Metacritic Movie Ratings
Fame Reviews

A sample of reviews from critics across the country.

• 50

  out of 100

  The New York Times

  While the movie suffers from a surfeit of flash, it nonetheless offers the undeniable power of young performers pursuing art at peak dexterity.

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• 50

  out of 100

  Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert

  A sad reflection of the new Hollywood, where material is sanitized and dumbed down for a hypothetical teen market that is way too sophisticated for it. It plays like a dinner theater version of the original.

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• 50

  out of 100

  USA TodayClaudia Puig

  Fame offers slick entertainment with some exuberance, but it's devoid of soul or heart.

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• 50

  out of 100

  Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum

  The teachers (including original cast member Debbie Allen as school principal) turn out to be the best part of the show.

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• 50

  out of 100

  The Hollywood Reporter

  It's almost laughably bland and watered-down in its desire to appeal to the widest possible audience. It won't succeed in that goal, but it has enough pizzazz to captivate undemanding tweeners.

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• 40

  out of 100

  VarietyBrian Lowry

  This PG-rated offering thus dances along a fine line -- one that suggests a shelf-life well short of its "I wanna live forever" anthem.

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• 30

  out of 100

  Los Angeles Times

  Someone has driven a stake through the heart and ripped out the soul of the 1980 original. The responsible parties, make that irresponsible parties, should be found, thrown in movie jail and not allowed within 50 feet of a set again. Ever.

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See all Fame movie reviews at Metacritic.com