Cry-Baby (1990)
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76% of critics liked it
(38 reviews) -
75% of users liked it
(191,663 ratings)
John Waters does a quirky spin on '50s nostalgia in Cry-Baby, his musical homage to Rebel Without a Cause and Romeo and Juliet. Set in Baltimore in 1954 at the birth of rock & roll, the film features Johnny Depp as Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker. Depp is pure charisma as a juvenile delinquent… More John Waters does a quirky spin on '50s nostalgia in Cry-Baby, his musical homage to Rebel Without a Cause and Romeo and Juliet. Set in Baltimore in 1954 at the birth of rock & roll, the film features Johnny Depp as Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker. Depp is pure charisma as a juvenile delinquent with a permanent tear slithering down his cheek, a reminder of his state-executed parents. In the depths of his despair appears goody-goody girl Allison (Amy Locane), who has a sexual crush on Cry-Baby. But Allison's Pat Boone-like boyfriend, Baldwin (Stephen E. Miller), the leader of the squares, is dead set against Cry-Baby and the rest of the juvenile delinquents and leads a revolt against them. In the resultant riot, the juvenile delinquents are blamed for the chaos, and Cry-Baby finds himself dispatched to reform school. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Directed By
- John Waters
- Genres
- Comedy
- In Theaters
- Apr 6, 1990 Wide
- Studio
- Universal Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine
Waters' hole card is Johnny Depp, the winsome tough from TV's 21 Jump Street, who radiates big- screen grace and swagger as Cry-Baby -- no easy trick, since he is guying his own image.
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Variety Staff, Variety
John Waters' mischievous satire of the teen exploitation genre is entertaining as a rude joyride through another era, full of great clothes and hairdos.
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, Time Out
Waters' finest film to date, a worthy successor to Hairspray which exudes teen angst and young lust from every pore.
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Janet Maslin, New York Times
Mr. Depp, who smolders naturally when he isn't trying so hard, acts this role about as well as Elvis would have; under the circumstances, that's fine.
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Rita Kempley, Washington Post
Basically the filmmaker reminds us of his affection for social misfits, but without much conviction. He's simply too hip to commit himself to his beliefs, and a relentless frivolity prevails.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Johnny Depp
as Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker
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Amy Locane
as Allison, Allison Vernon-Williams
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Susan Tyrrell
as Ramona
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Polly Bergen
as Mrs. Vernon-Williams
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Ricki Lake
as Pepper
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Iggy Pop
as Belvedere
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Traci Lords
as Wanda
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Kim McGuire
as Hatchet-Face
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Darren E. Burrows
as Milton
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Steve Aronson
as Mean Guard
- John Blythe Barrymore
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Jonathan Benya
as Snare-Drum
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Jeni Blong
as Inga
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Phillip Broussard
as Cook #2
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Ken Curtis
as Whiffle #2
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Willem Dafoe
as Hateful Guard
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Joe Dallesandro
as Milton's Father
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Reggie Davis
as Cook #3
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Troy Donahue
as Hatchet's Father
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Drew Ebersole
as Whiffle #1
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Nick Fleming
as Cook #4
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Kelly Goldberg
as Pepper's Baby
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Holter Graham
as Strip Pokers
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Dan Griffiths
as Snake-eyed Hood
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Patricia Hearst
as Wanda's Mother
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Joey Heatherton
as Milton's Mother
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Robbie Jones
as Cook #5
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Angie Levroney
as Dupree's Girl Friend
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Susan Lowe
as Night Court Parent
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Eric Lucas
as Convict #2
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Stephen Mailer
as Baldwin
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Frank Maldonado
as Convict #3
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Robert Marbury
as Angelic Boy Friend
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Kirk McEwen
as Convict #1
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Scott Neilson
as Whiffle #3
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Mary Vivian Pearce
as Picnic Mother
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Jessica Raskin
as Susie-Q
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Vivienne Shub
as Mrs. Tadlock
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Skip Spencer
as Strip Poker #1
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Mink Stole
as Hatchet's Mother
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Robert Tyree
as Dupree
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Craig D. Wallace
as Cook #1
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Robert Walsh
as Judge
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Kim Webb
as Lenora
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Alan J. Wendl
as Toe-Joe
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David Nelson
as Wanda's Father
- Paula Herold
- Pat Moran
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Patrick Mitchell
as Convict



