Mark Wahlberg, Jennifer Aniston, Jason Flemyng

Lead singer of a tribute band becomes lead singer of the real band he idolizes.

Flixster Users

61% liked it

21,727 ratings

Critics

52% liked it

119 critics

R, 1 hr. 50 min.

Directed by: Stephen Herek

Release Date: September 7, 2001

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DVD Release Date: January 22, 2002

Stats: 2,065 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,065)


  • January 11, 2009
    This film takes you back to the 80s, the days of hair metal and tells the story of a hard rock singer becoming the new lead of his favorite band. While the movie takes its time to introduce the tribute band he is starting with and his actual time on top of the game feels a bit ru...( read more)shed in the second half, it is still always entertaining and the good scenes (like the "Once in a lifetime" montage) outweigh the stupid ones (car race, WTF?). While the plot mostly sticks to the expected stereotypes of rise to fame, sex, drugs and rock'n roll and the burden of it all on a relationship, there is surprisingly little drama and it's all wrapped up rather nicely after all. The end credits also show that the creators probably didn't take this as seriously as the movie sometimes feels. The soundtrack with the likes of Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and AC/DC makes for a nostalgic trip back to those days as well. For fans of the (music) genre: not bad at all.
  • December 30, 2008
    Another one to put in the "either a really bad movie with a few good parts, or a good movie with some absolutely terrible parts" file.

    I have to admit, I expected to hate it, which I didn't. I set the bar low, and enjoyed it for the most part: it's fraught with irritating melo...( read more)drama and a few continuity errors (how do the fans still call him Izzy and buy his English accent on TV when he does his "I'm a regular guy..." speech - and all other concert dialogue - in his normal American-accented voice, for instance?), but it's a fun story with original "Steel Dragons" songs by 80s heavyweights including Ronnie Dio, Zakk Wylde and Sammy Hagar... not to mention Twiggy Ramirez and Desmond Child.

    Though the best part might be the archive footage shown over the credits, this movie delivered exactly what I expected: a pleasurable distraction with a rocking soundtrack.

    Two surprises: (1) Timothy Spall, who got most of the film's more sincere moments, and (2) it's based on the true story of the second lead singer of Judas Priest... in passing, the "audition a tribute band lead singer" phenomenon is truly out there: Journey replaced Steve Perry with a 5-foot-nothing Filipino kid (with wicked pipes) and Black Flag replaced their lead singer with Henry Rollins WHILE ON STAGE. It's not so far-fetched...
  • July 20, 2008
    Not offensive.
  • June 27, 2008
    One of the most powerful and accurate movies on rockstars. Wahlberg and Olyphant are making this film work.
  • March 5, 2008
    marky maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaark
  • November 7, 2009
    Another typical rockstar backstage life type movie, and nothing else. It wasn't bad, but it isn't a movie that would last 10mins in my head after leaving the theater. Didn't think Wahlberg was good for the role; he lacked the core of what it means to be a rockstar; attitude. Ever...( read more)ything feels forced into the act. The soundtrack was pretty enough for the movie, but the whole rocker lifestyle isn't really captured in essence. It's not that easy and straightforward being in a rock/metal band (I'd know, I'm in one), and personally if I had to catch something with a thumbs up to being an aspiring musician going somewhere/anywhere, I'd rather catch Detroit Rock City or 8 Mile. Overall, it had potential, but unfortunately it's just another pop movie.
  • October 25, 2009
    I really tried to watch this Movie, though slept like after 15 minutes.
  • October 20, 2009
    Note to all Flixster people; this actually happened with the rock band "Journey". They saw a fan's YouTube of their performance, and now the guy is their lead singer. ^^
  • October 19, 2009
    as far as the plot is concerned, fair enough. the music is undeniably great though. the vocals that wahlberg used is insane! Whew!
  • September 22, 2009
    good movie,good songs and very good voice

Critic Reviews


September 7, 2001
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

Utterly predictable. full review

September 7, 2001
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

An irresistible movie about a guy who goes on a journey, the kind an audience can't wait to take with him. full review

September 7, 2001
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

By the end of the film I conceded, yes, there are good performances and the period is well captured, but the movie didn't convince me of the feel and the flavor of its experiences. full review

September 7, 2001
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

The movie is all formula. But then, so is Jack Daniel's. full review

September 6, 2001
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

Has enough wit and insight to make it worth watching. full review

September 6, 2001
Claudia Puig, USA Today

A movie lampooning dimwitted '80s heavy-metal rockers was already made much more cleverly. It was called This Is Spinal Tap. full review

August 31, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Can't disguise the bogus core of the script. full review

View more Rock Star reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • zerobuthero
    August 4, 2009
    Filem yg Banyak Mengispirasi.
  • ImmortalDisciple
    March 7, 2008
    Nice. Somebody heard me. Twas funny tho. It's also quite funny that her videos are also on this page.
  • ImmortalDisciple
    February 29, 2008
    WTF is the picture of Miley Cyrus doing on this page.
  • Ariana5150
    July 29, 2007
    I noticed that Zakk was in the movie you werent the only one
  • ostenpakosten
    June 15, 2007
    The best thing about this movie is that Jeff Pilson from dokken is the bazeplayer of steel dragon!
  • villaman1976
    January 3, 2007
    great movie loosely based on judas priest when there singer left the group they picked a singer from a tribute band just like in the movie one of the best soundtracks
  • kissedtokill
    September 24, 2006
    the only thing bad about this movie was seeing marky mark try and act like a rocker...... very lame!!!
  • spikmonkeyman
    June 20, 2006
    Zakk Wylde was in this movie, yeah, *the* Zakk Wylde. The best part of the whole fucking movie, and no one says anything about it.
  • ashrose54
    May 29, 2006
    Rock Star is one of the best efing movies ever!
    mark Wahlberg is sooo HOT!

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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