Quadrophenia

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Quadrophenia

R,

1979,

1h 55m,

Musical/

Drama

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Watchlist

100%

17 Reviews

Tomatometer

83%

2,500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

17 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

An angst-ridden London youth, Jimmy Cooper (Phil Daniels) escapes the drudgery of his postal job as a member of the Mods, a sharply dressed gang constantly at odds with their rivals, the Rockers. When the Mods and Rockers clash in the coastal town of Brighton, England, it leads to both trouble and an encounter with the lovely Steph (Leslie Ash). Returning to London, Jimmy, who aspires to be like Mod leader Ace Face (Sting), becomes even more disillusioned and longs to return to Brighton.

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Michael Ventura

L.A. Weekly

Sep 26, 2025

Excellent. The best movie I have ever seen about being young in the world tat rock 'n' roll sings to.

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Sarah Boslaugh

TheArtsStl

Mar 22, 2025

8/10

[Roddam and Trufano} make extensive use of deep focus and displayed a real expertise in directing and shooting crowded interiors like nightclubs and house parties...

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Oct 6, 2023

It’s not really a musical as much as a rough and ready drama inspired by the story suggested in the rock opera (though the Who’s music underscores the film quite nicely), and it has aged very well over the years.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Apr 27, 2023

3.5/4

It manages to be both quintessentially British and irrefutably universal.

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Dick Nusser

Billboard

Mar 24, 2023

It is unabashedly a period piece, fashioned for the screen in the same straightforward, cinema verite style much in vogue among British filmmakers of the 1960s.

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Tom Cassidy

Common Sense Media

Mar 25, 2021

3/5

Quadrophenia is every bit as fun, occasionally ugly, and upsetting as the heady days of discovering early independence and finding a direction in life can be.

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Oct 7, 2018

The music is great, the topic of the mods and rockers and just the depiction of the youth of that time is very interesting. However, the storywriting leaves much to be desired,the characters are just way too one dimensional or their actions just don't make sense at all and the acting isn't that great either.

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Luke M

Jul 27, 2018

one of the greatest movies ever made

Abraham M

Jul 18, 2018

Franc Roddam masterpiece exploring youth angst in 60's England. The iconic album by the Who transitions to film, creating a cinematic gem. Thousands upon thousands of not only British youth, but young people worldwide, evolved their own lifestyle of music, clothing and transport around this film in which no other film can compare. Even after almost 40 years, this film still resonates with today's youth in some way. Be prepared before you view it, your life may never be the same again. Jump on your Lambretta or Vespa, smarten up, dance all night & and relive your youth the way it should have been!

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Anakin R

Mar 16, 2018

Not a fan of The Who but it feels like there's too much reliance on fandom here and it forces the narrative to fit in with the music. Other than that, I do like some of the more accurate portrayals of rebellious UK Rock lifestyle and the divisive nature specifically of the teenagers and authorities. It feels more personal here than a lot of films that have touched on that subject in such a cliche way.

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Anakin S

Sep 28, 2017

Once you can get past what the movie is not-a cinematic realization of the Who's Wagnerian rock opera-you can appreciate the movie for what it is. The narrative and the mood of the album are here, the style and the faces, even if the music takes a back seat to the setting. An energetic realism and nostalgia propels the film rather than Moon's crashing drums, and though the final act suffers as the music's psychological fracturing is transformed into a typical street fight, by the end you can't imagine having filmed the album any other way.

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Han P

Aug 23, 2017

A rollicking clash of subcultures with a first-person perspective on how one actually gets caught up in that kind of thing. Absolutely brilliant, plus, Sting.

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Franc Roddam

Director

Phil Daniels

Jimmy

Mark Wingett

Dave

Philip Davis

Chalky

Leslie Ash

Steph

Garry Cooper

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Synopsis

An angst-ridden London youth, Jimmy Cooper (Phil Daniels) escapes the drudgery of his postal job as a member of the Mods, a sharply dressed gang constantly at odds with their rivals, the Rockers. When the Mods and Rockers clash in the coastal town of Brighton, England, it leads to both trouble and an encounter with the lovely Steph (Leslie Ash). Returning to London, Jimmy, who aspires to be like Mod leader Ace Face (Sting), becomes even more disillusioned and longs to return to Brighton.

Director: Franc Roddam
Producer: Roy Baird, Bill Curbishley
Screenwriter: Dave Humphries, Martin Stellman
Distributor: Rhino Entertainment Company [us], World Northal
Production Co: Polytel, The Who Films
Rating: R
Genre: Musical, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 2, 1979, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 23, 2017
Runtime: 1h 55m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround

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