Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Classic '90s romcom with great soundtrack; sex, cursing.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Singles
What's the Story?
It's 1992, and one picturesque apartment house in Seattle's eclectic Capitol Hill district is the setting for SINGLES. Most of the players live in that building. They're neighbors, they're friends, they're struggling with similar issues and similar obsessions. Notably, almost all of them are clearly hoping to find a relationship that matters. Steve Dunne (Campbell Scott) is driven to improve the Seattle traffic grid. Janet (Bridget Fonda) is in between college and graduate school. Cliff Poncier (Matt Dillon) is on a constant quest for recognition in the local rock community. Linda (Kyra Sedgewick) is an idealistic environmentalist; she doesn't live in the building, but becomes integral to the community as the story progresses. And so, the proverbial "dance" begins. Linda meets Steve; Janet wishes the Cliff she knows could be the Cliff she wants; and the rest of the building's residents and their friends hang on to their dreams and aspirations with all their might.
Is It Any Good?
Romantic, funny, quirky, and infused with the iconic music of Seattle circa 1992, the film will still delight audiences hoping for a nostalgic look back or an almost-contemporary upbeat fairy tale. The acting is superb. Familiar characters take on a fresh glow when Cameron Crowe works his magic and creates an unmistakably relatable story that highlights both the apprehension and joy of being young, hopeful, and struggling all at the same time.
Singles was Crowe's follow-up to the now classic Say Anything. It preceded Jerry Maguire and Almost Famous; all four deserve their imminent standing among movies about becoming a grown-up in a fast-changing world.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the music in Singles. Writer-director Cameron Crowe is noted for his passion for music when telling his stories. How closely connected to the stories are the sounds of the 1992 Seattle music scene? How does the music enrich the premise and the relationships?
How does the movie treat sex? Is it casual? Meaningful? Loving? Did sexuality prove to be a bond in one or more of the stories? Which one(s) and how did it impact the relationship(s)?
Why was it important to reference "safe sex" in this movie from 1992? Do you think movies can assist in bringing social awareness to our culture?
What did Janet learn about her own worth over the course of the film? How did the filmmakers use the breast implants element of the film to affect and show her growing maturity?
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 18, 1992
- On DVD or streaming : February 23, 1999
- Cast : Kyra Sedgwick , Campbell Scott , Bridget Fonda , Matt Dillon
- Director : Cameron Crowe
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Warner Brothers
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Friendship , Arts ( Music and Sing-Along )
- Run time : 99 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language, sex-related dialogue, and scenes of sensuality
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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