Teen Spirit | Rotten Tomatoes

Teen Spirit

PG-13

Released Apr 19, 2019

1 hr. 32 min.

Drama

Music

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for Teen Spirit: Trailer 2

List

71%

133 Reviews

Tomatometer

56%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

A shy teenager dreams of escaping her small town and pursuing her passion to sing. With the help of an unlikely mentor, she enters a local singing competition that will test her integrity, talent and ambition.

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Critics Consensus

Teen Spirit tells a story we know by heart, but writer-director Max Minghella's connection to the material and Elle Fanning's remarkable performance add an effective hook.

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Victor P

Teen Spirit does have a familiar engaging story, but Elle Fanning's vocal-performance was spectacular and it kind of reminds of a combination between a competition of TV reality shows like American Idol and The Voice, and director Max Minghella does a good job with high-energy, wonderful visuals, and great pop songs.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/24

Full Review

Michael L

Different to expectations based on marketing. Solidly good but the viewer needs to do a lot of work in filling-in the drama of the backstory and the emotional motivations that perhaps could have been explored more in the writing and on screen.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/09/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Elle Fanning is phenomenal in an overly-familiar story arc the title means both the singing competition and the amount of spirit Violet Valencia has to win so badly she's 17, Polish, lives with her mom whose husband left her, and she wants to get out of the farm-life/diner lifestyle she runs into a former opera singer who sees her as an opportunity to make himself useful since his past was very hard to walk away from Violet is asked why she entered the competition in the first place, she says she likes to sing but what exactly does she want from the whole experience, and more importantly, what does it mean for her after she wins? the movie is amazingly short, full of modern versions of familiar songs, and I was tapping my feet to a lot of them any competition is fierce plus the more experienced singers may overshine you, it's easy to get lost in the fame and success, and it's important to sing from your own heart Fanning is an amazing lead as well as a vocalist and the familiar songs will also be a treat to millenials the movie does its job without overdoing the many cliches

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/20/23

Full Review

Cristian s

Simpática, cae en todos los clichés de este genero pero no por eso hace que sea una mala película. Para pasar un buen rato sin esperar la gran cosa.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

09/30/22

Full Review

Audience Member

2.7 pretty good movie

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/20/22

Full Review

tom m

It was pretty predictable. Seemed like a waste of the talent of Elle Fanning imho. Just barely okay.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Max Minghella

Director

Elle Fanning

Violet

Zlatko Buric

Vlad

Rebecca Hall

Jules

Agnieszka Grochowska

Marla

Clara Rugaard

Roxy

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Teen Spirit: Trailer 2

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Teen Spirit: Trailer 1

1:18

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Christy Lemire

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

This is pure formula, but it's really enjoyable -- glossy with tremendous energy.

Sep 27, 2019

Full Review

Randy Myers

San Jose Mercury News

Actor Max Minghella cranks up the energy and flashy style for a directorial debut that makes you want to both cheer and dance.

May 21, 2019

Full Review

Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

But while not exactly believable, this is still a feisty modern-day fairy tale that brought a great big smile to my face.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 21, 2019

Full Review

Tina Kakadelis

Beyond the Cinerama Dome

Like a really great pop song, it hits all the expected beats, but its sweetness is never too cloying. Teen Spirit is filled with warmth, the gorgeous cinematography, electric performance by Fanning, and familiar soundtrack make it all worthwhile.

Jul 25, 2023

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a familiar premise that’s employed to watchable yet perpetually erratic effect by Minghella...

Rated: 2.5/4

Apr 10, 2023

Full Review

Kip Mooney

College Movie Review

The musical numbers are electric.

Rated: B

Aug 15, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

A shy teenager dreams of escaping her small town and pursuing her passion to sing. With the help of an unlikely mentor, she enters a local singing competition that will test her integrity, talent and ambition.

Director: Max Minghella
Executive Producer: Max Minghella, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, John Janick, Tony Seyler, David Garrett, Jamie Bell
Screenwriter: Max Minghella
Distributor: Bleecker Street Media, LD Entertainment
Production Co: Metrol Technology, Automatik, Head Gear Films, Aperture Media Partners, Blank Tape
Rating: PG-13 (Teen Drinking and Smoking|Some Suggestive Content)
Genre: Drama, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 19, 2019, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 2, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $296.8K
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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