Synopsis
A victim of his own anger, the Kid is a Minneapolis musician on the rise with his band, the Revolution, escaping a tumultuous home life through music. While trying to avoid making the same mistakes as his truculent father, the Kid navigates the club scene and a rocky relationship with a captivating singer, Apollonia. But another musician, Morris, looks to steal the Kid's spotlight -- and his girl.
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Cast
- PrinceThe Kid
- Apollonia KoteroApollonia
- Morris DayMorris
- Jerome BentonJerome
- Olga KarlatosMother
- Clarence Williams IIIFather
- Billy SparksBilly
- Wendy MelvoinWendy
- Lisa ColemanLisa
- Bobby ZBobby
Recommendations
- 91
Entertainment Weekly
The film is like East of Eden replayed as a hyperbolic rock fever dream. There are a few sour, juvenile moments, but this is the rare pop movie that works the way a great rock & roll song does: It tells a simple, almost elemental tale and uses the music to set it aflame. - 80
Variety
Playing a character rooted in his own background, and surrounded by the real-life members of his Minneapolis-based musical 'family,' rock star Prince makes an impressive feature film debut in Purple Rain, a rousing contemporary addition to the classic backstage musical genre. - 75
San Francisco Chronicle
Fresh music and silly dialogue - those aspects of Purple Rain haven't changed over the years. [Review of re-release] - 50
Christian Science Monitor
The pop-music star Prince makes his movie debut in this bizarre drama about a rock singer with a troubled career and a miserable home life. - 50
The New York Times
Like many album covers, Purple Rain, though sometimes arresting to look at, is a cardboard come-on to the record it contains. - 50
TV Guide Magazine
If you like Prince's music, you'll love this movie. If not, stay away. - 40
Empire
A fairly dappy and overlong attempt to turn Prince the then emergent rock-funk superstar into a movie star. - 40
Arizona Republic
The problems with the narrative begin early. [Review of re-release]
