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Drama

Rumble Fish (1983): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Rumble Fish (1983) movie poster

Rumble Fish is a 1983 drama directed by Francis Ford Coppola, starring Mickey Rourke and Matt Dillon. It is based on Rumble Fish by S. E. Hinton. It runs 1 hour 34 minutes and earned $2.5 million worldwide on a $10 million budget. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best Original Score at the Golden Globes 1984. Critics gave it 63 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.1/10.

IMDb rating
7.1/10
worldwide gross
$2.5M
award nomination
1
Metascore
63
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Rumble Fish (1983) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 34m (94 min)
Genre
Drama
Original language
English
Budget
$10M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Rumble Fish About?

The premise of Rumble Fish without spoilers, adapted from Rumble Fish by S. E. Hinton. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A rebellious teenager named Rusty James searches for meaning in a desolate, sun-baked town. Feeling abandoned by his mother and burdened by his father's struggles, he finds temporary connection with Patty and his friends. The arrival of the mysterious Motorcycle Boy offers Rusty a glimpse of a different path and a potential escape from his difficult circumstances, though whether he’s offered redemption or another complication remains to be seen.

Rumble Fish Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • juvenile delinquent
  • teen angst
  • street gang
  • alcoholic father
  • punched in the face
  • expulsion
  • bloodstain
  • hatred
  • schoolteacher
  • billiard hall
  • circular staircase
  • aggression
+38 more
  • antihero
  • billiards
  • marijuana
  • despair
  • nerd
  • cocaine
  • truancy
  • selfishness
  • slacker
  • character appears in a magazine
  • self destructiveness
  • color blindness
  • man wears underwear
  • man wears a tank top
  • watching tv
  • man wears a singlet
  • screenplay adapted by author
  • high school classroom
  • rivalry
  • bleeding wound
  • barkeeper
  • based on the novel of the same name
  • teenage romance
  • local bar
  • infidelity
  • flashlight as weapon
  • disaffected youth
  • high school student
  • river
  • cut by glass
  • teenage crime
  • adolescent
  • joyrider
  • hero worship
  • setting an animal free
  • young love
  • filmmaker writer director producer
  • young adult literature on screen
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Cast & crew

Rumble Fish Cast

Mickey Rourke leads the cast, with Matt Dillon. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

From the director

More from Francis Ford Coppola

More films directed by Francis Ford Coppola, best-rated first: The Godfather, The Godfather: Part II, Apocalypse Now and The Conversation.

Full filmography
Ratings

Rumble Fish Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Rumble Fish 63 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.1/10.

Plot

Rumble Fish Plot Summary

What happens in Rumble Fish from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 16 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Set in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the story unfolds at a diner called Benny’s Billiards, where the local tough guy, Rusty James, learns from Midget that rival gang leader Biff Wilcox is eager to confront him that night in an abandoned garage lot. Eager to prove himself, Rusty accepts the challenge and gathers his friends: the cunning Smokey, his steadfast companion B.J., and the lanky, nerdy Steve, who all share different perspectives on the imminent confrontation. Steve expresses concern that Rusty James’ older brother, known as The Motorcycle Boy, would disapprove of the fight, given his previous initiatives to end gang violence and promote peace. Dismissing Steve’s worries, Rusty reflects on the Motorcycle Boy’s unexplained absence for the past two months.

Full summary

The whole story of Rumble Fish, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Rumble Fish Box Office & Budget

Rumble Fish grossed $2.5 million worldwide on a $10 million budget, 25% of what it cost.

1983 box office

Worldwide gross

$2.5M

25% of its budget back

US & Canada
$2.5M
Budget
$10M
Awards

Rumble Fish Awards & Nominations

Rumble Fish earned 1 award nomination, including Best Original Score at the Golden Globes 1984.

1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

Rumble Fish Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 2 trailers.

Original theatrical trailer
  • Trailer Rumble Fish (Modern Trailer)
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Rumble Fish?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who summons Rusty James to Benny's Billiards?

Cars

Cars in Rumble Fish

21 cars on screen, including the 1982 Kawasaki GPZ 550 and the 1973 Flxible 45096-6-1.

All 21 cars
  • 1982 Kawasaki GPZ 550 in Rumble Fish 1982 Kawasaki GPZ 550 Important role
  • 1973 Flxible 45096-6-1 in Rumble Fish 1973 Flxible 45096-6-1 Minor role
  • 1973 Ford B-Series in Rumble Fish 1973 Ford B-Series Minor role
  • 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 in Rumble Fish 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 Minor role
Details

Rumble Fish Also Known As

20 alternative titles, including “Rumblefish” and “Бойцовая рыбка”.

Also known as
  • Rumblefish
  • Бойцовая рыбка
  • Rusty James
  • Rusty il selvaggio
  • Siyam Balığı
  • La ley de la calle
  • Rablóhal
  • 斗鱼
  • Dravé ryby
  • ראסטי ג'יימס
  • Juventude Inquieta
  • O Selvagem da Motocicleta
+8 more
  • Риби бойци
  • ランブルフィッシュ
  • Бійцівська рибка
  • 럼블 피쉬
  • Motorcykeldrengen
  • Ο Αταίριαστος
  • Taistelukala
  • Štemer

Seen Rumble Fish?

FAQ

Rumble Fish FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of Rumble Fish, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Rumble Fish?

Rumble Fish runs 1 hour 34 minutes (94 minutes).

When was Rumble Fish released?

Rumble Fish was released on October 8, 1983.

Who directed Rumble Fish?

Rumble Fish was directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

More films by Francis Ford Coppola

Who is in the cast of Rumble Fish?

Rumble Fish stars Mickey Rourke and Matt Dillon.

How much did Rumble Fish make at the box office?

Rumble Fish grossed $2.5 million worldwide on a budget of $10 million.

How is Rumble Fish rated?

Rumble Fish has 7.1/10 on IMDb and 63 on Metacritic.

Is Rumble Fish based on a book?

Yes. Rumble Fish is adapted from Rumble Fish by S. E. Hinton.

Was Rumble Fish nominated for any awards?

Rumble Fish received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.

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