Eddie and the Cruisers (1983)

38% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
70% of users liked it
(9,240 ratings)

In the early 1960's, Eddie Wilson (Michael Pare) and his band The Cruisers enjoyed a brief fling with success, but their career came to a halt when Eddie's badly damaged car was discovered in an accident on a bridge. However, Eddie's body was never found, and years later, a reissue of the group's… More In the early 1960's, Eddie Wilson (Michael Pare) and his band The Cruisers enjoyed a brief fling with success, but their career came to a halt when Eddie's badly damaged car was discovered in an accident on a bridge. However, Eddie's body was never found, and years later, a reissue of the group's only album sparks rumors that the mysterious Eddie might still be alive. Frank Ridgeway (Tom Berenger), Eddie's former piano player and lyricist, finds himself trailed by Maggie Foley (Ellen Barkin), a reporter trying to find out the truth about Eddie, as well as another former bandmate who wants Frank to join his revamped version of the Cruisers -- and is trying to track down the tapes for the Cruisers' unreleased second album. While not a box-office success on its original release, Eddie and the Cruisers developed a following after its showings on cable television and release on videotape; this led to the belated success of the film's soundtrack album, featuring a number of bombastic neo-Springsteen numbers by John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band. Beaver Brown saxophonist Michael "Tunes" Antunes plays Wendell, the Cruisers' sax player and Eddie's best friend (despite the fact that we never hear him speak). ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 33 min.
Directed By: Martin Davidson
Genres: Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Cult Movies

In Theaters: Sep 23, 1983 Wide
On DVD: Sep 4, 2001
Studio: Nelson Entertainment

No Critic Reviews Found…

Featured Audience Ratings

David L

Eddie Wilson (Michael Pare) was the lead singer of "Eddie & The Cruisers", an on the rise rock band in the early 1960s that played late 1970s/1980s style music. They cut one successful album, "Tender Years", which featured the hit song "On The Dark… More
Eddie Wilson (Michael Pare) was the lead singer of "Eddie & The Cruisers", an on the rise rock band in the early 1960s that played late 1970s/1980s style music. They cut one successful album, "Tender Years", which featured the hit song "On The Dark Side", and it looked as though Eddie (and his band) had overnight fame & fortune almost within his grasp, but Eddie could not see beyond his own arrogance to recognize and accept the fact that if he wanted to be in the spotlight, he would have to play by certain rules, and at times could mistreat his band mates, even lyricist/piano player Frank "Word Man" Ridgeway (Tom Berenger). Following the death of their original sax player and the rejection of their 2nd album, "A Season In Hell", rejected because the style of music was dismissed as little more than "weird noises", Eddie apparently committed suicide, driving his car off the bay docks... but since his body was never found, an urban legend formed around him. Years later, in the early 1980s, Eddie's music has experienced a resurgence in popularity & appreciation when his old record label re-releases the Tender Years album, and a debate is sparked as to what happened to the lost performance tapes and recordings of the "Season in Hell" album. Then someone starts ransacking former band members homes in a desperate search for those tapes... could it be Eddie? In the midst of this, more about the band's tragic downfall comes to light. All in all, a well made, well acted film that speaks for all those rock singers who almost had it but for whatever reason couldn't hold on. Michael Pare (in the role that should have made him a star) is well cast as Eddie Wilson, the charismatic but self-destructive rock singer, though the true star is Tom Berenger as the lyricist who must uncover the truth of it all. Excellent showcase for the music of John Cafferty (Eddie's singing voice) and the Beaver Brown Band
Cynthia S

This movie is one of my ALL TIME favorite movies. I loved the whole entire film, and the very end of the movie made me jump out of my chair (in 1984 when I first saw it). The music in this movie was so outstanding that I had bought the album and wore it out! Michael Pare will always… More
This movie is one of my ALL TIME favorite movies. I loved the whole entire film, and the very end of the movie made me jump out of my chair (in 1984 when I first saw it). The music in this movie was so outstanding that I had bought the album and wore it out! Michael Pare will always be Eddie to me, no matter whatever movie I have seen him in since. The second movie was pretty good, too. I was thrilled to see them wrap up the story like they did. That was a very good idea to follow up such an awesome movie.
Jason S

The story of a rise and fall of a fictional rock legend.
Marion R

Not the greatest film, but the music is where this film shines. I loved the music, it was right up my alley, + Michael Pare is really cute!
Jason R

Great movie, the soundtrack is pretty sweet, but the whole story about this band from Jersey and their troubled singer, good stuff.
Leo L

Love it!