The Wanderers (1979)
Kernel Score: 77% · 218 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Drama
Released: 1979-07-13
Runtime: 117 minutes
Where to watch The Wanderers
- Stream: Kino Film Collection
- Free with ads: Kanopy, Hoopla
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
The streets of the Bronx are owned by '60s youth gangs where the joy and pain of adolescence is lived. Philip Kaufman tells his take on the novel by Richard Price about the history of the Italian-American gang ‘The Wanderers.’
The Wanderers parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that The Wanderers is an R-rated 1979 film about a 1960s Bronx street gang, featuring gang violence and a racially charged confrontation noted by reviewers.
- Violence & scariness: Moderate — The film centers on rival street gangs preparing to fight, with gang violence throughout its coming-of-age narrative.
- Language: Moderate — A reviewer notes an 'uncomfortable racist word battle' scene involving racial slurs.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Wanderers
If you liked The Wanderers, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- The Outsiders (1983) — 81%
- Rebel Without a Cause (1955) — 85%
- Divines (2016) — 86%
- Almost Famous (2000) — 85%
- A Complete Unknown (2024) — 81%
- The 400 Blows (1959) — 89%
- I'm No Longer Here (2019) — 87%
- The Last Waltz (1978) — 86%
Director
Cast
- Ken Wahl as Richie
- John Friedrich as Joey
- Karen Allen as Nina
- Toni Kalem as Despie Galasso
- Alan Rosenberg as Turkey
- Jim Youngs as Buddy
- Tony Ganios as Perry
- Linda Manz as Peewee
- William Andrews as Emilio
- Erland van Lidth as Terror
The Wanderers FAQ
Is The Wanderers good?
The Wanderers has a 77% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 218 audience ratings.
Where can I watch The Wanderers?
In the US you can stream The Wanderers on Kino Film Collection, watch it free with ads on Kanopy and Hoopla and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Wanderers OK for kids?
The Wanderers is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that The Wanderers is an R-rated 1979 film about a 1960s Bronx street gang, featuring gang violence and a racially charged confrontation noted by reviewers.
What movies are like The Wanderers?
If you liked The Wanderers, try The Outsiders, Rebel Without a Cause, Divines and Almost Famous.