Smithereens

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Smithereens

R,

1982,

1h 30m,

Drama

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Watchlist

Watchlist

100%

11 Reviews

Tomatometer

59%

500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

11 Reviews

59%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Wild teen Wren (Susan Berman) trades New Jersey for New York City, where she hopes to join what's left of the punk rock culture. She spends time hanging out with Paul (Brad Rinn), another young city transplant, but he's too safe for Wren's tastes, which run to narcissistic rockers. She finds one of these in Eric (Richard Hell), who's about to cut a record in Los Angeles. Before long, Wren is planning to accompany Eric when he heads west, but it's soon clear she's put trust in the wrong person.

Steve Macfarlane

Slant Magazine

Jul 27, 2016

It's as unsparing a sketch of twentysomething life in New York City as American independent cinema has yet offered.

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Sarah Boslaugh

TheArtsStl

Jun 20, 2026

7/10

Berman’s strong performance carries [Smithereens] through some questionable narrative beats and weaker performance by some other cast members.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Apr 6, 2021

3/4

A spirited mix of indie grit and DIY aesthetics.

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Amelie Lasker

FF2 Media

Feb 25, 2021

A punk classic, with a soundtrack that includes the Feelies and Richard Hell & the Voidoids. If anything, Wren's failures make it even more punk: she's following a city, a scene, and a dream -- no matter how desperate she becomes.

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Tomas Trussow

The Lonely Film Critic

May 7, 2019

3.5/5

Despite being a downer of a story, Smithereens casts a beguiling spell as an everlasting record of the shifting punk scene in America.

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Sean Mulvihill

FanboyNation.com

Oct 29, 2018

3.5/5

Smithereens is an unflinching look at a moment in time that is now looked at with rose-colored glasses.

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Luke S

Feb 28, 2017

A specific moment in NYC history, captures both time and place that doesn't exist any more. I had such a soft spot for Brad Rijn's "Paul", he was a really great guy. Too bad Wren couldn't see it, but that is part of the paradox, girls never want nice guys until they have already had their fun and by then it's too late.

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Susan Seidelman

Director

Susan Berman

Wren

Richard Hell

Eric

Brad Rinn

Paul

Nada Despotovich

Cecile

Roger Jett

Billy (Eric's Roommate)

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Synopsis

Wild teen Wren (Susan Berman) trades New Jersey for New York City, where she hopes to join what's left of the punk rock culture. She spends time hanging out with Paul (Brad Rinn), another young city transplant, but he's too safe for Wren's tastes, which run to narcissistic rockers. She finds one of these in Eric (Richard Hell), who's about to cut a record in Los Angeles. Before long, Wren is planning to accompany Eric when he heads west, but it's soon clear she's put trust in the wrong person.

Director: Susan Seidelman
Producer: Susan Seidelman
Screenwriter: Ron Nyswaner, Peter Askin
Production Co: Domestic Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 19, 1982, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 22, 2017
Runtime: 1h 30m

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