Suburbia (1983)

83% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
78% of users liked it
(4,831 ratings)

Following up her critically acclaimed documentary The Decline of Western Civilization, Penelope Spheeris made this gritty drama her first feature-film outing. Bill Coyne stars as Evan Johnson, an angst-ridden kid living in L.A., who bands together with a group of other young societal rejects and… More Following up her critically acclaimed documentary The Decline of Western Civilization, Penelope Spheeris made this gritty drama her first feature-film outing. Bill Coyne stars as Evan Johnson, an angst-ridden kid living in L.A., who bands together with a group of other young societal rejects and immerses himself in the mid-'80s punk rock scene. Most of the cast was comprised of actual teenagers off the streets of Los Angeles. Among them is Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea. Suburbia is also known as The Wild Side and Rebel Streets, and should not be confused with the 1996 Richard Linklater film of the same name. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 39 min.
Directed By: Penelope Spheeris
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Dec 31, 1983 Wide
On DVD: Oct 24, 2000
Studio: New Concorde Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Its sincere sympathy for the runaway kids is what elevates this standard rebellious teen flick above many others in this genre.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
This drama (aka The Wild Side), the first of Spheeris' two youth movies of the 1980s, concerns angry boys whose rebelliousness in reflected in cutting their hair instead of growing it long; the mood is right, the text is not.
Scott Weinberg, DVDTalk.com
"I was a good filmmaker ... before I sold out," says Penelope Spheeris on her audio commentary, and it's tough not to appreciate the gal's candor.
James Rocchi, Netflix
Gritty Los Angeles punk-rock chronicle is ugly, raw and realistic.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Coxxie M

This is my three sentence review of Suburbia. Flea is the most skilled actor in Suburbia. Thanks for reading my three sentence review of Suburbia.
Michael G

Awesome, awesome movie. I love the part where they throw the glass bottle at the bus and say, "I hate buses." I don't know why, but I love it.

Cast

            Bill Coyne as Evan

            Chris Pederson as Jack

            Timothy Eric O'Brien as Tom

            Jennifer Clay as Sheila

            Wade Walston as Joe

            Grant Miner as Keef

            Flea as Razzle

            Robert Griffin as Baby

            Andrew Pece as Ethan

            Anna Schoeller as Anna

            Julie Winchester as Blonde

            Ray Lawrence as Elderly Man

            Jeff Prettyman as Bob Skokes

            J. Dinan Myrtetus as Sheila's Father

            Donald V. Allen as Officer Rennard

            Christina Beck as Tiresa

            Gil Christner as Jerry 7-11

            Maggie Ehrig as Mattie

            Robert Peyton as Jim Triplett

            TSOL
            
            The Vandals
            
            John McCormack as Bouncer

            James Harrison as Repaint Store Man

            D.I.
            
            Mike B
            
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Suburbia (1983)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Coxxie M

Michael G

Cast

Trailers & Clips