Aunt Lotte
    Danny Rosen
    • Billyas Billy
    Rammellzee
    • Man with Moneyas Man with Money
    Tom DiCillo
    Tom DiCillo
    • Airline Agentas Airline Agent
    Richard Boes
    • Factory Workeras Factory Worker
    Rockets Redglare
    Rockets Redglare
    • Poker Playeras Poker Player
    Harvey Perr
    • Poker Playeras Poker Player
    Brian J. Burchill
    • Poker Playeras Poker Player
    Sara Driver
    Sara Driver
    • Girl with Hatas Girl with Hat
    Paul Sloane
    • Motel Owneras Motel Owner
    • Director
      • Jim Jarmusch
    • Writers
      • Jim Jarmusch
      • John Lurie(part one "The New World" from an idea by)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    A self-styled New York hipster is paid a surprise visit by his younger cousin from Budapest. From initial hostility and indifference a small degree of affection grows between the two. Along with a friend, they eventually end up visiting their aunt in the wastelands of Cleveland and then proceed to Florida where they lose all their money gambling before unwittingly gaining a fortune. —J.Arnold Free <arnold@mayahtt.ca> and Brian McInnis
    • road movie
    • independent film
    • snow
    • new york city
    • cult film
    • 47 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director Jim Jarmusch was dismayed to discover all the money he paid for the rights to Screamin' Jay Hawkins' "I Put a Spell on You" went to the record company, with nothing going to Hawkins himself. When the film earned a profit, Jarmusch took it upon himself to track down Hawkins (who was living in a trailer park, at the time) and give him some money. It was the beginning of a friendship between the two which lasted until Hawkins' death. According to Jarmusch, Hawkins continuously promised to pay him back, despite Jamursch's insistence that the money was a gift.
    • Goofs
      When Eddie and Willie are driving to Cleveland, the camera and camera operator can be seen in the reflection of the rear view mirror.
    • Quotes

      Eddie: You know, it's funny... you come to someplace new, an'... and everything looks just the same.

      Willie: No kiddin', Eddie.

    • Connections
      Edited from Stranger Than Paradise (1983)
    • Soundtracks
      I Put a Spell on You
      Written by Screamin' Jay Hawkins (as Jay Hawkins)

      Used by permission of CBS Unart Catalog, Inc.

      All Rights Reserved.

      Performed by Screamin' Jay Hawkins

      Courtesy of CBS Records

    User reviews129

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    I'm choking the alligator.
    Odd and inspiring. This film rings true with rich detail in its depictions of utter loneliness. Smoking many Chesterfields, watching television, playing solitaire, visiting Aunt Lottie, sightseeing at Lake Erie (for God's sake). It alters from tragic to comic from almost moment to moment, and often has a foot in both pools.

    Jarmusch is minimalist to the core with this one, and yet manages to pull off a solid story. A small black and white gem that deserves a larger audience.
    helpful•83
    10
    • redherring
    • Feb 9, 1999

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 4, 1984 (United Kingdom)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • West Germany
    • Languages
      • English
      • Hungarian
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Extraños en el paraíso
    • Filming locations
      • 464 Newark St, Hoboken, New Jersey, USA
    • Production companies
      • Cinesthesia Productions
      • Grokenberger Film Produktion
      • Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $90,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,436,000
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,436,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 29 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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    Jim Jarmusch Directs Cat Power’s New “A Pair Of Brown Eyes” Music Video
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    35 Armadillos, Singing on the Curbside: An Interview with John Lurie
    Feb 15The Film Stage

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