Blinded by the Light (2019)
92%RT Audience Score: 91%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 8 nominations
Like a life-affirming rock anthem, Blinded by the Light hits familiar chords with confidence and flair, building to a conclusion that leaves audiences cheering for an encore.
Blinded by the Light is like a warm hug from Bruce Springsteen himself. Sure, some of the musical numbers may be a bit cheesy, but who cares when you’re swept up in the infectious joy of Javed’s journey? This film is a feel-good hit that will have you singing along and tapping your toes, even if you’re not a die-hard Springsteen fan. Plus, it’s a refreshing break from all the doom and gloom in the world. So go ahead, let yourself be blinded by the light of this charming and uplifting movie.
Production Company(ies)
Channel 4 News Channel 4 Frontline
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
The Mall Luton, Mall Management, 37 The Mall, Bedfordshire, Luton LU1 2LJ, United Kingdom
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for thematic material and language including some ethnic slurs.
Year of Release
2019
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Atmos
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Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
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Runtime:1h 54m
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Language(s):English, Urdu
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Country of origin:United Kingdom
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 16, 2019 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 27, 2019
Genre(s)
Music
Keyword(s)
Worldwide gross: $18,096,691
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $20,909,904
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,699
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,280,251
US/Canada gross: $11,901,145
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $13,751,232
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,516
US/Canada opening weekend: $4,333,305
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $5,006,937
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,104
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $15,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $17,331,818
Production budget ranking: 1,443
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $9,333,184
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$5,755,098
ROI to date (est.): -22%
ROI ranking: 1,506
Viveik Kalra – Javed
Hayley Atwell – Ms. Clay
Rob Brydon – Matt’s Dad
Kulvinder Ghir – Malik (Father)
Nell Williams – Eliza
Aaron Phagura – Roops
Show all Cast & Crew
Director(s)
Gurinder Chadha
Writer(s)
Sarfraz Manzoor, Gurinder Chadha, Paul Mayeda Berges
Producer(s)
Gurinder Chadha, Jane Barclay, Jamal Daniel
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 8 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (260) | Top Critics (60) | Fresh (230) | Rotten (30)
Most of the film’s emotional weight is undermined by cheesy sing-alongs with the lyrics visualized in such a garish way that the supposed thematic significance bashes the audience in the head.
February 15, 2020
Cody Corrall
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
The film feels authentic in its depiction both of Javed’s family but also the changes that took place after what seems to have been akin to a religious conversion.
October 25, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
David Stratton
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
The deliberately amateurish style of the musical numbers is supposed to engender spontaneity but too often looks merely cack-handed. Nonetheless, you come out on a high. Springsteen fever proves to be contagious.
October 24, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/5
Sandra Hall
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
While it’s far from perfect, on balance, it’s an inoffensive, feel-good and inspirational British dramedy with some charming performances and an emotionally affecting story about an immigrant teenager and how he finds salvation in Springsteen’s music.
October 22, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Wenlei Ma
News.com.au
TOP CRITIC
Much of the film plays out in a predictable, if charming, way.
August 26, 2019 | Rating: 2.5/4
Max Weiss
Baltimore Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Despite its predictability, it conveys what it’s like to be enraptured by a rock idol.
August 23, 2019 | Rating: B
Peter Rainer
Christian Science Monitor
TOP CRITIC
A derivative and uninspired adaptation of Sarfraz Manzoor’s memoir, which sands off any of the edges of the material in favour of mainstream accessibility. The film’s inability to commit to its status as a musical is frustrating
August 3, 2021
Joe Lipsett
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr Podcast
All considered, Blinded By The Light might just be the most refreshing effort to arrive in cinemas this summer.
June 22, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Nick Reilly
NME
Blinded by the Light tackles some difficult topics while showing the joy that music can bring. Springsteen may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the movie does a great job of demonstrating the impact his music can have on those willing to listen.
February 18, 2021
Alex Bentley
CultureMap
I’m acutely susceptible to emotional manipulation in stories like this…
February 8, 2021
Fletcher Powell
KMUW – Wichita Public Radio
Who doesn’t love singing along with “The Boss”? This film is so good-hearted that it’s hard to fault it.
February 3, 2021
Bianca Garner
In Their Own League
A crowd-pleasing confection, sentimental and predictable, but bound together with the giddy feeling of first hearing music that speaks to you.
January 31, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Richard Crouse
Richard Crouse…
Plot
In 1987 Britain, Javed Khan is a British-Pakistani college arts student in Luton in a family with a domineering father. Depressed by his oppressive family life and feeling he has no future in a hostile community, a newfound friend introduces Javed to the music of Bruce Springsteen. Touched by the rock star’s powerfully eloquent affinity of his own feelings, Javed is inspired to reach out for his own dreams with his own talents. However, although Javed finds friends he never expected in this personal quest, he also finds himself butting heads with his newly unemployed father who stubbornly refuses to understand his son’s new aspirations. In this conflict of values in a troubled time, Javed must decide what is truly important to him while his family struggles to understand what has changed and what remains with a new generation feeling born to run.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
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