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Almost Famous

Play trailer 2:03 Poster for Almost Famous R 2000 2h 2m Comedy Drama Music Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
91% Tomatometer 229 Reviews 92% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Set in 1973, it chronicles the funny and often poignant coming of age of 15-year-old William, an unabashed music fan who is inspired by the seminal bands of the time. When his love of music lands him an assignment from Rolling Stone Magazine to interview the up-and-coming band Stillwater -- fronted by lead guitar Russell Hammond and lead singer Jeff Bebe, William embarks on an eye-opening journey with the band's tour, despite the objections of his protective mother.
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Almost Famous

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Critics Consensus

Almost Famous, with its great ensemble performances and story, is a well-crafted, warm-hearted movie that successfully draws you into its era.

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Critics Reviews

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Peter Travers Rolling Stone 03/26/2024
5/5
If you haven't already sold your soul to rock & roll, Almost Famous should seal the deal. It’s pure pleasure. Just don’t expect the dark side. Not since A Hard Day’s Night has a movie caught the thrumming exuberance of going where the music takes you. Go to Full Review
Manohla Dargis L.A. Weekly 03/26/2024
The film shimmers with the irresistible pleasures that define Hollywood at its best -- it's polished like glass, funny, knowing and bright, and filled with characters whose lives are invariably sexier and more purposeful than our own. Go to Full Review
Kirk Honeycutt The Hollywood Reporter 03/26/2024
It's a coming-of-age tale compressed into a few mad weeks. And Crowe, the ex-journalist, captures the essence of good journalism -- its watchfulness, persistence and that instinct for a good human story. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Feb 24
3.5/4
Perhaps the most flat-out entertaining movie of its year. Go to Full Review
Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Sep 25
6/10
It’s more of a sweet, satirical take on an extraordinary childhood, concerned with careful character development far more than unforgettable misadventures on the road. Go to Full Review
Julian Singleton Cinapse 07/12/2025
Almost Famous is a film that lives up to its credo of being honest and unmerciful about the people, places, and period it depicts, with love and melancholy mixed in bittersweet balance. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Zoey May 27 One day, you’ll be cool if you watch this movie. See more kelly p May 22 A classic. One of my all-time favorites. Ages well and never disappoints. See more Vixo S @vixo_six Jul 19 Almost Famous made me nostalgic for a life I never lived. I recognized myself in William’s intelligence, isolation, love of music and tendency to feel more comfortable around people older than him. Cameron Crowe makes the rock world irresistible while exposing how unreliable its inhabitants become whenever something real is required of them. Patrick Fugit captures the vulnerability of observing a world without fully belonging to it, while Kate Hudson gives Penny Lane warmth, humor and hidden sadness beneath her magnetic presence. The soundtrack, warm photography and memorable ensemble create an experience I already want to revisit. It may romanticize parts of the era, but it never completely ignores the loneliness beneath the fantasy. See more Whitney B @wbrodt89 Jul 14 What a gift that Cameron Crowe gave us a glimpse into the greatest era of Rock music. This is a story of beautifully flawed characters, navigating fame, friendship, love, and life on the road. Each character is complex, and in just a short time we grow to care deeply for each one. On one hand we have a coming of age story of a young man fulfilling a dream, and navigating new feelings for a mysterious young woman named Penny Lane. We also get a story of forbidden love, and betrayal, and woven throughout we get a story of friendship riddled with jealousy and resentment. And tying it all together is an amazing soundtrack that really pulls you into the story. See more Pig P @pigthatflys Jul 7 i really love this film, the way it shows the young ambition of some is awesome. it really hits a soft spot for me. everyone should watch this movie once. See more Alex B. @AlexBioni Jun 27 Dont Take Drugs! Almost Famous is pure magic and easily in my top 10 films of all time. It is funny, emotional, and filled with incredible performances. Patrick Fugit is the absolute perfect protagonist, bringing the exact right amount of innocence to William, while Billy Crudup is mesmerizing as Russell Hammond. The soundtrack absolutely rocks, and every song feels perfectly placed. This is one of those movies that just makes me happy. It can make me laugh, make me cry, and leave me smiling by the time the credits roll. Cameron Crowe's direction is fantastic, and the opening credits are refreshingly unique and original. They set the tone perfectly. The pacing is excellent, and the production beautifully captures the authenticity of the era. I honestly think it's a perfect film. If you love music, great characters, or great movies in general, this is an easy recommendation. Go watch it. Go now. See more Read all reviews
Almost Famous

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Almost Famous

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Movie Info

Synopsis Set in 1973, it chronicles the funny and often poignant coming of age of 15-year-old William, an unabashed music fan who is inspired by the seminal bands of the time. When his love of music lands him an assignment from Rolling Stone Magazine to interview the up-and-coming band Stillwater -- fronted by lead guitar Russell Hammond and lead singer Jeff Bebe, William embarks on an eye-opening journey with the band's tour, despite the objections of his protective mother.
Director
Cameron Crowe
Producer
Ian Bryce, Cameron Crowe
Screenwriter
Cameron Crowe
Distributor
DreamWorks SKG
Production Co
Vinyl Films, DreamWorks Pictures, Columbia Pictures
Rating
R (Drug Content|Brief Nudity|Language)
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Music
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 15, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$32.5M
Runtime
2h 2m
Sound Mix
DTS, Dolby Digital, SDDS, Dolby SR, Surround
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)