Sid & Nancy (1986)
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92% of critics liked it
(36 reviews) -
74% of users liked it
(32,882 ratings)
Punk rock's first great embodiment of the motto "live fast and die young," Sid Vicious joined The Sex Pistols when they were already established as the most controversial rock band in British history; and it soon became apparent that he couldn't play his instrument, had a magnetic… More Punk rock's first great embodiment of the motto "live fast and die young," Sid Vicious joined The Sex Pistols when they were already established as the most controversial rock band in British history; and it soon became apparent that he couldn't play his instrument, had a magnetic attraction to chaos, and possessed a dangerous thirst for booze, drugs, and violence. Sid & Nancy opens shortly after Sid (Gary Oldman) joined the band, when he meets an obnoxious American punk groupie named Nancy Spungen (Chloe Webb). Nancy claims that she can get drugs, and Sid naively gives her his money. Nancy doesn't show up with the goods, but when Sid runs into her a few days later, she has a tall tale about getting ripped off - and Sid sympathizes with her. Before long, Sid and Nancy have fallen in love, and while they argue with uncommon vehemence, they also depend completely on each other. When The Sex Pistols break up, Sid has few prospects and an increasingly voracious appetite for heroin, and Nancy's attempts to "manage" his career only hasten his downhill slide. Former Clash leader Joe Strummer wrote the film's theme song, "Love Kills," and The Pogues, The Circle Jerks, and Pray for Rain contributed to the soundtrack. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Alex Cox
- Written By
- Alex Cox, Abbe Wool
- Genres
- Musical & Performing Arts, Drama
- In Theaters
- Aug 29, 1986 Wide
- Studio
- New Line Cinema
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
Sid and Nancy is the definitive pic on the punk phenomenon.
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Pat Graham, Chicago Reader
A few too many moralistic foreshadowings, but most of the time Cox's situations and characters develop on their own eloquently entropic terms.
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, Time Out
Why then should anyone of sane disposition wish to see the film? Because it is still a love story, and a very touching one at that.
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Janet Maslin, New York Times
It's not every film maker who credits special thanks to both Luis Bunuel and Dee Dee Ramone, but then Mr. Cox doesn't fit any recognizable mold.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
[Cox] and his actors pull off the neat trick of creating a movie full of noise and fury, and telling a meticulous story right in the middle of it.
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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Gary Oldman
as Sid Vicious
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Chloe Webb
as Nancy Spungen
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David Hayman
as Malcolm McLaren
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Andrew Schofield
as Johnny Rotten
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Debby Bishop
as Phoebe
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Tony London
as Steve
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Jude Alderson
as Ma Vicious
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Sandy Baron
as Hotelier
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Tricia Bartholome
as Mary Jane
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Perry Benson
as Paul
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Xander Berkeley
as Bowery Snax
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Niven Boyd
as Rock Head's Trainer
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Andrew Bradford
as Dick Bent
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Graham Fletcher-Cook
as Wally Hairstyle
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Alexander Folk
as Riker's Guard
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Stuart H. Fox
as Rock Head
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Fox Harris
as Old Stain
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John M. Jackson
as Lance Boyles M.D
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Anne Lambton
as Linda
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Gloria Le Roy
as Granma Spungen
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Pete Lee-Wilson
as Duke Bowman
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Courtney Love
as Gretchen
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Jeanne McCarthy
as Trell
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Mark Monero
as Jah Clive
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Ed Pansullo
as Detective
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Edward Tudor-Pole
as Hotelier (UK)
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Iggy Pop
as Prospective Guest
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Sy Richardson
as Methadone Caseworker
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Miguel Sandoval
as Record Company Executive
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Milton Selzer
as Granpa Spungen
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John Snyder
as Vito
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Sara Sugarman
as Abby
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Patti Tippo
as Tanned and Sultry Blonde
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Tenpole Tudor
as Receptionist
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Michele Winstanley
as Olive McBollocks
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Biff Yeager
as Detective
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Bob Ellis
as Fireman
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Peter McCarthy
as Hugh Kares
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Coati Mundi
as Desk Clerk
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Dick Rude
as Riker's Guard
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Dan Wul
as Guitarist
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Barbara Coles
as Reporter
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Desiree Erasmus
as Mrs. Hugh Kares
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Vincent J. Isaac
as Detective
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Bradley Lieberman
as Chipper
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Ron Moseley Jr.
as Wax Max
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Raymond Rosario
as ABC Kid
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James Snell
as Edward
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Kathy Burke
as Brenda Winczor
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Keith Morris
as Riker's Junky


