The Outsiders

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: March 25, 1983

8.5	USER SCORE Universal acclaim based on 160 Ratings

USER RATING DISTRIBUTION

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Review this movie

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Please sign in or create an account before writing a review.

Check box if your review contains spoilers

0 characters (5000 max)

User Reviews

User score By date Most helpful

JayHMay 6, 2008

Considering the talent involved, and the remarkable cast of young stars, the movie just lacks involvement and depth. All the ingredients are there, somehow it didn't fully come together. Still, it is a well crafted film and it is Considering the talent involved, and the remarkable cast of young stars, the movie just lacks involvement and depth. All the ingredients are there, somehow it didn't fully come together. Still, it is a well crafted film and it is interesting, just not as interesting as it should have been.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

smithyOct 14, 2007

All i can say is its not as good as the book.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

AkamanJan 2, 2013

Let me just say that I read "The Outsiders" in novel form before having seen this movie. Viewing "The Complete Novel" edition, I felt that this adaptation did not serve the book the glory it should have. While the locations and sets wereLet me just say that I read "The Outsiders" in novel form before having seen this movie. Viewing "The Complete Novel" edition, I felt that this adaptation did not serve the book the glory it should have. While the locations and sets were fitting to the story, and the plot is very faithful to its source material, the problem is the unconvincing acting. Thomas C. Howell lead in one of his early roles as Ponyboy, a greaser from Oklahoma. His friend Johnny, played by Ralph Maccio, becomes responsible for a murder of one of the Socs, a class of rich teens, and the two have to face the trouble they've made.

Howell's performance just kills it for me. He shows such little emotion in his expressions and tone, which does not worm for a deep and sensitive character such as Ponyboy. The same can be said about Maccio, whose crying scene is incredibly forced. I understand that, according to Metacritic's "15 Films that Critics Got Wrong," what makes this movie so "great" is that its stars would go on to become big names in Holywood, but their lack of experience at the point this was made is actually a flaw to me. To top it all off, they use ridiculous fake southwestern accents that make it hard to take seriously. See it only if you are that big of a fan of the book.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

MovieGuysApr 3, 2014

The Outsiders was a very good book, but the movie doesn't even come close. Right from the get-go, the story dwindles and the actors portray their characters awkwardly, almost as if they have no clue what type of character they should beThe Outsiders was a very good book, but the movie doesn't even come close. Right from the get-go, the story dwindles and the actors portray their characters awkwardly, almost as if they have no clue what type of character they should be playing. Add this to the list of another one of Coppola's bombs.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

All this user's reviews

Sosmooth1982Jan 6, 2023

The movie really made no sense or seem to really have a point. It was pretty cool to see how young the actors and actresses looked. Especially since most are still in the movie biz today.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews

Compi24Jul 25, 2023

I gotta admit, I haven't read this book since 7th grade and my memories of the class in which it was assigned to me are not exactly rosy, so my mixed feelings on all things "The Outsiders" don't really have a whole lot to do with S.E. HintonI gotta admit, I haven't read this book since 7th grade and my memories of the class in which it was assigned to me are not exactly rosy, so my mixed feelings on all things "The Outsiders" don't really have a whole lot to do with S.E. Hinton or the contents of her book. Indeed, personal hang-ups aside, the story is nonetheless resonant, especially considering it was embarked upon when Hinton was just in her teens. As far as adaptations go, however, I think this one has some bright spots, as well as dark ones. The narrative and thematics are, for the most part, represented quite well (from what I can remember). The period elements ring as authentic and Coppola's visual landscape feels true to the novel too. Some of the acting borders into cheese territory and I get it — this is difficult material for any actor, let alone for child actors. I just thought some scenes brought on an occasional unintentional giggle or two. I also really do feel the length here and not in the way you think. This thing is only 90 minutes long and it really does harm the consequentiality of the events at hand. I do remember the novel having a great sense of character and, with this, I think the brevity didn't lend to that goal all that well. Still, this was a quaint little trip down memory lane.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews

TheMovieSceneJun 18, 2016

Francis Coppola has made a well acted and crafted but highly conventional film out of S.E. Hinton’s popular youth novel, The Outsiders. Although set in the mid-1960s, pic feels very much like a 1950s drama about problem kids.

Screenplay isFrancis Coppola has made a well acted and crafted but highly conventional film out of S.E. Hinton’s popular youth novel, The Outsiders. Although set in the mid-1960s, pic feels very much like a 1950s drama about problem kids.

Screenplay is extremely faithful to the source material, even down to having the film open with the leading character and narrator, C. Thomas Howell, reciting the first lines of his literary effort while we see him writing them.

But dialog which reads naturally and evocatively on the page doesn’t play as well on screen, and there’s a decided difficulty of tone during the early sequences, as Howell and his buddies (Matt Dillon and Ralph Macchio) horse around town, sneak into a drive-in and have an unpleasant confrontation with the Socs, rival gang from the well-heeled part of town.

When the Socs attack Howell and Macchio in the middle of the night, latter ends up killing a boy to save his friend, and the two flee to a hideaway in an abandoned rural church. It is during this mid-section that the film starts coming to life, largely due to the integrity of the performances by Howell and Macchio.

Howell is truly impressive, a bulwark of relative stability in a sea of posturing and pretense. Macchio is also outstanding as his doomed friend, and Patrick Swayze is fine as the oldest brother forced into the role of parent.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews

TrailesqueApr 3, 2017

Here is a who's-who of hot young male stars from the early 1980s. Too bad it is not a better movie. It is an adaptation of S.E. Hinton's hugely popular book that starts off pretty well, but blunders into over-the-top melodrama etc. ItHere is a who's-who of hot young male stars from the early 1980s. Too bad it is not a better movie. It is an adaptation of S.E. Hinton's hugely popular book that starts off pretty well, but blunders into over-the-top melodrama etc. It looks like it was intentionally shot with a retro palate that makes me think of 1950s classics like "East of Eden."… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews