Mallrats (1995)
78%RT Audience Score: 82%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Mallrats colorfully expands the View Askewniverse, even if its snootchie has lost a few of the bootchies boasted by its beloved predecessor
Mallrats is a movie that’s so thin, it’s almost see-through, but somehow still manages to be enticing. Critics have mixed feelings about it, with some saying it’s a flawed effort that deserves re-evaluation, while others think it’s typical Kevin Smith fare that’s not suitable for kids. Personally, I think Mallrats is like a misfit toy that’s found its place in the world. It’s not perfect, but it’s got its charms, and it’s definitely worth a watch if you’re a fan of Smith’s first film, Clerks. Just don’t expect a Merchant-Ivory production, or you’ll be sorely disappointed.
Production Company(ies)
Cranium Entertainment, Idiot Savant Pictures, Particular Crowd
Distributor
Universal Home Entertainment, Gramercy Pictures, MCA/Universal Pictures [us]
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Eden Prairie Center Mall – 8251 Flying Cloud Drive, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong language, including sexual dialogue, and for some scenes of sexuality and drug content
Year of Release
1995
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:DTS-Stereo DTS
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 35m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 20, 1995 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 27, 2009
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Shannen Doherty, Jeremy London, Jason Lee, Claire Forlani, Michael Rooker, Priscilla Barnes, Ben Affleck, directed by Kevin Smith, written by Kevin Smith, produced by James Jacks, Scott Mosier, Sean Daniel, comedy, R rating, box office gross $1.8M, reviewed by Manohla Dargis, Bob Thomas, Janet Maslin, Danny Graydon, Kenneth Turan, Alison Macor, Matt Brunson, rated 57% on Tomatometer, audience score 82%, mall culture, dating game show, breakup, misadventures, snootchie, bootchies, View Askewniverse
Worldwide gross: $2,122,561
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $4,173,719
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,224
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 455,149
US/Canada gross: $2,122,561
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $4,173,719
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,858
US/Canada opening weekend: $1,153,838
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $2,268,861
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,191
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $8,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $15,730,879
Production budget ranking: 1,495
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $8,471,078
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$20,028,238
ROI to date (est.): -83%
ROI ranking: 1,902
Jeremy London – T.S. Quint
Jason Lee – Brodie Bruce
Claire Forlani – Brandi Svenning
Michael Rooker – Mr. Jared Svenning
Priscilla Barnes – Miss Ivannah
Director(s)
Kevin Smith
Writer(s)
Kevin Smith
Producer(s)
James Jacks, Scott Mosier, Sean Daniel
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (47) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (27) | Rotten (20)
Thin yet enticing.
October 25, 2019
Manohla Dargis
Spin
TOP CRITIC
How can a reviewer write about a movie that makes Dumb and Dumber seem like a Merchant-Ivory production?
August 8, 2019
Bob Thomas
Associated Press
TOP CRITIC
Mallrats mixes clever bits and an appealing quirkiness (which goes a long way) with gross-out practical jokes, needless repetition and obvious padding, since it has no real plot.
May 20, 2003 | Rating: 2/5
Janet Maslin
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
This sparky if flawed effort deserves re-evaluation.
December 3, 2001 | Rating: 3/5
Danny Graydon
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
If the Sundance Institute or the AFI ever offers a course advising directors of successful first films what to avoid the second time around, Mallrats could be at the heart of the curriculum.
February 13, 2001
Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
Fans of Smith’s first film will appreciate Mallrats for its combination of the same type of humor and many of the same actors from Smith’s acclaimed debut.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 2.5/5
Alison Macor
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
While Mallrats does play better now than when it was originally released, it still rests below a handful of more accomplished titles in Smith’s View Askewniverse.
November 21, 2020 | Rating: 2.5/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
London and Lee expertly lead this cast of “misfit toys” in an appropriate follow up to Smith’s debut, Clerks.
November 16, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Allison Rose
FlickDirect
Smith manages to successfully subsume his slackers feel into a more cartoony aesthetic. And the mall ode-cum-satire, like with Clerks’ convenience store, is brilliantly done.
November 5, 2018 | Rating: 3/5
PJ Nabarro
Patrick Nabarro
Retains enough Smith-isms to help navigate all potholes in execution. Flawed, yes, but Mallrats has its charms when it isn’t shoving its hand up its own hindquarters.
April 20, 2014 | Rating: B
Brian Orndorf
Blu-ray.com
Typical Kevin Smith fare; not suitable for kids.
January 1, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Alex Orner
Common Sense Media
Almost everyone has lively things to say, the topics usually centering on the Kevin Smith triumvirate of sex, comics, and movies.
September 27, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com…
Plot
Brodie Bruce, a Sega and comic book obsessed college student, and his best friend, TS Quint, are both dumped by their girlfriends on the same day, and to deal with their loss, they both go to the local mall. Along the way, they meet up with some friends, including Willam, a guy who stares at Magic Eye pictures, desprately trying to see the hidden image; Gwen, one of TS’s ex-girlfriends; and Jay & Silent Bob, of Clerks fame. Eventually, they decide to try and win back their significant others, and take care of their respective nemesises (TS’s girlfriend’s father, and a store clerk who hates the two for not having any shopping agenda).
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny comment about the film Mallrats on Fresh Kernels.
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