Detroit Rock City

Plot

A comedy about four teenagers in 1978 who try to scam their way into a KISS concert.

Release Year: 1999

Rating: 6.5/10 (18,361 voted)

Critic's Score: 33/100

Director:
Adam Rifkin

Stars: Edward Furlong, Giuseppe Andrews, James DeBello

Storyline
Four members of a high school band called Mystery do everything they can to attend a KISS concert in Detroit. In order to make it to the show they must steal, cheat, strip, deal with an anti-rock mom and generally do whatever it takes to see the band that has inspired them to be musicians.

Cast:

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

Taglines:
Rock and roll all night. Party every day.

Release Date: 13 August 1999

Filming Locations: Billy Sue's Rebel Garage, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office Details

Budget: $15,000,000

(estimated)

Opening Weekend: $2,005,512
(USA)
(15 August 1999)
(1802 Screens)

Gross: $4,217,115
(USA)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Did You Know?

Trivia:

The Bassett Hound which brings Lex the Frisbee is the same dog that appears in a number of television commercials for Maytag appliances.

Goofs:

Errors in geography:
When the boys are seen driving into Detroit, they are driving across a bridge into the city. The only bridges into Detroit come from Canada and Belle Isle, neither of which would be possible for them.

Quotes:

Lex:
[while singing "Rock and roll all night"]
Give it to me, baby!

User Review

This movie rocks!

Rating: 7/10

I really don't see why this movie tanked and why it is hated by many. Maybe
its poor box office performance was due partly to its R-rating, being that
it appeals to a predominantly teenage demographic. But I found it to be
funny, entertaining and downright awesome!

This is not a nostalgic piece. Other than the music, this film's characters
seemed to be fished out of contemporary society. So the older viewers might
not enjoy it QUITE as much. I have to say, my only disappointment was that
Kiss only got to perform once, at the very end. Other than that, this is
just a wildly funny comic ride with good performances from the main cast, as
well as the supporting–Lin Shaye stands out as the ultra-protective,
Bible-toting, chain-smoking mother who regards Kiss as "Knights in Satan's
Service." Joe Flaherty, of SCTV fame, also has a funny cameo.

What can I say? I laughed a lot. I bobbed my head to the music. I had
fun. That pretty much does it for me.

My score: 7 (out of 10)