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IMDbPro

CBGB

  • 20132013
  • RR
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
11K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,370
5,155
Alan Rickman, Malin Akerman, Rupert Grint, and Ashley Greene in CBGB (2013)
 A look at the New York City punk-rock scene and the venerable nightclub, CBGB, run by the incomparable Hilly Kristal.
Play trailer2:03
5 Videos
99+ Photos
CrimeDramaMusic
A look at the New York City punk-rock scene and the venerable nightclub, CBGB.A look at the New York City punk-rock scene and the venerable nightclub, CBGB.A look at the New York City punk-rock scene and the venerable nightclub, CBGB.
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
11K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,370
5,155
    • Randall Miller
    • Jody Savin
    • Randall Miller
  • Stars
    • Alan Rickman
    • Malin Akerman
    • Justin Bartha
    • Randall Miller
    • Jody Savin
    • Randall Miller
  • Stars
    • Alan Rickman
    • Malin Akerman
    • Justin Bartha
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 61User reviews
    • 39Critic reviews
    • 30Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos5

    Trailer #1
    Trailer 2:03
    Watch Trailer #1
    CBGB
    Clip 1:45
    Watch CBGB
    CBGB
    Clip 0:31
    Watch CBGB
    CBGB
    Clip 1:20
    Watch CBGB
    CBGB
    Clip 0:56
    Watch CBGB

    Photos169

    Steven Schub, Julian Acosta, Joel David Moore, and Johnathan Staggs in CBGB (2013)
    Alan Rickman and Ashley Greene in CBGB (2013)
    Johnny Galecki in CBGB (2013)
    Mickey Sumner in CBGB (2013)
    Alan Rickman, Darin Heames, and Ryan Hurst in CBGB (2013)
    Malin Akerman in CBGB (2013)
    Justin Bartha, Rupert Grint, and Bronson Adams in CBGB (2013)
    Richard de Klerk in CBGB (2013)
    Ashley Greene in CBGB (2013)
    Rupert Grint in CBGB (2013)
    Rupert Grint and Stana Katic in CBGB (2013)
    Steven Schub, Julian Acosta, Joel David Moore, and Johnathan Staggs in CBGB (2013)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Alan Rickman
    Alan Rickman
    • Hilly Kristal
    Malin Akerman
    Malin Akerman
    • Debbie Harry
    Justin Bartha
    Justin Bartha
    • Stiv Bators
    Richard de Klerk
    Richard de Klerk
    • Taxi
    Johnny Galecki
    Johnny Galecki
    • Terry Ork
    Kyle Gallner
    Kyle Gallner
    • Lou Reed
    Ashley Greene
    Ashley Greene
    • Lisa Kristal
    Rupert Grint
    Rupert Grint
    • Cheetah Chrome
    Estelle Harris
    Estelle Harris
    • Bertha Kristal
    Taylor Hawkins
    Taylor Hawkins
    • Iggy Pop
    Ryan Hurst
    Ryan Hurst
    • Mad Mountain
    Stana Katic
    Stana Katic
    • Genya Ravan
    Joel David Moore
    Joel David Moore
    • Joey Ramone
    Ahna O'Reilly
    Ahna O'Reilly
    • Mary Harron
    Freddy Rodríguez
    Freddy Rodríguez
    • Idaho
    Mickey Sumner
    Mickey Sumner
    • Patti Smith
    Bradley Whitford
    Bradley Whitford
    • Nicky Gant
    Josh Zuckerman
    Josh Zuckerman
    • John Holmstrom
      • Randall Miller
      • Jody Savin
      • Randall Miller
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Burning Down the House: The Story of CBGB
    7.7
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    An Awfully Big Adventure
    5.8
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The real Cheetah Chrome (Rupert Grint role) plays an extra as a taxi cab driver.
    • Goofs
      Hilly specifically requires all performers to play all-original material and no covers, yet Blondie is depicted performing their cover of the 1963 doo-wop hit "Denise" (gender-reversed to "Denis").
    • Quotes

      Hilly Kristal: [Being introduced to the Ramones] What do you guys have for me?

      Joey Ramone: We got four songs. I don't wanna walk around with you, I don't wanna be learned, I don't wanna be tamed and I don't wanna go down to the basement.

      Hilly Kristal: Lot of things you don't wanna do.

    • Crazy credits
      "This film is dedicated to... Hilly Kristal and all those who worked at and lived at CBGB. MAY THEY ROCK ON FOREVER! No animals were harmed during the making of this film... The cockroach guts were Fig Newtons. And we know that Iggy Pop never played at CBGB... Just deal with it."
    • Connections
      Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Movie Biopics That Got It Wrong (2020)
    • Soundtracks
      Kick Out the Jams
      Written by Michael Davis, Rob Tyner (as Robert Derminer), Wayne Kramer, Fred 'Sonic' Smith (as Frederick Smith), Dennis Thompson (as Dennis Tomich)

      Performed by MC5

      Courtesy of Elektra Entertainment Group

      By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

    User reviews61

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    Great film about an important moment in music history
    As someone who was "there" but as an outsider (14-year-old kid from NJ who idolized Punk magazine and especially the Ramones), I loved this film. Yes, I recognize a number of liberties were taken with the truth, but this film allowed me to relive the thrill I used to experience going to CBGB's (as we called it) back in the day (I started going around 1976 or so). Even more than that, it's great to get a glimpse of how CBGB's came to be.

    More than that, the film works great as a film in and of itself -- the directing, pacing, acting and cinematography are all first rate, with nary a dull or dead spot throughout (until the end, but I'll get to that). I'm not generally one for tricks like the use of Holmstrom's art to frame the story, but since it's Punk magazine we're talking about, it makes perfect sense for this film.

    The film just sails along -- I suppose partly because it's so much fun to see the various bands, and how much fun the actors had portraying the band members' quirks (the Joey Ramone character is spot on... ). In fact, I would have liked it if the film had been extended to include more of the early groups (they left out Suicide, who were everywhere back then) and more of the live performances. I'm a little torn by the decision to have them lip sync to album material -- on the one hand, it's the music we remember, on the other hand, most of the bands have live material available, even recorded at CBGB's, why not use some of that?

    However, by the end... the film runs out of steam a bit. I think that comes partly from the decision to focus a bit too much on the Dead Boys storyline, knowing how doomed that band was, and how entirely outclassed they were by most of the other bands featured (Television, Talking Heads, Ramones, Blondie). Fortunately, the film only sags in the last 15 minutes or so, and it's still not enough to spoil a fine film dealing with a very important part of American -- and world -- music history.

    For me, personally, this period shaped my entire life, certainly from an aesthetic point of view.

    And great news! There's now a Best of Punk Magazine book available! (I still have my original copies around somewhere, but I can't wait to show this book to my kids!)
    helpful•45
    20
    • natrc2003
    • Oct 3, 2013

    Details

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    • Release date
      • October 11, 2013 (United States)
      • United States
      • Official Facebook
      • Official Twitter
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Savannah, Georgia, USA
    • Production companies
      • Unclaimed Freight Productions
      • Rampart Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 42 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Digital

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