Pump up the Volume

Pump up the Volume (1990)

  • 78% of critics liked it
    (32 reviews)

  • 78% of users liked it
    (34,934 ratings)

Teenage angst finds a new voice in this drama. By day, Mark Hunter (Christian Slater) is a quiet, studious student at an ordinary suburban high school in Arizona. But at night, Mark creeps down into his basement, fires up his pirate radio transmitter, and broadcasts to the community as Hard Harry, a… More

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R,
Directed By
Written By
Allan Moyle
Genres
Drama
In Theaters
Aug 22, 1990 Wide
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

  • , Time Out

    The perfectly cast Slater effectively propels the film, his intensity and dry delivery giving it a definite edge, as does a soundtrack which includes Ice T, Concrete Blonde and the Cowboy Junkies.

  • Rita Kempley, Washington Post

    It's a howl from the heart, a relentlessly involving movie that gives a kid every reason to believe that he or she can come of age.

  • Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

    Sharply uneven, this teen-angst feature begins exgremely well with some relevant social commentary; it also put on the map Christian Slater as a talent to watch.

  • Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com

    Slater is Moyle's generator, powering the film through some sludgy melodramatics, and while his separation of Mark and Hard Harry is practically Kabuki theater, the effort is just wonderful.

  • Clint Morris, Mediasharx

    Much more than a teen movie....an experience, and one you'll never forget. TURN IT UP LOUD!

Read all 11 critic reviews

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)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Nicki M


    Rewatched this for the first time in years. I think my last viewing may have actually been on VHS. Really enjoyed it, was actually better than I remembered it. Excellent 1990 teen film with the usual themes of alienation. Very well done with good soundtrack and interesting spin with… More

  • Cameron S


    Slater does it again, this catapults straight into my top 10 alongside 'Heathers' another Slater movie that I watche and while back and have been repeatedly watching since. This movie really speaks to me and I think what it has to say about youth still stands today:… More

  • AJ V


    Slater is so hot in this movie! This rebellious teen drama is full of both angst and celebration of being a teenager at the turn of the decade. I really loved it when I was a teen, and I highly recommend it.

  • Tim S


    Christian Slater's Masterpiece! Just kidding. :)

  • Curtis L


    As much as I love Slayter, I must equally hate 80's kids and radio.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

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Cast

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