Newsies (1992)

40% of critics liked it
(35 reviews)
86% of users liked it
(49,695 ratings)

A failed effort to revive the big-budget movie musical, Newsies attempted to create toe-tapping, song-and-dance excitement out of the true story of an 1899 strike by newspaper boys against publishing magnate Joseph Pulitzer. The "newsies" band together to protest a pay cut by Pulitzer… More A failed effort to revive the big-budget movie musical, Newsies attempted to create toe-tapping, song-and-dance excitement out of the true story of an 1899 strike by newspaper boys against publishing magnate Joseph Pulitzer. The "newsies" band together to protest a pay cut by Pulitzer (Robert Duvall), organizing a union to protect their rights and ensure fair wages. They are helped along the way by Medda (Ann-Margret), a local dance-hall performer who befriends the boys and provides an opportunity for an additional song or two. Director Kenny Ortega had previously choreographed Dirty Dancing, and composer Alan Menken had provided the acclaimed scores for Beauty and the Beast and Little Shop of Horrors, but their work here failed to capture the spark of their popular successes. Unable to connect with older or younger viewers, Newsies gained a reputation as a major bomb that cut short an attempt to bring back the live-action musical, though in the intervening years it has gained a small but appreciative cult. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

Directed By: Kenny Ortega
Genres: Musical & Performing Arts, Kids & Family

In Theaters: Apr 10, 1992 Wide
On DVD: Jan 15, 2002
Studio: Buena Vista Pictures

Critic Reviews

Michael Wilmington, Los Angeles Times
Certain movies engage your affections so strongly that, even if they start to fall apart, you tend to keep rooting for them. That's pretty much the case with Newsies.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
A Disney musical with an undistinguished score, fair to middling choreography, and clunky direction that still manages to be entertaining in spots because of its story.
John Hartl, Seattle Times
Bale and Menken are literally what make the movie sing.
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer
Despite Newsies' many flaws, it's bracing to see Disney attempt a PG movie about something as meaty as labor relations. Would that every strike be resolved with so little bloodshed and so many songs.
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel
Stop the presses! Newsies is the best live-action movie musical since Little Shop of Horrors.
Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune
An old-fashioned musical that is better when its characters sing and dance than when they talk.
Stephen Hunter, Baltimore Sun
Newsies is a live-action musical, but it's only barely alive. Call it Snoozies.
Candice Russell, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
There`s a boyish exuberance about Newsies that is hard to resist.
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
Bale and the cast are energetic and fun to watch, and the story itself is fascinating history. But the songs and choreography are a disappointment.
Matt Brunson, Creative Loafing
As a drama, it features potent material. But by presenting this as a musical, all hope is lost, thanks to imminently forgettable tunes and the casting of actors who can't sing.
Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media
Kids go on strike in gritty, historical musical.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Making his directorial bow, choreographer Kenny Ortega strains valiantly to breathe life into this misguided musical.
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Overdone, splashy period Disney musical.
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
Pretty much "sucksies."

Read all 14 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

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

Featured Audience Ratings

Nelson P

An extremely odd and bizarre musical that still doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Why Christian Bale was in this is beyond me.
danny d

really the last good musical before a huge death period for musicals in hollywood. great dancing and fun.
Martin B

Believe it or not, I'm actually a fan of modern movie musicals. But I had never seen this one, and only finally caved out of sheer curiosity to see Christian Bale sing and dance. Boy am I glad I did. Watching Bale was every bit as hilarious as I expected it to be. No wonder… More
Believe it or not, I'm actually a fan of modern movie musicals. But I had never seen this one, and only finally caved out of sheer curiosity to see Christian Bale sing and dance. Boy am I glad I did. Watching Bale was every bit as hilarious as I expected it to be. No wonder he's a bit embarrassed by this (in his defense, he signed on before it was changed to a musical, and was none too happy about it). Though he doesn't need to be. Even in something this silly, his acting talent really showed. The movie itself? Wasn't horrible, but probably isn't anything I'll ever watch again either. (and hey, I recognized at least 3 kids that went on to be on <i>Hull High</i>!)
Michael S

I really enjoyed it.
Jason S

A good musical. It's a good movie and I didn't think there was anything wrong with it.
Curtis L

Cheesy feel good movie, but I love it. love the dance and music and story.
Cameron J

