Teen Spirit (2018 film)


Teen Spirit is a 2018 musical drama film directed by Max Minghella. The film stars Elle Fanning, Rebecca Hall, and Zlatko Burić.
The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2018. It was released in the United States on April 12, 2019, by LD Entertainment and Bleecker Street, and in the United Kingdom on July 26, 2019, by Lionsgate.

Plot

Violet, a shy teenager living in a small village on the Isle of Wight, dreams of pop stardom as an escape from her dismal surroundings and shattered family life. With the help of an unlikely mentor, Violet enters an international singing competition that will test her integrity, talent, and ambition.

Cast

Production

On January 30, 2017, it was revealed that actor Max Minghella would be making his directorial debut with Teen Spirit from a screenplay that he wrote. It was also revealed that the film would be launched to buyers at the European Film Market in Berlin in the following month. On February 10, 2017, it was announced that Elle Fanning would star in the film, which, at the time, was in pre-production and was being sold to international buyers at the European Film Market. On July 11, 2017, it was announced that principal production for Teen Spirit had commenced in London, England, with the rest of the cast confirmed as well.
In September 2018, a teaser trailer was released, revealing Rebecca Hall as having joined the cast. Additionally, it was announced that the film would feature performances of and music written by Robyn, Ellie Goulding, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, Tegan & Sara, Annie Lennox, Orbital, Alice Deejay, The Undertones, Major Lazer, Grimes, Whigfield, and Sigrid, and an original song "Wildflowers" written by Carly Rae Jepsen and produced by Jack Antonoff.

Release

Teen Spirit had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2018.
Shortly after, Lionsgate and LD Entertainment acquired U.K and U.S, distribution rights respectively. Bleecker Street will co-distribute the film with LD Entertainment. It was released in the United States on April 12, 2019. It is scheduled to be released in the United Kingdom on July 26, 2019.

Reception

Box office

After a week of playing in four theaters the film expanded to 696, and grossed $250,536 over the weekend.

Critical response

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Teen Spirit holds an approval rating of 71% based on 127 reviews, with an average rating of 6.21/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Teen Spirit tells a story we know by heart, but writer-director Max Minghella's connection to the material and Elle Fanning's remarkable performance add an effective hook." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 57 out of 100, based on 24 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".
Teen Spirit was selected as a Critic's Pick by The New York TImes. Jeannette Catsoulis writes "Max Minghella’s sweet and touching directing debut, is both proudly clichéd and refreshingly different."

Soundtrack

The Teen Spirit Original Soundtrack was released on April 5, 2019 by label Interscope Records, features tracks by Elle Fanning, No Doubt, Major Lazer, Grimes, Orbital and an original song written by Carly Rae Jepsen. The soundtrack's first single "Wildflowers" was released on March 29, 2019 and music video was released on April 5, 2019.

Track listing

  1. Grimes - "Genesis"
  2. Elle Fanning - "I Was a Fool"
  3. Marius de Vries & Eldad Guetta feat. Elle Fanning - "E.T."
  4. No Doubt - "Just a Girl"
  5. Elle Fanning - "Dancing on My Own"
  6. Elle Fanning - "Lights"
  7. Elle Fanning - "Little Bird"
  8. Major Lazer feat. MØ & DJ Snake - "Lean On"
  9. Elle Fanning & Teen Spirit Finalists - Good Time"
  10. The Shades - "Teenage Kicks"
  11. Clara Rugaard - "Tattooed Heart"
  12. Elle Fanning - "Don't Kill My Vibe"
  13. Orbital feat Elle Fanning - "Halycon Teen Spirit"
  14. Elle Fanning - "Wildflowers"