Empire Records (1995)

Director:

Allan Moyle

Writer (WGA):

Carol Heikkinen (written by)

Release Date:

20 October 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Music

Tagline:

Open 'til Midnight.

Plot:

The employees of an independent music store learn about each other as they try anything to stop the store being absorbed by a large chain.

Plot Keywords:

Music Store | Drug Addiction | One Day | Craps | Bald Girl

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Anthony LaPaglia	...	Joe Reaves
Maxwell Caulfield	...	Rex Manning
Debi Mazar	...	Jane
Rory Cochrane	...	Lucas
Johnny Whitworth	...	A.J.
Robin Tunney	...	Debra
Renée Zellweger	...	Gina (as Renee Zellweger)
Ethan Embry	...	Mark (as Ethan Randall)
Coyote Shivers	...	Berko
Brendan Sexton III	...	Warren (as Brendan Sexton)
Liv Tyler	...	Corey Mason
James 'Kimo' Wills	...	Eddie
Ben Bode	...	Mitchell Beck
Gary Bolen	...	Croupier
Kimber Sissons	...	Woman at Craps Table (as Kimber Monroe)

Also Known As:

Empire
Rock & Fun

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual situations, language and a drug issue.

Runtime:

90 min | USA:107 min (special extended edition)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:12 | South Korea:15 | Australia:M (original rating) | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | Canada:14A | Germany:12 | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere) | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Monarchy Enterprises B.V.

Trivia:

Robin Tunney's character has a horizontal suicide-attempt scar on her wrist. In The Craft, her character has a vertical suicide-attempt scar.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Lucas is in the casino at the craps table, after winning the first roll, he picks up the dice and then goes into his "save the empire" speech. After stating he would buy the table a drink if he wins again, the table attendant pushes the dice over to him.

Quotes:

Jane: What are you doing later?
Joe: I don't know. I'm either going to jail or hell I can't decide.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The School of Rock (2003)

Soundtrack:

Counting Blue Cars

I wanna work there!

Empire Records is just too cool. Yes, it may not have the strongest plot in the world, but with characters like these, who cares? It draws you in so deep you feel like an employee, and how I wish I was. The cast of young unknowns bring it to life and the soundtrack is fabulous. Johnny Whitworth and Liv Tyler are good, but Renee Zellweger and Rory Cochrane stand out as Gina and Lucas. The ending will have you dancing around the room with them and you'll feel the urge to watch it all over again and never get bored with it. Definitely one of my Top 10 flicks of all time, Empire Records is one to remember.