Rotten Tomatoes
Suggestions will appear as you start typing. Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App New News Showtimes

Crossroads

Play trailer Poster for Crossroads R,  1986,  1h 38m,  Drama/ Music/ Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 74% 19 Reviews Tomatometer 82% 10,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
74% Tomatometer 19 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
A guitar student (Ralph Macchio) tours the Deep South with an old blues man (Joe Seneca), chasing a lost song written by Robert Johnson.

Critics Reviews

View More
Philip Wuntch Dallas Morning News Jan 30, 2026
"Crossroads" is an honorable near-miss. You will love the way individual scenes are handled. Go to Full Review
Catharine Rambeau Detroit Free Press Jan 30, 2026
6/10
There are too many elements here. Go to Full Review
Walter Goodman New York Times May 21, 2003
... ''Crossroads,'' which opens today at the U.A. Twin and other theaters, tries to travel down two or three roads at once and winds up at mighty familiar places. Go to Full Review
Mitchell Beaupre Paste Magazine Sep 29, 2023
6/10
The most interesting, and most surprising element of the film comes in its understanding of the cultural roots of the blues—how music is another field where white Americans have appropriated the work of Black artists and used it for their own profit. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Jan 16, 2021
3/4
Macchio is appealing, Seneca is excellent, and the climax, featuring a musical duel with a Satanic emissary (guitarist extraordinaire Steve Vai), is a knockout. Go to Full Review
John A. Nesbit Old School Reviews May 27, 2009
B
until the definitive movie about the blues is constructed, returning to Crossroads will have to suffice Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Abraham R Jan 21, 2019 So for me, growing up in the Eighties, this was an introduction to the blues. Big city teen breaks an aged blues man out of a state run nursing home in the hopes the old man will teach the teen the mythical lost song of legendary guitarist Robert Johnson. Simple enough, right? But it's what director Walter Hill imbues within the threadbare plot that makes it a magical representation of the Delta's musical history. Ralph Macchio is believable as a prissy Long Island guitar prodigy studying at Juilliard. Joe Seneca is wonderful as a crusty codger of an ex-blues harmonica player who wants to rectify the past mistakes of his misspent life. Supporting players Jami Gertz and Steve Vai provide equally palatable characterizations in the form of an edgy teenage runaway and a snake in black velvet Texas guitarist attempting to claim souls for the devil respectively. Hill's sumptuous use of gray tonality is another highlight of the film, from its finely muted cinematography to its acceptance of morally questionable ideals. The viewer is immersed in what feels like a true trip down through the Tennessee/Mississippi territories and it's almost a shame to have to walk away once the film is over. There could have easily been another thirty or forty minutes added to this film to deepen the roles of the lead actors. As it stands, this film will stay in the memories of music fans and might just win over a few non-blues-loving audience members as well. See more
Rey W Aug 2, 2018 Great movie, even if you don't like the musicals and the ending is just totally unexpected.
Jun 23, 2018 Favorite movie of all time. The music and the story is right up my alley.
Hagrid S Dec 9, 2017 Crossroads is well acted, sure. The story however, subjectively, isn't very riveting. Some kid who's a blues fanatic wants to learn from a blues legend from Mississippi, even though from my observation a very limited amount of characters within the story had heard of him. It's partially a road trip flick as well, and stuff happens. That's right, stuff. They play on stage in an all black bar, they run into a dancer girl on her way to LA, Macchio and Seneca argue a lot, and there's a seemingly spiritual aspect in the atmosphere/tone of this movie. None of this however is all that interesting. The final guitar duel is without a doubt the highlight of this entire film. See more
George L Oct 2, 2017 Thoroughly enjoyable film about the Delta Blues...that is until Classical wins :D Steve Vai, kids!
Anakin M Jul 15, 2017 Enjoyable firm. A journey into the lore of Delta Blues, and a tale of self discovery.
Read all reviews
Crossroads

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING
Beer Wars 67% 70% Beer Wars Watchlist The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold 60% 72% The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold Watchlist Being AP 100% 69% Being AP Watchlist Disorganized Crime 57% 58% Disorganized Crime Watchlist You and Me 86% 65% You and Me Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis A guitar student (Ralph Macchio) tours the Deep South with an old blues man (Joe Seneca), chasing a lost song written by Robert Johnson.
Director
Walter Hill
Producer
Mark Carliner
Screenwriter
John Fusco
Production Co
Columbia, TriStar Pictures
Rating
R
Genre
Drama, Music, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
May 25, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA)
$5.2M
Runtime
1h 38m
Sound Mix
Surround
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings