Whiplash

Name: Whiplash
Genre: Drama, Music
Released: October 10, 2014
Duration: 107 min
Rating: 89
Cast: J.K. Simmons, Melissa Benoist, Miles Teller, Paul Reiser

2014

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Universal acclaim based on 50 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 1663 Ratings

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8.8

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8.8	User Score Universal acclaim based on 1663 Ratings

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Whiplash

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Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: October 10, 2014 | R

Starring: J.K. Simmons, Melissa Benoist, Miles Teller, Paul Reiser

Summary: Andrew Neyman (Miles Teller), a young jazz drummer who attends one of the best music schools in the country under the tutelage of the school’s fearsome maestro of jazz named Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), struggles to make it as a top jazz drummer.

Director: Damien Chazelle

Genre(s): Drama, Music

Rating: R

Runtime: 107 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Claudia Puig

Oct 9, 2014

The exhilarating, inventive and suspenseful story hinges on a pair of commanding performances. Read full review

100

Ty Burr

Oct 23, 2014

At Sundance, Whiplash quickly picked up the nickname “Full Metal Juilliard” on the basis of scenes in which Andrew, plucked from a late-night practice session to be the orchestra’s drummer, is raked over the coals by his new mentor. Horrifying as they are, these sequences are dazzling exercises in total humiliation. Read full review

100

Radio Times Adam Smith

Dec 2, 2025

Damien Chazelle's blisteringly told tale of an aspiring jazz drummer and his bullying mentor is a hugely entertaining, refreshingly subversive take on the well-worn "inspirational teacher" theme. Read full review

David Edelstein

Oct 10, 2014

As a go-for-it music movie, Whiplash is just about peerless. The fear is contagious, but so is the jazz vibe: When Andrew snatches up his sticks and the band launches into a standard—say, Hank Levy’s “Whiplash”—it’s hard not to smile, judder, and sway. Read full review

Richard Roeper

Oct 16, 2014

The music is brilliant, Chazelle’s writing and directing are something to behold, Teller is really good — and Simmons delivers one of the most memorable performances of the year. Read full review

Richard Corliss

Jan 5, 2015

Directing with a cool, steady hand that renounces shaky-cam the way Fletcher would denounce rock ‘n roll, and getting strong performances from his two leads, Chazelle provides a potent metaphor for artistic ambition as both a religion and an addiction. Read full review

Peter Rainer

Oct 10, 2014

I don’t get the enthusiasm for this movie, written and directed by Damien Chazelle, which is such a cooked-up piece of claptrap that I half expected Darth Vader to pick up the baton. We’re supposed to think that Terence’s tough love is more “honest” than the usual pussyfooting tutelage, but in any sane society this guy would have been brought up on charges long ago. Read full review

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User Reviews

FranzHcritic

Oct 10, 2014

A tense and emotional film with fantastic performances from Teller and Simmons; they are one of music's best chemistry in movie history. The script keeps pace with endless and exhilarating tension. Damien Chazelle instantly has my respect, being this his only second work. It is well drivenA tense and emotional film with fantastic performances from Teller and Simmons; they are one of music's best chemistry in movie history. The script keeps pace with endless and exhilarating tension. Damien Chazelle instantly has my respect, being this his only second work. It is well driven behind pitch-point direction.… Expand

43 of 49 users found this helpful436

Deanomite

Dec 20, 2019

2014 #1 movie of the year, made a star out of JK Simmons (who won an oscar for this performance), the reincarnation R Lee Ermey of Full Metal Jacket, and put Miles Teller on the map. Damian Chazelle went on to make Lala Land, which I did not care for even though I love Emma Stone (primarily2014 #1 movie of the year, made a star out of JK Simmons (who won an oscar for this performance), the reincarnation R Lee Ermey of Full Metal Jacket, and put Miles Teller on the map. Damian Chazelle went on to make Lala Land, which I did not care for even though I love Emma Stone (primarily for Birdman, a one shot piece of brilliance) and Ryan Gosling (primarily for his stoic performance in Drive, which was an excellent dilution of Walter Hill's masterpiece The Driver of 1978.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Le__Xenomorph

Feb 23, 2015

Whiplash is one of the most stressful and uncomfortable movies of all time. Many times I cringed out of anticipation of what will happen. J.K. Simmons gives a commanding performance as well as Miles Teller. Whiplash is an entertaining and fantastic film that defines the music genre. 10/10Whiplash is one of the most stressful and uncomfortable movies of all time. Many times I cringed out of anticipation of what will happen. J.K. Simmons gives a commanding performance as well as Miles Teller. Whiplash is an entertaining and fantastic film that defines the music genre. 10/10 (Masterpiece)… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

StatlerWaldorf

Oct 28, 2015

I reviewed “Whiplash” cooperatively with some coworkers. We just stood around saying “Whiplash” to one another with ever-increasing excitement. Allow me to better articulate… It’s about damn time J.K. Simmons had a real role. That one kid from that thing is pretty damn fantastic too, allI reviewed “Whiplash” cooperatively with some coworkers. We just stood around saying “Whiplash” to one another with ever-increasing excitement. Allow me to better articulate… It’s about damn time J.K. Simmons had a real role. That one kid from that thing is pretty damn fantastic too, all drumming aside. For a very small film there is a dark intensity that bristles through both leads as well as the photography and sound design that feels like big league production and career-defining performance. Unique, well-crafted, but above all: gripping. You really can’t look away and when the curtain falls it’s hard not to just sit there and wonder if you can or should watch it again. It is one of those rare glimpses into the damage it takes to create true art. That broken quality is usually a kind of unexamined trade-off, accepted posthumously as the price of genius in biopics and documentaries. You never get to see it play a live set. You never get to see two broken people make a great and terrifying whole in a way that feels as magnetic as it does disturbing. Watch “Whiplash”. Argue with people about how much it is okay to sacrifice for art, or pride, or the chance to create something only you can create. Argue and fight. It likes it when you fight.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

thiirane

Jan 1, 2015

I read some of the negative reviews below. I can understand their points. While there were some unbelievable parts, the screenplay was designed to take the viewer into the life of a young talented musician who wants to be trained to be better at a prestigious music school. Part of growingI read some of the negative reviews below. I can understand their points. While there were some unbelievable parts, the screenplay was designed to take the viewer into the life of a young talented musician who wants to be trained to be better at a prestigious music school. Part of growing up and becoming a professional is self-recognition of your own skills and drive to be the best. In life, whether you are as a student, intern or staff employee everyone has their insecurities, this movie attempts to play upon the audience's insecurities through the eyes of the students and instructor in the film. To a large extent, I thought the writers and actors accomplished their goal.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

zrsafar

Jun 22, 2023

Film would've been a 9/10 if the people I was watching it with weren't simping over the actor the whole movie

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Samfortal

Oct 6, 2020

There a better ways to develop tenacity and skills. Spartan teaching methodology is stupid.

1 of 9 users found this helpful18

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7	#7 Best Movie of 2014
17	#17 Most Discussed Movie of 2014
24	#24 Most Shared Movie of 2014