Suburbia

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Suburbia

R

1996

1h 58m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

69%

Tomatometer

29 Reviews

68%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Five teen friends (Giovanni Ribisi, Amie Carey, Steve Zahn, Nicky Katt, Dina Spybey) spend their time hanging out behind a convenience store in a sleepy Texas town. Through pointless discussions, the group descends into a self-perpetuating cycle of malaise. Their routine, however, brakes when Pony (Jayce Bartok) returns to town after finding success as a rock star, forcing the group to question their desire to stay in the suburbs doing nothing with their lives.

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Critics Consensus

Suburbia succeeds in its blistering, ensemble-driven exploration of middle America, though it never quite reconciles the disparate stylings of director Richard Linklater and writer Eric Bogosian.

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Richard Williams

Guardian

Sep 22, 2025

There is affection in Linklater's eye, but no comfort in his conclusion. SubUrbia can only advance his reputation as the Eric Rohmer of the strip-malls.

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Quentin Curtis

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Sep 22, 2025

The movie is clearly in the hoary tradition of The Group. But Bogosian's perfect ear for the characters' gripes and gags, and Linklater's feel for rhythm make it close to a Big Chill for the slacker generation.

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Ryan Gilbey

Independent (UK)

Sep 22, 2025

As Linklater demonstrated on Slacker and Dazed and Confused, his forte is the fluid direction of ensemble casts, and he moves among the eight main characters with a seductive ease and compassion worthy of Rohmer.

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Rachel Wagner

Rachel's Reviews (YouTube)

Aug 2, 2026

An underrated film from Richard Linklater.

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Matthew Sweet

Independent on Sunday

Sep 22, 2025

[Richard Linklater's] cinema has always been -- programmatically -- an endurance test, but this new entry really tries the patience.

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Sep 1, 2022

B

The tension underneath the movie is the friction between Bogosian’s tense urban sensibility and Linklater’s relaxed, generous style.

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Oliver C

@OliverClose Sep 25, 2025

As Linklater demonstrated on Slacker and Dazed and Confused, his forte is the fluid direction of ensemble casts, and he moves among the eight main characters with a seductive ease and compassion worthy of Rohmer.

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Kevin L

@Lakeman Aug 5, 2025

That's it, I'm done w/ Linklamer for good. I tried, but aside from the two early ones that established him, the rest have been a bore. I get his take here, but I'm not gonna go w/ Ebert's 'Godot' comparison. Hell no. Just another slacker flick w/ less interesting, more annoying characters; Bogosian or not. Who's he anyhow? 2.4 stars Parker Posey deserved better.

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Tara C.

@Tarachi31 Jul 29, 2025

My favorite movie forever.

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Kathleen H

@RT20191880 Apr 27, 2025

So, is this some cinematic great? No, not really, but that scene where Steve Zahn is running backwards with a car is pure comedy. I don't think I've laughed like that in a long time. I watched this when it came out and it was a staple. It's one of the few movies that I have to own. Steve Zahn will always be a favorite of mine because of this movie. Seriously, just don't take it so seriously.

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Apr 18, 2025

Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são mais ou menos, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, a história é mais ou menos, mas o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e mais relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom.

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J E

@RT85708183 Apr 17, 2025

More like a Kevin Smith movie than Linklater. And a huge step down from Dazed. Almost as if it wasnt even the same filmmaker. Steve Zahn, Ribisi and Nicky Katt (RIP) were standouts but the others were miscast.

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Richard Linklater

Director

Jayce Bartok

Pony

Amie Carey

Sooze

Nicky Katt

Tim

Ajay Naidu

Nazeer Chaldi

Parker Posey

Erica

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Synopsis

Five teen friends (Giovanni Ribisi, Amie Carey, Steve Zahn, Nicky Katt, Dina Spybey) spend their time hanging out behind a convenience store in a sleepy Texas town. Through pointless discussions, the group descends into a self-perpetuating cycle of malaise. Their routine, however, brakes when Pony (Jayce Bartok) returns to town after finding success as a rock star, forcing the group to question their desire to stay in the suburbs doing nothing with their lives.

Director: Richard Linklater
Producer: Anne Walker-McBay
Screenwriter: Eric Bogosian
Distributor: Warner Bros., Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Detour Filmproduction, Castle Rock Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 11, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $656.2K
Runtime: 1h 58m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround

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