Read all about it! Read all about it! "Disney" is unbearably cheesy! World in shock! Man, the only thing more annoying than sarcasm is "Disney". Now, that's doesn't mean that this film is bad, but it is certainly damaged by its being so blasted… More
Read all about it! Read all about it! "Disney" is unbearably cheesy! World in shock! Man, the only thing more annoying than sarcasm is "Disney". Now, that's doesn't mean that this film is bad, but it is certainly damaged by its being so blasted "Disney". It's bad enough that this is cheesy, but it's cheesy in a way that we've seen before. The storyline is both concieved and told in a way that hardly drifts from the traditional "Disney" film. Okay, so the tone is different by a little bit. Of course, that's another flaw, as the tone is just different enough for the cheesy score and forced, overdrawn and musical numbers - which are also too similar to fellow "Disney" films - to not fit. Getting to other flaws, a lot of the acting is really, really bad. Don't worry Christian Bale fans, your man manages to work around that, as we'll discuss later, but most everyone else is embarassing. Really, when you think about it, the film's real problem is that it's just so animated and for it to be in live-action, it makes all of the cartoony themes that work in "Disney's" animated universe, fall flat and not fit. Outside of being cheesy and overly "Disney", the film is pretty slow and will often fail to hold your interest, but it's not tedious, because there's still plenty to get you back into the film, such as the cinematography and production designs. The designs in this film are excellent, really capturing the period, but still being very dazzling and fun to watch, mostly because it's captured so well by the cinematography. Also, as overdrawn, forced and overly "Disney" as the musical numbers are, that doesn't mean that they're not very entertaining, being well-choregraphed, fairly well-sung and overall very well-directed. Of course, with the guy who was behind the moves in "Dirty Dancing" directing, what can you expect? I mean, it's a bit embarassing to see the great Christian Bale having singing and dance solos, but it's still pretty fun, regardless. Come to think of it, Batman might not be the best thing to evoke, because not matter how cheesy as this film is, it's almost infinitely less cheesy than any line in "Batman Begins". Speaking of Christian Bale, he also keeps the film going, not just because he can sure bust a move, but because he's still got that charm and charisma to carry the film and keep it rather interesting, because his character, generic though, he may be, is so interesting. In the end, in spite of its slowness and being too "Disney", "Newsies", carried by its excellent production value, fun musical sequences and charismatic lead performance by Christian Bale, remains a dazzling-looking and rather charming little number.
Sunil J

Ugh. Something about this movie always bugged me. Maybe it was just too campy.
Marion R

I thought this was a good musical. The songs were good and unforced. Upside Christian Bale! Downside you have to hear Bill Pullman sing...

Read all 9 featured audience ratings

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Cast

Christian Bale
as Jack Kelly
David Moscow
as David Jacobs
Luke Edwards
as Les Jacobs
Ann-Margret
as Medda Larkson
Max Casella
as Racetrack
Ele Keats
as Sarah Jacobs
Marty Belafsky
as Crutchy
Arvie Lowe Jr.
as Boots
Robert Duvall
as Joseph Pulitzer
Aaron Lohr
as Mush
Bill Pullman
as Bryan Denton
David James Alexander
as Gov. Teddy Roosevelt
Michael Lerner
as Weasel
Kevin Tighe
as Snyder
Charles Cioffi
as Seitz
Ogie Banks III
as Newsies Dancer
Christopher Bonomo
as Newsies Dancer
William Boyett
as Judge Movealong Monahan
Damon Butler
as Newsies Dancer
Daxon Calloway
as Newsies Dancer
Dee Caspary
as Snitch
Scott Caudill
as Newsies Dancer
Joseph Conrad
as Jake
Gabriel Damon
as Spot Conlon
Jeffrey DeMunn
as Mayer Jacobs
D.J. Dellos
as Newsies Dancer
Bret Dieball
as Newsies Dancer
Ivan Dudynsky
as Dutchy
Shay Duffin
as Captain McSwain
Chris Dupre
as Newsies Dancer
Dak Eubanks
as Newsies Dancer
Robert Feeney
as Snoddy
Matthew Fields
as Snipeshooter
Tom Finnegan
as Bunsen
Brian Friedman
as Newsies Dancer
Jesus Fuentes
as Newsies Dancer
Deborra-Lee Furness
as Esther Jacobs
Frank Girardeau
as Chief of Police Devery
Tony Gonzales
as Newsies Dancer
Michael A. Goorjian
as Skittery
Rob Grayson
as Newsies Dancer
Shon Greenblatt
as Oscar Delancey
Jo Ann Harris
as Patrick's Mother
I.M. Hobson
as Gammon
Michael Irvin
as Newsies Dancer
Robert Jaquez
as Newsies Dancer
Todd Jenkins
as Newsies Dancer
Larry Jones
as Newsies Dancer
Gregg Kent-Smith
as Toby the Candy Butcher
Terry Kohl
as Bailiff
Kevin Kruger
as Newsies Dancer
David Larson
as Newsies Dancer
Terry Lindholm
as Newsies Dancer
Mark Lowenthal
as Jonathan
Dominic Lucero
as Bumlets
Alan Luzietti
as Newsies Dancer
Ryan MacDonald
as Mayor Van Wyck
Dominic Maldonado
as Itey
Kevin McCasland
as Newsies Dancer
Dean McFliker
as Newsies Dancer
James Earl Miller
as Newsies Dancer
Patrick Lars Olsen
as Newsies Dancer
Travis Payne
as Newsies Dancer
Eric Pesqueira
as Newsies Dancer
Craig Raclawski
as Newsies Dancer
Jim Raposa
as Newsies Dancer
Michael Rohrbacher
as Newsies Dancer
Greg E. Russell
as Newsies Dancer
Melody Santangelo
as Nun
David Sheinkopf
as Morris Delancey
Sylvia Short
as Nun
David Sidoni
as Pie Eater
Kevin Stea
as Swifty
Jeff Thysell
as Newsies Dancer
Wes Veldink
as Newsies Dancer
Michael Warwick
as Newsies Dancer
Joshua Wiener
as Newsies Dancer
Lois Young
as Nun
Jason Yribar
as Newsies Dancer
Marc Lawrence I
as Kloppman
Frank Novak
as Polieman
David Evans
as Newsies Dancer
Trey Parker
as Kid Blink
Kevin Michaels
as Ten Pin
Mark David
as Specs

See more (85)

Newsies (1992)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Nelson P

danny d

Martin B

Michael S

Jason S

Curtis L

Cameron J

Sunil J

Marion R

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