Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsABFFPride MonthOutfest OutfrontsSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Trainspotting

  • 1996
  • R
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
702K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
716
313
Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle, Jonny Lee Miller, Ewen Bremner, and Kelly Macdonald in Trainspotting (1996)
Trailer for Trainspotting
Play trailer1:55
3 Videos
99+ Photos
Drama

Renton, deeply immersed in the Edinburgh drug scene, tries to clean up and get out, despite the allure of the drugs and influence of friends.Renton, deeply immersed in the Edinburgh drug scene, tries to clean up and get out, despite the allure of the drugs and influence of friends.Renton, deeply immersed in the Edinburgh drug scene, tries to clean up and get out, despite the allure of the drugs and influence of friends.

  • Director
    • Danny Boyle
  • Writers
    • Irvine Welsh
    • John Hodge
  • Stars
    • Ewan McGregor
    • Ewen Bremner
    • Jonny Lee Miller
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    8.1/10
    702K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    716
    313
    • Director
      • Danny Boyle
    • Writers
      • Irvine Welsh
      • John Hodge
    • Stars
      • Ewan McGregor
      • Ewen Bremner
      • Jonny Lee Miller
    • 712User reviews
    • 159Critic reviews
    • 83Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #169
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 23 wins & 35 nominations total

    Videos3

    Trainspotting: Blu-Ray
    Trailer 1:55
    Watch Trainspotting: Blu-Ray
    Trainspotting
    Trailer 0:31
    Watch Trainspotting
    'Trainspotting' | Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:21
    Watch 'Trainspotting' | Anniversary Mashup

    Photos155

    Ewan McGregor in Trainspotting (1996)
    Ewen Bremner in Trainspotting (1996)
    Danny Boyle in Trainspotting (1996)
    Kelly Macdonald in Trainspotting (1996)
    Robert Carlyle and Jonny Lee Miller in Trainspotting (1996)
    Ewan McGregor in Trainspotting (1996)
    Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle, Jonny Lee Miller, Ewen Bremner, and Kevin McKidd in Trainspotting (1996)
    Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle, Jonny Lee Miller, Ewen Bremner, and Kelly Macdonald in Trainspotting (1996)
    Ewan McGregor and Kelly Macdonald in Trainspotting (1996)
    Ewan McGregor in Trainspotting (1996)
    Kevin McKidd in Trainspotting (1996)
    Ewan McGregor in Trainspotting (1996)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ewan McGregor
    Ewan McGregor
    • Renton
    Ewen Bremner
    Ewen Bremner
    • Spud
    Jonny Lee Miller
    Jonny Lee Miller
    • Sick Boy
    Kevin McKidd
    Kevin McKidd
    • Tommy
    Robert Carlyle
    Robert Carlyle
    • Begbie
    Kelly Macdonald
    Kelly Macdonald
    • Diane
    Peter Mullan
    Peter Mullan
    • Swanney
    James Cosmo
    James Cosmo
    • Mr. Renton
    Eileen Nicholas
    • Mrs. Renton
    Susan Vidler
    Susan Vidler
    • Allison
    Pauline Lynch
    Pauline Lynch
    • Lizzy
    Shirley Henderson
    Shirley Henderson
    • Gail
    Stuart McQuarrie
    Stuart McQuarrie
    • Gavin…
    Irvine Welsh
    Irvine Welsh
    • Mikey Forrester
    Dale Winton
    Dale Winton
    • Game Show Host
    Keith Allen
    Keith Allen
    • Dealer
    Kevin Allen
    Kevin Allen
    • Andreas
    Annie Louise Ross
    • Gail's Mother
    • (as Ann-Louise Ross)
    • Director
      • Danny Boyle
    • Writers
      • Irvine Welsh
      • John Hodge
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    T2 Trainspotting
    7.2
    T2 Trainspotting
    Snatch
    8.2
    Snatch
    A Clockwork Orange
    8.3
    A Clockwork Orange
    The Big Lebowski
    8.1
    The Big Lebowski
    Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
    8.1
    Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
    Requiem for a Dream
    8.3
    Requiem for a Dream
    Fargo
    8.1
    Fargo
    Full Metal Jacket
    8.3
    Full Metal Jacket
    Kill Bill: Vol. 1
    8.2
    Kill Bill: Vol. 1
    Reservoir Dogs
    8.3
    Reservoir Dogs
    Taxi Driver
    8.2
    Taxi Driver
    No Country for Old Men
    8.2
    No Country for Old Men

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Although it looks thoroughly off-putting, the feces in the Worst Toilet in Scotland scene was actually made from chocolate and smelled quite pleasant.
    • Goofs
      After Renton has sex with Diane, he has nothing on his penis, but once he gets kicked out into the hallway, he pulls a condom off.
    • Quotes

      [first lines]

      Mark "Rent-boy" Renton: [narrating] Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big television, choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol, and dental insurance. Choose fixed interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisurewear and matching luggage. Choose a three-piece suit on hire purchase in a range of fucking fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who the fuck you are on Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing fucking junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pissing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, fucked up brats you spawned to replace yourselves. Choose your future. Choose life... But why would I want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose life. I chose somethin' else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you've got heroin?

    • Crazy credits
      The voice-over during the end of the end credits cites the seven movies in which Sean Connery played "James Bond".
    • Alternate versions
      The Special Edition did not feature the trailer and video. These were available in the Green Edition. UK 'Green Edition' video release is in widescreen format and includes the nine extra scenes featured in the box set special edition, the original theatrical trailer (which doesn't use any of the film's footage) and the complete promotional video of Underworld's Born Slippy, the hit song spawned from the soundtrack.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Courage Under Fire/Walking and Talking/Trainspotting/Harriet the Spy (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      Lust for Life
      Performed by Iggy Pop

      Words and Music by Iggy Pop / David Bowie

      Published by EMI Music Publishing Ltd/EMI Virgin Music Ltd/Tintoretto Music

      Administered by RZO Music

      Courtesy of Virgin Records America Inc

    User reviews712

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Superb
    An extremely competent look at the Scottish drug-Scene, Trainspotting is a perfect example of the potential of the UK industry to tell a story of tragedy, horror and hope in a manner that the American industry has yet to do without drifting into tired Cliche. While the manner and style of delivery are extremely funny and at times appear almost unreal, the fact remains that these characters are real. The clearly psychotic and alcoholic Begbie, played by Robert Carlyle is a supporting role that is actually of immense value to the film. Here we have character who I've met, you've met and we've all met. A man with very little to lose absorbed in a sea of alcohol and prone to violence. I choose him as example because he isnt even involved in the drug-scene in which the main characters are central. In fact his opposition is somewhat humorous when we consider his own vices make him argueably worse off and the incidences of violence he becomes involved in

    are most definitely black humour. Considering what is actually happening isnt funny, watching it play out, aside from one major incident, is extremely funny. And that is the tone of the film throughout, as characters continually talk nonsence and sail through the lives they have chosen, making very little progress, but instead drifting downwards until an opportunity presents itself to change their ways, where upon Renton, Ewan McGregor, must make a choice between his own life or his friends. McGregor himself is excellent in the film that made him, as is Jonny Lee Miller, who surprised me in this film by having a more thought-provoking character than the script and time strictly allowed considering his relatively minimal place in the main storyline. Ewen Bremner provided some excellent and often well-needed comic relief and Carlyle as I mentioned, was outstanding. This film is both real and unreal, taking the Humour of "Human Traffic" and the somber tone of "My name is Joe" and blending them together to create an unforgettable experience vividly accompanied by strains of "Perfect day" and other cultural and nostalgic sounds, particularly of the place and period. Trainspotting has been accused of glamourising drug-use but I firmly believe anyone who takes this view hasnt watched it properly. The fun is equally, if not more so, matched by some nasty images and for the time it was released, provided what was a very necessary look at the growing drug industry, the loss it creates and the hope that can arise. Superb.
    helpful•124
    36
    • Sean-M
    • Mar 6, 2003

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ16

    • Is 'Trainspotting' based on a book?
    • Why is it called "Trainspotting"?
    • What is Sick Boy's actual name?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 9, 1996 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Lối Sống Đồi Trụy
    • Filming locations
      • Corrour Railway Station, Highland, Scotland, UK(on location)
    • Production companies
      • Channel Four Films
      • Figment Films
      • The Noel Gay Motion Picture Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • £1,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $16,491,080
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $262,673
      • Jul 21, 1996
    • Gross worldwide
      • $16,767,475
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 33 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle, Jonny Lee Miller, Ewen Bremner, and Kelly Macdonald in Trainspotting (1996)
    Top Gap
    What is the streaming release date of Trainspotting (1996) in India?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.