Taglines: Fall. Get back up.
In the mid-1990s, 13-year-old Stevie lives in Los Angeles with his aggressive, fitness-obsessed older brother Ian and single mother Dabney. One day Stevie bikes past Motor Avenue Skateshop, admires the boastful camaraderie of skateboarders outside the shop, and returns the following day.
Back home, Stevie trades with his brother for a skateboard, brings it to the shop and befriends young skater Ruben, who introduces him to the rest of the group: Ray, “Fuckshit,” and “Fourth Grade.” Although an inexperienced skater, Stevie is drawn to the group and aspires to imitate their daredevil behavior and anti-social attitudes. The group nicknames him “Sunburn” during a conversation. Ruben begins to resent Stevie because he feels he’s being replaced as the “younger kid” in the group.
While attempting a skateboard leap across an open section between two rooftops, Stevie falls and suffers a head injury. Dabney becomes concerned about Stevie’s turn towards recklessness and his new friends, but Stevie has already made up his mind that he’s sticking the group. Ian has a tense standoff with Fuckshit as Stevie watches, but Ian appears intimidated by the group and leaves before a fight can break out. Stevie begins smoking, drinking, and experimenting with marijuana. At a party, he has his first sexual experience.
After Stevie comes home intoxicated, he and Ian have a violent fight, after which Ian has an emotional breakdown (after Stevie says that he has no friends) and Stevie asphyxiates himself with a cord from a game controller. Alarmed by this turn of events, Dabney forbids Stevie from hanging out with the boys, but Stevie screams and curses at his mother, refusing to obey.
Having alienated his mother and brother, Stevie sits alone behind the skate shop. Ray consoles Stevie, telling him that even though he thinks his life is bad, the other boys have it worse. Fourth Grade is poor to the point of not being able to afford socks; Ruben’s mom is an abusive drug addict; Fuckshit’s relentless partying with drugs and alcohol are worsening; and Ray lost his younger brother, who was hit by a car. Ray then takes Stevie out to skate at night, after which they fall asleep in a park.
The shop hosts a party in back of the store. Ray hopes to make a career in skating, and chats up two professionals as potential sponsors. Fuckshit, who is drunk and high, tries to sabotage Ray’s chances by embarrassing him in front of the pros. Stevie, who has been drinking heavily, is provoked into a brawl with Ruben.
Discouraged by the undisciplined behavior of his friends, Ray tells everyone to go home. However, Fuckshit insists on driving the group to another party. Ray agrees, and the group heads off, with Stevie in the front passenger seat. No one seems happy, except Fuckshit, whose judgment has been impaired by drugs and alcohol. Talking animatedly and driving inattentively, Fuckshit crashes and flips the car on its side. Stevie is knocked unconscious, and is rushed to the hospital.
Mid90s (stylized as mid90s) is a 2018 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film written and directed by Jonah Hill, in his feature directorial debut. It stars Sunny Suljic, Lucas Hedges and Katherine Waterston, and follows a 13-year-old boy who begins to hang out with an older group of skateboarders while living in 1990s Los Angeles.
The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2018 and was released in the United States on October 19, 2018, by A24. It received generally positive reviews from critics, who called it a “promising first outing for Hill”.
Mid90s had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2018. It was also screened at the New York Film Festival on October 7, 2018. It was released in the United States on October 19, 2018.
Mid90s grossed $249,500 from four theaters in its opening weekend for an average of $62,375 per venue, good for the third best of 2018. It expanded to 1,206 theaters the following week and made $3 million, finishing 10th at the box office. In its third weekend of release the film made $1.36 million.
Mid90s features an original score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, as well as recordings by The Pixies, Morrissey, Herbie Hancock, ESG, the Mamas and the Papas, as well as Souls of Mischief and other 1990s hip-hop.
Mid90s (2018)
Directed by: Jonah Hill
Starring: Sunny Suljic, Lucas Hedges, Na-kel Smith, Olan Prenatt, Gio Galicia, Ryder McLaughlin, Alexa Demie, Katherine Waterstonx, Fig Camila Abner, Liana Perlich, Ama Elsesser
Screenplay by: Jonah Hill
Production Design by: Jahmin Assa
Cinematography by: Christopher Blauvelt
Film Editing by: Nick Houy
Costume Design by: Heidi Bivens
Set Decoration by: Christy McIrwin
Art Direction by: Justin Allen
Music by: Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross
MPAA Rating: R for pervasive language, sexual content, drug and alcohol use, some violent behavior/disturbing images – all involving minors.
Distributed by: A24 Films
Release Date: October 26, 2018
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