mid90s
dir. Jonah Hill · 2018
Feature
Coming of Age
Mood
Melancholic / Contemplative
Look
grainy, nostalgic cinematography reminiscent of 90s home videos
Structure
character-driven vignettes exploring personal growth
Plot
This movie follows a teenager named Stevie growing up in Los Angeles. He's struggling with his family, including his co-dependent single mom and his abusive older brother, and at school, where his richer friends seem to overlook him. When Stevie befriends a crew of skateboarders, he learns some tough lessons about class, race, and privilege.
Why watch
"mid90s" captures the bittersweet essence of adolescence, weaving a poignant tale of friendship and self-discovery against the backdrop of 90s skate culture. Jonah Hill's directorial debut invites viewers to reflect on the complexities of youth, class, and the search for belonging.
Cultural context
1990s Los Angeles youth culturesocio-economic divides in urban settingsthe rise of skateboarding as a subculture