Spontaneous (2020)
82%RT Audience Score: 66%
Awards & Nominations: 2 nominations
A dark teen comedy with an explosive twist, Spontaneous reaffirms Katherine Langford as a rising star — and marks debuting director Brian Duffield as a filmmaker to watch
Spontaneous is the perfect movie for anyone who wants to see a coming-of-age story with a twist. It’s like Mean Girls meets The Hunger Games, but with more blood and laughs. Katherine Langford is a total badass as Mara, and her chemistry with Charlie Plummer is so sweet it’ll give you a cavity. The movie is a little dark, but it’s also hilarious and heartwarming. Just be warned, you might not want to go to school the next day.
Production Company(ies)
Tremolo Productions,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for teen drug and alcohol use, language and bloody images throughout
Year of Release
2020
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:2.39:1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 2, 2020 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 6, 2020
Genre(s)
Horror/Romance
Keyword(s)
starring Katherine Langford, Charlie Plummer, Yvonne Orji, Hayley Law, Rob Huebel, Piper Perabo, directed by Brian Duffield, written by Brian Duffield, horror, romance, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Kristy Puchko, Brad Newsome, Randy Myers, Claudia Puig, Tim Cogshell, Sara Michelle Fetters, Katherine Langford as Mara, Charlie Plummer as Dylan, Yvonne Orji as Agent Rosetti, Hayley Law as Tess, Rob Huebel as Charlie, Piper Perabo as Angela, Nicki Cortese as producer, Matthew Kaplan as producer, Jordan Levin as producer, R MPAA rating, exploding students, high school, unexpected romance, dark teen comedy, rising star, debuting director, coming-of-age, tragicomedy, physical humor, social satire, nihilistic attitude, uncertain time, existential drama, gallows humor, personal insight, bloody images throughout, teen drug and alcohol use, language
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Charlie Plummer – Dylan
Yvonne Orji – Agent Rosetti
Hayley Law – Tess
Rob Huebel – Charlie
Piper Perabo – Angela
Nicki Cortese – Producer
Brian Duffield – Producer, Writer, Director
Matthew Kaplan – Producer
Jordan Levin – Producer
Director(s)
Brian Duffield
Writer(s)
Brian Duffield
Producer(s)
Nicki Cortese, Brian Duffield, Matthew Kaplan, Jordan Levin
Film Festivals
Tribeca
Awards & Nominations
2 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (66) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (64) | Rotten (2)
Brace yourself for an explosive and gory coming-of-age comedy, because Spontaneous is sensational, sick, and shouldn’t be missed (again).
January 5, 2021
Kristy Puchko
Pajiba
TOP CRITIC
Estimable Australian Katherine Langford is fun and feisty as American schoolgirl Mara, and she has a great, tender chemistry with Charlie Plummer, who plays her sweet-natured boyfriend.
November 11, 2020
Brad Newsome
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
An absurdly funny, gripping and moving film that boasts one of the best screenplays of the year.
October 15, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4
Randy Myers
San Jose Mercury News
TOP CRITIC
That rare teen-horror, satirical-comedy, and teen-romance hybrid that works.
October 10, 2020
Claudia Puig
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
You can’t help but look at this film and think there’s some underlying commentary about [school shootings]… It really is tough to watch, although it does get funny occasionally.
October 10, 2020
Tim Cogshell
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
Spontaneous raucously combusts like no other horror-comedy this year.
October 8, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
Sara Michelle Fetters
MovieFreak.com
TOP CRITIC
Langford delivers a fabulous performance as the audience’s guide Mara. At turns defiant, vulnerable, witty and warm, she gives Spontaneous its heart, as well as setting its sometimes anarchic tone.
May 6, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
James Croot
Stuff.co.nz
This level of tonal balance is almost dangerous for any caliber of filmmaker, but what Duffield does here is nothing short of a miracle.
March 11, 2022
Cory Woodroof
Williamson Home Page
As far as teen films go, I would put this up there with Rock ‘n’ Roll High School, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Heathers, Clueless and Mean Girls.
September 9, 2021
Jason Shawhan
Nashville Scene
Spontaneous is a perfect metaphor for what our youth are faced with today: just as their world is supposed to be expanding and filled with possibilities, it has become more suffocating and closed off than ever.
August 28, 2021
Audrey Fox
JumpCut Online
Spontaneous doesn’t necessarily utilise its fascinating and unique premise, but it does create a compelling love story between two teenagers.
August 10, 2021 | Rating: 7/10
Maria Lattila
The Digital Fix
Hysterical, fun and so timely. This dark teen, young adult romantic black comedy with bloody scenes – goofy not scary bloody scenes, is laugh out loud funny. Trigger warning – romanticizes teen death.
June 21, 2021 | Rating: 8/10
Julia Swift
My Champlain Valley…
Plot
When students in their high school begin inexplicably exploding (literally…), seniors Mara (Katherine Langford) and Dylan (Charlie Plummer) struggle to survive in a world where each moment may be their last. As an unexpected romance blossoms between them, Mara and Dylan discover that when tomorrow is no longer promised, they can finally start living for today.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film stars Katherine Langford, who is praised for her captivating performance and energetic presence on screen.
Brian-Duffield.jpg
