Stranger Than Paradise

1984
15
1h 29m

IMDb RATING

7.4/10

41K

YOUR RATING

Richard Edson, Eszter Balint, and John Lurie in Stranger Than Paradise (1984)

A New Yorker's life is thrown into a tailspin when his younger cousin surprise-visits him, starting a strange, unpredictable adventure.

Play trailer2:43

2 Videos

99+ Photos

Comedy Drama

A New Yorker's life is thrown into a tailspin when his younger cousin surprise-visits him, starting a strange, unpredictable adventure.A New Yorker's life is thrown into a tailspin when his younger cousin surprise-visits him, starting a strange, unpredictable adventure.A New Yorker's life is thrown into a tailspin when his younger cousin surprise-visits him, starting a strange, unpredictable adventure.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.4/10

41K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 8 wins & 2 nominations

Videos2

Trailer 2:43

Official Trailer

Clip 3:12

Bill Murray vs. Zombies? We're Dying for 'The Dead Don't Die'

Clip 3:12

Bill Murray vs. Zombies? We're Dying for 'The Dead Don't Die'

Photos101

+ 95

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Director Jim Jarmusch was dismayed to discover all the money he paid for the rights to Screamin' Jay Hawkins' "I Put a Spell on You" went to the record company, with nothing going to Hawkins himself. When the film earned a profit, Jarmusch took it upon himself to track down Hawkins (who was living in a trailer park, at the time) and give him some money. It was the beginning of a friendship that lasted until Hawkins' death. According to Jarmusch, Hawkins continuously swore he'd pay him back, despite Jarmusch's insistence that the money was a gift.

Goofs
When Eddie and Willie are driving to Cleveland, the camera and camera operator can be seen in the reflection of the rear view mirror.

Quotes
Eddie: You know, it's funny... you come to someplace new, an'... and everything looks just the same.
Willie: No kiddin', Eddie.

Connections
Edited from Stranger than Paradise (1983)

Soundtracks
I Put a Spell on You
Written by Screamin' Jay Hawkins (as Jay Hawkins)
Used by permission of CBS Unart Catalog, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
Performed by Screamin' Jay Hawkins
Courtesy of CBS Records

User reviews133

Review

Featured review

A seductive character and mileu study

Reading over the comments so far, it seems that most people think this film is great, with a rare few criticizing it for being a boring 'student-film'.

People, this is for sure not a film for those who've been brutalized by too much Hollywood cinema - it's a quiet movie that you absorb slowly. It's very well done and quite absorbing. Sure it makes me think of so-called student-films (my brother is in film school), but that's not to say it's not a damn good one. There's something to be said for beautiful photography (the black and white images go so well with the feelings of emptiness and coldness) and the search for a meaning in life. These people are desperately in need of meaning and affection, none of which they seem to be able to find - or give. This is a movie about that desperate search.

And it's well worth seeing - for those with a bit of patience and artistic sensibility. It's a movie about emptiness for sure, but is by no means 'boring'. I'd give it 4/5 stars.