I re-watched this film recently, and still loved it. You make a compelling argument how there are no stakes, the characters have weak story arcs, and the slurs don’t age well, but I still think it’s a fun movie. Through a design aspect, it captures the 1970’s fashion, the soundtrack sells the era, the actors had a great chemistry between each other, and the cartoon-like structure (like the teacher laughing at Jam’s mother hijacking the intercom) makes for a great not-to-be-taken-seriously film.

Wow I'm surprised by your review. I seen this movie when it was released in 1999 when I was 31 years old I watched it last month and I still have an all time the last with it. I am also a huge kiss fan I understand some of your points but still I love this movie.

The problem is that they tried to make this the KISS version of I Wanna Hold Your Hand and it didn't work.Plus the way it was promoted it seems like it was a KISS movie but KISS only appear at the end and I think some people didn't like that and word of mouth hurt it.

Nice movie review on Detroit Rock City it's been awhile since I have watched this movie which introduced me to the rock group Kiss

as someone who first watched it during my sophomore year of high school, and became a kiss fan a year prior, this movie was HELLA up my alley. Even as a 20 year old, it's one of my favorite films to watch. I'll admit it's not the most perfect film; Characters like Lex for instance arent as complex as per say characters like Jam or even Trip. I guess the film in a way is just extremely special to me. When I was younger, I never got out a whole lot, and didnt have a bunch of friends. I was bullied pretty hard, even up till I was 19. This film with relatable enough characters, kick ass music, and epic scenes were enough to make me feel something. In a way, it was almost like every time I watched it, it's like I'm with the characters themselves. like this is my friend group. not sure if thats cuz i wish i grew up in the 70s, but i digress. to me, it's a great film for kiss fans, ok for regular movie go-ers, funny in some ways for some audiences, but to me... the perfect escape from the hells i've sat through Some things I will admit as well, I do wish the deleted scenes they took out were in the final cut. They made Elvis a bit more villainous you could say, and most of them gave the character Hawk a lot more character. It could've made the film a bit stronger if you think about it. Apparently as well in the original screenplay, Elvis was gonna track down the main characters all the way to detroit, and apparently eat their tickets. As cool as it mightve been for Elvis to chase them down more throughout the film, im not sure if it wouldve worked. It also surprisingly mightve been one of the reasons they shortened the screenplay a bit, cuz it wouldve clocked in to around 3 hours..... i wouldnt mind maybe a full 2 hours with credits, but THREE??? idk about that man. If it were up to me, like if i was the director, i wouldve expanded more on Lex and maybe even Trip, along with putting back in the scenes that gave Hawk a bit more character. Jam almost had just enough, so thats out of the question. I wouldve had Elvis maybe chase them down a bit around detroit itself, hopefully to raise a bit more suspense. Maybe even have the group together a bit longer, cuz at least a 3rd of the film they're more on their own. And lastly, maybe before Jam stands up to his mother, Peter Criss himself walks up to him, blending in with one crowd going up to the concert. Peter talks with Jam, not knowing it's really peter, and Peter gives him the confidence, and to tell his mother that Peter himself is catholic. Jam then says that in his speech which couldve been enough to convince her to stop nagging at him. I know as well there was a scene written where the group meet kiss backstage, and honestly.... god only knows if that wouldve been a good scene or not, cuz it couldve gone in any direction. that said, Detroit Rock City... like i said, good for kiss fans, ok to general audiences, funny to some, but to me... a perfect escape

The movie was/is hilarious! And as someone who lived that era the period feel was spot on, unlike many other "70s" period shows & movies. Going to concerts was one of the things we literally lived for back then. For all the characters knew that just might have been their only chance to see Kiss, especially all together as high school friends. Not to be insulting but maybe you just don't get Kiss or what it means to be a Kiss fan & need to go find your own youth culture.

The only thing good about this film was the soundtrack. I remember finding a CD of it in the discount bin at the Wal-Mart I used to work at. Since it was only $1 I figured I might as well get it. It's not too bad but not something I'd go rushing to tell people to get, either. Honestly, it's just like you said-It's a curiosity if you're a KISS fan but I think Dazed & Confused did the whole coming of age thing a lot better. Wayne's World was everything this film was trying to be only it was actually good.

the first dvd i ever bought !!.........when dvds started to get made in 1998...1999 !!!

SEAN, Nice job. My wife loves your hair!! I still have high hopes, you will do a review of "The secound coming" I see it sitting on the shelf behind you.

Sean please do a review for off the soundboard 2 , thank you

You look like Jaimee Baumgardner (Jaimee Casual) a KZfaqr who's Living in the 1970's and loves all of the Rock Bands from that Era.

I really love this movie , but I am a big kiss fan and I really like rock inspired movies set on the 70s like the stoned age , almost famous , dazed and confused , and the phantom of the paradise , I’m a sucker for anything like that .If you haven’t seen the 4 I mentioned do yourself a favor and check them out , really fun movies imo .but I can see what you mean about stuff not aging well , I was listening to the Motley Crue album dr. Feelgood the other day , I loved it as a kid but man a few songs are cringeworthy now and if I was blasting them in a car and someone pulled up beside me I’d turn them down quick , she goes down and time for change are terrible now and I loved them as a kid

Good review......though its not meant to be a deep movie, for silly fun its a great movie where'd you get that shirt, its awesome man

I turned 11 that year, so yeah. I love it.

My first ever record was love gun (yes I’m old) I’m not sure but I think it came a paper pop gun. I got to pop it twice before it broke 😭😭😭 one of my favorite album covers ever

Great review I loved this film growing up also!!!☮️

If I remember right the drummers mother was pyschotic and he would have been grounded for the rest of his high school life. Kids are impetuous like that and never take the longer view. Besides once they get home they can brag about it to their classmates. It's all about street cred.

I still think the poop scene and the puke scene are hilarious

Great movie. Love it. Makes me laugh.

Does anyone know where this is streaming for free?

been a KISS fan since 1977. When this movie came out, I had no urge to see it. Sean says it all. The plot doesn't hook you in and KISS doesn't even show up until the end.

Lol dude your taking the movie way to serious, this movie kicks fucking ass, doesnt have to have meaning lol

12 years olds have thier license ?

Well this movie is not so bad. In comparison with Kiss meets The Phantom it¨s an Oscar winner !

No more-no less. 4 hunger Kisstians teenagers searching for a Kiss concert🔥🎊🎸Great movie,cheers from México rock City 🇲🇽 🤟

This Movie turned out bad because of Gene% Simmons of Kiss who both Directed and Produced this Movie Detroit Rock City This Movie had alot of great scenes that would have made this entire movie Excellent 45minutes of Great Delted Scenes from this movie Detroit Rock City were Delted by Gene Simmons Himself that is why this Movie bombed at Theaters

It never got promoted very good but it's a cult classic and as a KISS fan and a kid in the 70s I thought the movie was great!

My friend asked me to go see it with him when it came out and I had to work. Later I asked him how it was and he replied it was okay….. translation Big pile of dog shit

Funny film 😍

We have very similar opinions on this movie! My dad is a massive KISS fan, and I grew up with this movie as well. I've seen it easily dozens of times and I used to really love it but I've grown a little more...cynical, I guess you can say. If you didn't comment on it I would've pointed out the fact that women are literally prizes in this film toward the end when they finish their arcs with hooking up with them since that's one of my bigger issues with it now. The amount of homophobia is pretty weird too (ESPECIALLY when relating back to disco music, which has some bad implications), even if it's time accurate.

Wow. Sean goes full on woke.

Movie was weak!

Bad review