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FM

Play trailer FM PG 1978 1h 44m Musical Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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20% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 62% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Los Angeles radio station QSKY tops the ratings charts by playing the best music with little advertising. When the corporate higher-ups push for more commercials, radio station manager Jeff Dugan (Michael Brandon) refuses to comply, which sends sales manager Regis Lamar (Tom Tarpey) running to the bosses. Dugan quits in defiance, but his loyal disc jockeys -- including Mother (Eileen Brennan), Eric Swan (Martin Mull) and the Prince of Darkness (Cleavon Little) -- protest with a lock-in.

Critics Reviews

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Time Out Jan 26, 2006
Dugan, who's heavily into the music biz, is against commercials on commercial radio (but since QSKY pumps out an endless stream of Ronstadt, the Eagles and Queen, wouldn't a few mindless jingles go unnoticed?) Go to Full Review Janet Maslin New York Times May 9, 2005
1.5/5
A preposterously self-serving variation on 1960's themes. Go to Full Review Keith Phipps AV Club May 30, 2001
It gets the standard rock-movie formula backwards by trying to base a revolution around some of the safest, least revolutionary music in the history of rock. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Jul 20, 2019
2.5/4
The "us against the establishment" plotline is hoary and silly, and the movie fares better when it focuses on specific character incidents rather than any greater themes. Go to Full Review TV Guide Aug 14, 2013
2/4
Mull, as a spaced-out DJ, steals the show, emanating energy with which neither the other actors nor the music can compete. Go to Full Review Richard T. Jameson Parallax View Apr 21, 2010
FM, for all its ingratiating players, is an unredeemable mess that can't even make it to simplistic. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Rebecca B @RT54376278 Aug 21, 2025 I’ll be honest I have a short attention span anyway but it’s taken me 3 different days just to drag through this film. Something about the army, a radio station and people having mellow breakdowns. See more Oct 26, 2019 Great for someone like me who grew up in that era.The music cloths and all that great 70's stereo stuff. See more Oct 2, 2017 loved this movie. I was a senior in high school and what a great soundtrack See more Jul 31, 2017 Although there were a few good scenes, it's mostly over-the-top melodrama and comedy. But the soundtrack is awesome!! See more Jun 15, 2014 A lot more fun than I expected. Much preferred over it's competition at the time, WKRP In Cincinnati. Fun movie with great music ! See more Feb 18, 2014 The soundtrack from this movie is awesome! The film is pretty good but predictable. See more Read all reviews
FM

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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John A. Alonzo

Director

Michael Brandon

Jeff Dugan

Martin Mull

Eric Swan

Eileen Brennan

Mother

Alex Karras

Doc Holiday

Cleavon Little

Prince

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FM

FM (1978) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Los Angeles radio station QSKY tops the ratings charts by playing the best music with little advertising. When the corporate higher-ups push for more commercials, radio station manager Jeff Dugan (Michael Brandon) refuses to comply, which sends sales manager Regis Lamar (Tom Tarpey) running to the bosses. Dugan quits in defiance, but his loyal disc jockeys -- including Mother (Eileen Brennan), Eric Swan (Martin Mull) and the Prince of Darkness (Cleavon Little) -- protest with a lock-in.
Director
John A. Alonzo
Producer
Rand Holston
Screenwriter
Ezra Sacks
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Universal Pictures
Rating
PG
Genre
Musical, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 20, 1978, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 16, 2019
Runtime
1h 44m
Sound Mix
Surround
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