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Pink Floyd - The Wall

Play trailer Poster for Pink Floyd - The Wall R 1982 1h 39m Musical Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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73% Tomatometer 30 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
In this visual riff on Pink Floyd's album "The Wall," successful but drugged-out musician Pink (Bob Geldof) is looking back on his isolated childhood from the confines of a Los Angeles hotel room. Through a swirl of flashbacks and chemically induced hallucinations, Pink recalls his lonely upbringing, during which he built a symbolic wall to the world as he coped with the death of his father (James Laurenson) and the overbearing ways of his mother (Christine Hargreaves).
Pink Floyd - The Wall

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Pink Floyd's expression of generational angst is given striking visual form The Wall, although this ambitious feature's narrative struggles to marry its provocative images and psychedelic soundtrack into a compelling whole.

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Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Nov 6, 2018
4/4
This isn't the most fun to listen to and some viewers don't find it to much fun to watch, but the 1982 film is without question the best of all serious fiction films devoted to rock. Go to Full Review Yardena Arar Associated Press Oct 23, 2018
It's a pretty grim portrait, but even worse it is often repetitive and boring. There are probably enough powerful segments for half a dozen or so outstanding rock videos but not a full-length feature. Go to Full Review Bruce McCabe Boston Globe Apr 27, 2018
The film is explosively wild, raw, primitive, sometimes inarticulate. It is also totally theatrical and compelling. It's film as primal scream; seething with anger, alienation and despair. Go to Full Review Quentin Crisp Christopher Street May 7, 2024
The scenes of violence are marvelously put together. It is hard to realize that we are watching fiction... However, although The Wall is horrifying, it is not lurid; we are never allowed to derive from this film any satisfaction for our kinkiness. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Aug 3, 2022
B-
Not for everyone. Go to Full Review Wesley Lovell Cinema Sight Feb 12, 2022
4/4
What is the price of fame and is it vicariously experienced in concert with the successful or is it in the foundational underpinnings of a life lived in turmoil. Pink Floyd The Wall attempts to examine this unusual notion in cinematic form. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mark Apr 15, 2024 Awesome movie, it's a musical to most of the wall cd. There's no real talking or anything. See more Robert P @Superbad Sep 13, 2026 this movie = a 4.5 star Movie See more Clive M @Dyshane Jul 27, 2026 the movie portrays the emotions from the album. If you have not seen war you might not get it. Music one of the best albums of all time. See more Vincent S @Vin_E_At_The_Movies May 16, 2026 One of the most fascinating visceral experiences of all time on film. This has to be seen on a big screen with blaring music. Let's get an IMAX revival going. Maybe it doesn't necessarily help if you don't love Pink Floyd's music but even if you don't this movie will possibly shake you up and power you up. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Mar 26, 2026 The worldwide gross is $22,265,763.00. See more Lariste L @RT70611960 Feb 12, 2026 A grim, miserable, bleak "surreal social realist" film about the psyche of a self-pitying songwriter (Roger Waters) musing on post-war loss, his unhappy schooling years, the spectre of fascism, the propaganda and conformity of mass-produced entertainment etc etc. While the album features excellent musicianship, this film has . . a lot of re-recorded bits? Also - the album is a mysterious and absorbing work (for teenagers mostly, I suspect), but also excellently produced and performed. The film is somewhat of it's time, with another entertainer playing the permanently sullen Roger Waters as he "sinks into madness and isolation". See more Read all reviews
Pink Floyd - The Wall

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Cast & Crew

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Alan Parker

Director

Bob Geldof

Pink

Christine Hargreaves

Pink's Mother

James Laurenson

Pink's Father

Eleanor David

Pink's Wife

Kevin McKeon

Young Pink

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Pink Floyd - The Wall

Poster Art Pink Floyd - The Wall (1982) Pink Floyd - The Wall (1982) Pink Floyd - The Wall (1982) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In this visual riff on Pink Floyd's album "The Wall," successful but drugged-out musician Pink (Bob Geldof) is looking back on his isolated childhood from the confines of a Los Angeles hotel room. Through a swirl of flashbacks and chemically induced hallucinations, Pink recalls his lonely upbringing, during which he built a symbolic wall to the world as he coped with the death of his father (James Laurenson) and the overbearing ways of his mother (Christine Hargreaves).
Director
Alan Parker
Producer
Alan Marshall
Screenwriter
Roger Waters
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Tin Blue, Goldcrest Films, Ltd., Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Rating
R
Genre
Musical, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 6, 1982, Wide
Release Date (DVD)
Jan 25, 2005
Runtime
1h 39m
Sound Mix
Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Dolby Stereo, Surround
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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