Bugsy Malone

Bugsy Malone (1976)

  • 82% of critics liked it
    (17 reviews)

  • 76% of users liked it
    (20,770 ratings)

Here's the basic "shtick" of Bugsy Malone: it's a gangster picture enacted by children. Acted out before scaled-down sets, the film details the career of Bugsy Malone (Scott Baio), who rises to the top of the criminal ladder in 1920s New York. Whenever gunfire is called for, the kiddie crooks… More

G, 1 hr. 33 min.
Directed By
Alan Parker
Written By
Alan Parker
Genres
Drama, Kids & Family, Musical & Performing Arts, Comedy
In Theaters
Sep 12, 1976 Wide
On DVD
Apr 12, 2005
Paramount Pictures

Critic Reviews

  • Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

    This original concept, a gangster musical spoof with all the roles played by children (Jodie Foster among them), never found its audience, but it's worth checking out.

  • Heather Boerner, Common Sense Media

    Jodie Foster stars in goofy kid mobster movie.

  • Alan Morrison, Empire Magazine

    The songs and set pieces are still fresh and infectious and most of the child cast are mesmerisingly good. I defy anyone not to be caught up in the charm and nostalgia.

  • Don Willmott, Filmcritic.com

    There's little here that delivers even the bare minimum for a musical or a comedy

  • Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)

    Pretty goofy idea, but kids will probably be diverted by it.

Read all 8 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Michael M


    A smartly made musical set at the time of absolute depression. All the cast are children and Bugsy Malone is one of the few films in which child actors I believe should win or at least be nominated for great acting achievment awards.

  • Dean M


    Good kiddie-gangster-musical flick as what I see is how do we show killing and brutal acts of violence - only bring out the custard pies and cream-firing splurge guns of course! Genius! This is a spoof of gangster films and film noir where all the roles of the gangsters, flappers,… More

  • Lady D


    Created in the shadow and influence of such hardened criminals such as Al Capone and set in the prohibition era. Bugsy Malone is a unique style of Musical, where all the grown up characters are played by children. One of the highlights of Scott Baio's career (and let's… More

  • Thomas B


    Great musical with fantastic songs and some actually likeable child actors. Full review later.

  • Anthony L


    "We could've been anything that we wanted to be..la la la, la la la la..." - Im going to be singing that for the rest of the day now! Classic film, I love it!

Read all 18 featured audience ratings

Cast

See full cast