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Mid90s
By Michael Ordona,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Edgy coming-of-age comedy has language, drinking, violence.

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Mid90s
Community Reviews
Based on 11 parent reviews
Exceptionally fantastic film is filled with mature elements from beginning to end
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Mid90s review
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What's the Story?
In MID90S Los Angeles, disaffected Stevie (Sunny Suljic) lives unhappily with his domineering, bullying brother, Ian (Lucas Hedges), and his lonely, struggling single mother, Dabney (Katherine Waterston). Looking to find his people -- and his identity -- Stevie falls in with a group of older skateboarding teens (led by Na-kel Smith) for a summer of skating, drinking, bad decisions, and growing up. The film marks two-time Oscar-nominated actor Jonah Hill's debut as a writer-director.
Is It Any Good?
This edgy comedy feels autobiographical because the characters' little triumphs are too little to be lied about; the details feel real. The characters' aspirations may not involve saving the universe, but they seem entirely important to them. The dual facts of that smallness and the unvarnished, shall we say, "messed-upness" of Mid90s fuel its authenticity and make it more memorable than most coming-of-age tales. It's very much in the vein of Summer '03 and other unapologetic portraits of teen fumblings in all their glory (and stupidity). The relationships at home, especially the lack of empathy and respect that Stevie and his brother show their mom, will make adults cringe. These kids make some very poor decisions, including getting into a car with a driver who's clearly hammered. But they also find real friendship on the way to exploring who they may want to be.
Suljic certainly inhabits Stevie. He was apparently around 11 when the film was shot, which underlines the uncomfortable feeling that 13-year-old Stevie is simply too young for the things he's getting into. Waterston is sympathetic, and Hedges is a rising star. But the movie's real find is professional skateboarder/musician Smith as Ray, the ringleader. His understated performance is quiet and assured. It builds your confidence in this aspiring skateboarder -- who, it turns out, actually sees the people around him. Hill immerses viewers in the world of skate culture and teen indolence but dodges "skate porn" and "nostalgia porn" (though he did shoot the movie in old-fashioned 4:3 aspect ratio) to focus on real-feeling characters who have believable struggles. There are sequences of Mid90s that some viewers will find totally unacceptable, but (with the exception of one character not being in jail at the end) everything about it feels totally believable.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the way that teen drinking/"partying" is portrayed in Mid90s. Does it seem realistic? How did it make you feel? Are there realistic consequences? Why does that matter?
How is sex depicted in the movie? Is it taken seriously or casually? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
Which audience do you think this film was intended to appeal to: teens or adults who were teens in the '90s? How can you tell?
Did your feelings toward the older brother change over the course of the film? How about toward the mother? Why do you think the kids were so disrespectful to her?
What were each of the friends' dreams, if any? Do you think they were realistic?
Movie Details
- In theaters: October 19, 2018
- On DVD or streaming: January 8, 2019
- Cast: Sunny Suljic , Na-Kel Smith , Katherine Waterston , Lucas Hedges
- Director: Jonah Hill
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: A24
- Genre: Comedy
- Run time: 84 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: pervasive language, sexual content, drug and alcohol use, some violent behavior/disturbing images - all involving minors
- Last updated: June 20, 2023
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