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The Adventures of Ford Fairlane 1990

In the city of angels and egos, Ford Fairlane, "Mr. Rock 'n' Roll Detective," takes on the toughest cases for LA's elite rock stars. But when a heavy-metal musician meets his maker mid-concert, Fairlane must trade his party-hard lifestyle for detective work. Then, a radio shock jock's murder investigation leads him down a dark and deadly path of missing groupies, electrifying conspiracies, and rock 'n' roll redemption.

In the city of angels and egos, Ford Fairlane, "Mr. Rock 'n' Roll Detective," takes on the toughest cases for LA's elite rock stars. But when a heavy-metal musician meets his maker mid-concert, Fairlane must trade his party-hard lifestyle for detective work. Then, a radio shock jock's murder investigation leads him down a dark and deadly path of missing groupies, electrifying conspiracies, and rock 'n' roll redemption.

Does The Adventures of Ford Fairlane have end credit scenes?

No!

The Adventures of Ford Fairlane does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of The Adventures of Ford Fairlane

Explore the complete cast of The Adventures of Ford Fairlane, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


Ratings and Reviews for The Adventures of Ford Fairlane

See how The Adventures of Ford Fairlane is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where The Adventures of Ford Fairlane stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Metacritic

24

Metascore

6.5

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

%

TOMATOMETER

review

0%

User Score

IMDb

6.4 /10

IMDb Rating

TMDB

60

%

User Score

Take the Ultimate The Adventures of Ford Fairlane Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of The Adventures of Ford Fairlane with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.


The Adventures of Ford Fairlane Quiz: Test your knowledge on the chaotic journey of private investigator Ford Fairlane in this 1990 mystery-comedy.

What profession does Ford Fairlane hold?

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for The Adventures of Ford Fairlane

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Read the complete plot summary of The Adventures of Ford Fairlane, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


As the story unfolds in this gritty mystery, we find private investigator Ford Fairlane, played by Andrew Dice Clay, deep in thought on a beach, shrouded by a melancholic mist. Just as he begins to drown in his own despair, a striking flashback transports us to the renowned Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado. There, the fictional heavy metal band “The Black Plague” electrifies the crowd with a raucous performance. The charismatic lead singer Bobby Black makes a dramatic entrance via zip line from Creation Rock, captivating the audience with his eccentric charm as he dives into one of the band’s most recognized songs.

Yet, the excitement quickly turns to horror when Bobby Black begins to choke and tragically collapses on stage, creating a wave of panic among the audience. In the wake of this shocking event, Ford’s old friend and shock-jock Johnny Crunch turns to him for help, hiring him to locate the mysterious teenage groupie Zuzu Petals, who might hold the vital clues to uncovering the circumstances surrounding Bobby’s untimely death.

As Fairlane immerses himself in the investigation, he is pulled into a tangled web filled with suspects, victims, and alluring women. Meanwhile, the plot thickens when Johnny Crunch becomes the next victim, electrocuted live on-air, while Ford also confronts the ruthless record executive Julian Grendel, the clueless cop Lt. Amos, merciless hitman Smiley (played by Paul Giamatti), and a slew of ex-girlfriends seeking revenge.

With the unwavering support of his loyal sidekick Jazz (played by Priscilla Barnes), and a savvy record producer, Ford faces an array of suspects, each harboring their own secrets and motives. The stakes rise as his cherished belongings—his home, car, and prized guitar—become collateral damage in Grendel’s desperate bid to silence him.

As Ford pieces together crucial information, he learns that the secret to revealing the truth lies within three critical data CDs, each containing damning evidence against Julian Grendel’s illegal operations. The first of these discs is misplaced with Colleen Sutton (played by Kirstie Alley), the second is with Zuzu Petals herself, and the third rests obscured beneath a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, just waiting to be unearthed.

Throughout this chaotic journey, Ford becomes embroiled in a case that tests his skills, relationships, and very identity. As the plot progresses, it’s revealed that Grendel’s gruesome actions are driven by his disdain for both Bobby Black and Johnny Crunch, whose greed led them to exploit piracy for profit, devastating the music industry, including Grendel Records. In a stunning act of revenge, Fairlane confronts Grendel, dousing him in a flammable mix of alcopop and a lit cigarette, turning the villain to ashes.

With the chaos dying down, Jazz decides to part ways with Fairlane, her gratitude having been pushed to its limits. However, the menace isn’t over yet; Smiley resurfaces, intent on eliminating Ford. But in a twist of fate, before executing his plan, Smiley unveils a dark truth—he was responsible for the death of the Kid’s father. Seizing this opportunity, Ford reverses the situation and shoots Smiley with his secretive sleeve pistol.

As the tension settles after this violent encounter, Ford and Jazz reconcile their differences and start anew. The Kid, now emboldened, chooses to join their detective agency. Fortune smiles upon Ford when he wins a life-changing million-dollar prize from a radio contest.

With newfound wealth in hand, Ford purchases an extravagant yacht and sets sail into the sunset, accompanied by Jazz, the Kid, and their loyal koala friend, now donning a fashionable neck brace. As they chart a course across the horizon, the trio discovers a sense of unity and belonging, embracing one another as a joyful family at last.

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for The Adventures of Ford Fairlane

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Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from The Adventures of Ford Fairlane. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.


The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HQ]

Cars Featured in The Adventures of Ford Fairlane

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Explore all cars featured in The Adventures of Ford Fairlane, including their makes, models, scenes they appear in, and their significance to the plot. A must-read for car enthusiasts and movie buffs alike.


Cadillac

1976

Funeral Coach

Chevrolet

1977

Camaro

Chevrolet

1988

Corvette C4

Chevrolet

1981

Impala

Chevrolet

1981

Impala

Chevrolet

1955

Task-Force

Chrysler

1986

LeBaron Convertible

Ferrari

1986

Mondial 3.2

Ford

1957

Fairlane 500 Skyliner

Honda

1982

Accord

Movie Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


music industryprivate detectiverecord executiverecord companycover upinvestigationone man armymusic producerrock 'n' rolllos angeles californiacharacter name in titlehitmanreference to guns n' rosesfalling from heightgrenadewoman in jeopardyexploding carcompact disckoalaperson on firemurdermotorcycleshot to deathcigarette smokingworst picture razzie winnerscene of the crimecapitol records building hollywood555 phone numberreference to the wizard of ozreference to the scarecrowsleeve gundetectivewhodunitmurder mysterygreaserdrive by shootingbooby trapinterrogationbeaten to deathhollywood walk of famerock singerdeceptionsadomasochismpolice detectiveelectrocutionradio stationmedia coverageattempted murdercrooked businessmansecurity guard

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