Movies that tell the story of our favorite bands can be some of the most enthralling in cinema. Sometimes though, it’s not necessarily a favorite band that makes for a good movie, it’s the one a lot of people forget about. The 2010 movie starring Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart as Cherie Currie and Joan Jett, respectively, depicting the rise and fall of the band The Runaways is just that kind of film. Despite it being more of a cult favorite, a reader’s poll with Rolling Stone begged to differ and listed the movie as number one on their list of “Best Rock Movies of All Time.”
Writer and Director Floria Sigismondi (in her feature debut with the film) was inspired by the punk band’s story and also wanted to make a coming-of-age film, rather than a traditional biopic. Of the story she said:
“What I loved about the Runaways was that they were doing things that girls weren’t supposed to do, especially at 15. I wanted to capture what it was like to be super-young and thrown in this rock ‘n’ roll world at a time when girls are just trying to figure out their bodies and create their identities.”
The Runaways kicks off in 1975, when Joan Jett (portrayed by Stewart) forms the band of the same name with Cherie Currie (portrayed by Fanning). Under producer Kim Fowley, the all girl’s punk band attempt to navigate fame, their own interpersonal relationships, and the tumultuous rock and roll lifestyle. The movie deals with mental health, the music industry, and documents the four years of The Runaways career.
The Runaways was met with generally positive reviews from critics, with the performances especially being praised. While it isn’t necessarily a sweeping, cinematic story, The Runaways fills the need of being exactly what it intended to be. It conveys youth and the punk scene of the 1970s, and shows the story of the band in an electric, dynamic manner.
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