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Eddie and the Cruisers

Play trailer Poster for Eddie and the Cruisers PG 1983 1h 32m Musical Play Trailer Watchlist
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38% Tomatometer 16 Reviews 73% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Eddie and the Cruisers, a major rock 'n' roll band in the early '60s, fell off the radar when singer Eddie (Michael Paré) vanished after a dispute over their experimental second album. Nearly 20 years later, journalist Maggie Foley (Ellen Barkin) tracks down the old Cruisers to see if she can unravel the secret of Eddie's disappearance. By piecing together the band members' stories, she hopes to find the missing master tapes to the lost LP, and also solve the mystery of Eddie's ultimate fate.
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Eddie and the Cruisers

Critics Reviews

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Linda Deutsch Associated Press Mar 4, 2019
At the height of his fame, Eddie Wilson died in a car crash. Or did he? The question, raised in the opening scenes, gives this fictional, nostalgic movie a quirky appeal, suggesting the past may not be dead after all. Go to Full Review Noel Murray The Dissolve Apr 23, 2015
3/5
Aside from Eddie And The Cruisers' funky structure, the music remains its chief selling point-though Cafferty's songs don't plausibly pass for early 1960s tunes. Go to Full Review Variety Staff Variety Mar 26, 2009
Eddie and the Cruisers is a mish-mash of a film, combining elements of the ongoing nostalgia for rock music of previous decades with an unworkable and laughable mystery plotline. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Nov 18, 2025
1.5/4
The film's mystery angle regarding the missing tapes is ludicrous, thus making it right at home alongside every other half-witted development in this cheesy undertaking. Go to Full Review Robert Roten Laramie Movie Scope Oct 5, 2025
C+
Review of a disk containing Eddie and the Cruisers I and II: The music (created by John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band) provides good support in both films. There is an uncanny convergence of the stories of the fictional movie band and the real one. Go to Full Review Brian Costello Common Sense Media Jun 28, 2016
2/5
Dated, rock-themed '80s tale has suicide, drugs, profanity. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Alexander G @agregory Jul 3, 2026 Good concept but bad execution. The music of this Eddie Cochran-Bruce Springsteen hybrid couldn't have possibly have been made in the early 60s; even if you accept that he was “ahead of his time”, they still could have at least tried to EQ the recordings to make it sound period accurate. The main premise could have been fleshed out more and the conclusion could have been more satisfactory. See more Rick W. @Rick24wag May 20, 2026 The wiring writing and acting is really awful. The story makes no sense. The music is good but that’s about it. It’s also very boring. You can do a lot better See more Trevor G. @tlgor1 May 1, 2026 A great musical mystery with an awesome soundtrack. See more Patrick M. @JoseyWhales Apr 26, 2026 Classic HBO afternoon movie and worth revisiting 30 years later. See more Christian K @ckacar Apr 23, 2026 Wow wow wow, Martin Davidson I was not familiar at all with your game. This has a great script and a few of the best framed shots I can remember. See more Δ Σ Τ @Baldylocks Apr 18, 2026 Absolute garbage. I was a junior in high school when it came out and for whatever reason (let’s call it morbid curiosity) I waited until I was 58 to watch the damn thing. Horrible plot. Performances are solid but there’s so many saxophone solos, Tom Berenger can’t figure out he’s supposed to bang Ellen whatsherass. Oy vey this is just a painfully bad movie. Embarrassing. See more Read all reviews
Eddie and the Cruisers

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Cast & Crew

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Martin Davidson

Director

Tom Berenger

Frank Ridgeway

Michael Paré

Eddie Wilson

Ellen Barkin

Eddie Wilson

Joe Pantoliano

Doc Robbins

Matthew Laurance

Sal Amato

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Eddie and the Cruisers

Eddie and the Cruisers (1983) Eddie and the Cruisers (1983) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Eddie and the Cruisers, a major rock 'n' roll band in the early '60s, fell off the radar when singer Eddie (Michael Paré) vanished after a dispute over their experimental second album. Nearly 20 years later, journalist Maggie Foley (Ellen Barkin) tracks down the old Cruisers to see if she can unravel the secret of Eddie's disappearance. By piecing together the band members' stories, she hopes to find the missing master tapes to the lost LP, and also solve the mystery of Eddie's ultimate fate.
Director
Martin Davidson
Producer
Joseph Brooks, Robert K. Lifton
Screenwriter
Arlene Davidson, Martin Davidson
Distributor
Embassy Pictures
Production Co
Aurora
Rating
PG
Genre
Musical
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 23, 1983, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Sep 4, 2001
Runtime
1h 32m
Sound Mix
Surround
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