The Wanderers

Watch The Wanderers

"It was The Wanderers against the world ... and the world never had a chance!"
  • R
  • 1979
  • 1 hr 57 min
  • 7.3  (12,254)
  • 64

The Wanderers is a 1979 American drama film directed by Philip Kaufman and based on the novel by Richard Price. The movie follows a group of Italian-American teenagers in the Bronx in the early 1960s, known as "The Wanderers". The story takes place over the course of one year and centers around the lives of these teenage boys who are part of a gang called The Wanderers. The gang is full of different characters, each with their own personalities and quirks. There's Joey (Ken Wahl), the tough leader of the group, who's obsessed with proving his masculinity and proving himself to his girlfriend, Nina (Karen Allen).

There's also Richie (John Friedrich), the sensitive and artistic member of the gang, who's struggling to find his place in the world. Other members include Turkey, Boogaloo, and the hilarious and clumsy Peewee.

The movie is a coming-of-age story that deals with themes of loyalty, honor, and growing up in a tough environment. One of the central issues presented in the film is the tension between the Wanderers and other gangs in the area, such as the Del Bombers and the Ducky Boys. This conflict escalates throughout the movie and leads to some violent confrontations.

The characters in the film are well-developed and the performances are strong, particularly by Ken Wahl and John Friedrich. Wahl delivers a powerful performance as Joey, the tough-as-nails leader of the Wanderers, who is constantly struggling to hold onto his position and prove himself to his girlfriend. Friedrich, on the other hand, brings depth and nuance to the character of Richie, the sensitive and artistic member of the group who is struggling to find his place in the world.

The film is set in the early 1960s and captures the time period well, with its classic cars, greaser hairstyles, and rock and roll soundtrack. The music in the movie is particularly noteworthy, with classic songs from the era such as "Runaround Sue" and "The Wanderer" by Dion and the Belmonts.

One of the most memorable scenes in the movie comes near the end, when the Wanderers gather together in a deserted park at night for one final showdown with their rivals. As they face off against the other gangs, the characters come to realize the futility of the violence and the importance of sticking together as a group, even when the odds are against them.

Overall, The Wanderers is a powerful and memorable film that captures the sense of camaraderie and loyalty among teenagers growing up in a tough environment. With its strong performances, great soundtrack, and vivid depiction of the early 1960s, it's a movie that has stood the test of time and remains a classic coming-of-age story.

The Wanderers is a 1979 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 57 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 64.

The Wanderers
Description
Where to Watch The Wanderers
The Wanderers is available to watch free on Kanopy. It's also available to stream, download and buy on demand at Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, YouTube VOD and Vudu. Some platforms allow you to rent The Wanderers for a limited time or purchase the movie and download it to your device.
  • Release Date
    1979
  • MPAA Rating
    R
  • Runtime
    1 hr 57 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    7.3  (12,254)
  • Metascore
    64
Watch all of
Do you have Hulu?
Ad Info - This movie may not be available on Hulu
No thanks, I'm not interested in Hulu