Rumble Fish is what happens when a director decides to turn a gritty YA novel into a black-and-white avant-garde fever dream. If your teen has already burned through The Outsiders and is looking for more S.E. Hinton, they’re going to hit this one eventually. It’s artsier, weirder, and significantly more nihilistic than its famous older brother, but for the right kid—the one who’s starting to care about cinematography, "vibes," and the crushing weight of expectations—it’s a masterpiece.
Rumble Fish is a highly stylized, black-and-white noir about Rusty James (Matt Dillon), a teen living in the shadow of his legendary older brother, The Motorcycle Boy (Mickey Rourke). It’s grittier than The Outsiders, featuring stylized violence, existential dread, and a soundtrack by Stewart Copeland that feels like a ticking clock. It’s perfect for teens who appreciate "film" as an art form rather than just a way to kill two hours.
Most parents know The Outsiders because it’s the standard-issue middle school curriculum. It’s golden hour, it’s "Stay Gold, Ponyboy," it’s tragic but warm. Rumble Fish is the opposite. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola immediately after he finished The Outsiders, it feels like he took the same cast and setting and dropped them into a German Expressionist painting.
The movie is shot in stark black and white, with the only splash of color being the Siamese fighting fish in a pet store window. It’s moody, it’s smoky, and it’s obsessed with the passage of time. If your kid is into the "aesthetic" side of TikTok or Instagram—shadows, high contrast, moody soundtracks—this movie will speak their language fluently.
Parents usually want to know about the "Big Three": violence, sex, and language. Here’s the straight talk.
The Violence: Stylized but Sharp
This isn't a Marvel movie where people get punched through buildings and walk away. The violence in Rumble Fish is street-level and messy, but because it’s so stylized, it feels more like a stage play than a documentary. There’s a knife fight early on that’s famous for its choreography; it’s tense and results in a pretty gnarly side wound for Rusty James. There are beatings, head injuries, and a general sense of physical danger, but it’s not "gore" in the modern horror sense. It’s about the consequences of being a tough guy, not the spectacle of the hit.
The Sexuality: Teen Romance and "The Void"
There’s a relationship between Rusty James and Patty (played by a young Diane Lane). It’s mostly intense staring and teen longing, but there is one scene where Rusty James is in a bedroom with another girl. There’s no explicit nudity, but the implication is clear. It’s handled with the same "art film" distance as the rest of the movie—more about Rusty James’s lack of direction than a graphic sex scene.
The Themes: Hero Worship and Being "Past Your Prime" at 17
The real "intensity" here isn't the content; it’s the mood. The Motorcycle Boy is a character who is "colorblind and partially deaf," a guy who feels like he was born in the wrong era. He’s a legend who doesn't want to be one. For a teen who feels pressured to be "the best" or who is struggling to find an identity outside of their family’s reputation, this movie hits like a ton of bricks. It’s a story about realizing your heroes are just people—and often broken people at that.
If this movie clicks, your kid is likely on an S.E. Hinton kick. Don't fight it; she’s the GOAT of YA for a reason. But know that each adaptation has a different flavor:
- The Outsiders: The accessible, emotional entry point. Every kid should see the Complete Novel version if they can.
- Tex: Also starring Matt Dillon, this one is much more "Disney" (literally, it was a Disney production) but still deals with some heavy family abandonment issues.
- That Was Then, This Is Now: This is the "friendship breakup" movie. It’s darker than The Outsiders but more grounded than Rumble Fish.
If you’re watching this with your teen, or they’re watching it and actually want to talk about it (it happens!), here’s how to lean in:
Talk About the Sound
The score was composed by Stewart Copeland, the drummer for The Police. It’s almost entirely percussion. Ask your kid: "How does the music change how you feel about the city?" The ticking clocks and constant rhythm are there to make you feel like time is running out. It’s a great entry point into talking about how sound design works in movies.
The "Fighting Fish" Metaphor
It’s not subtle, but it’s effective. The Siamese fighting fish will kill each other if they’re in the same tank; they’d even fight their own reflection. The Motorcycle Boy wants to set them free in the river. Ask: "Who in this movie is the fish? Are they fighting because they want to, or because they’re stuck in a 'tank' (the city)?"
The Black and White Choice
Teens usually hate black-and-white movies because they think they’re "boring" or "old." Rumble Fish is neither. Ask them why they think Coppola chose to strip the color out. Does it make the world feel more like a memory? Does it make the "tough guys" look more like statues?
It’s 1983. Everyone in this movie smokes. Constantly. It’s part of the noir aesthetic, but if you have a strict "no smoking on screen" rule for your household, this movie is your nightmare. If you’re okay with it as a historical/stylistic artifact, it’s a non-issue, but it’s definitely there in every frame.
Q: Is Rumble Fish okay for a 13-year-old? It depends on the 13-year-old. If they’ve read the book and loved The Outsiders, they can handle it. The violence is stylized and the "adult" themes are more philosophical than graphic. However, it is much moodier and "slower" than modern action movies, so a younger teen might find it "boring" if they aren't into the art-house vibe.
Q: How much violence is in Rumble Fish? There are a few key scenes: a choreographed knife fight that results in a bloody side wound, a scene where a character is hit with a board, and a tragic ending involving a gunshot. It’s not a "slasher" or a constant action movie, but the violence that is there is meant to feel impactful and consequential.
Q: Why is Rumble Fish in black and white? Director Francis Ford Coppola used black and white to mimic the "colorblind" perspective of The Motorcycle Boy and to give the film a timeless, "fable" feel. It also helps the few bits of color (the fish) stand out as symbols of hope or life in a gray world.
Q: Is Rumble Fish better than The Outsiders? "Better" is a trap. The Outsiders is a better story for most people—it’s linear, emotional, and clear. Rumble Fish is a better film in terms of technical craft, cinematography, and atmosphere. If your kid likes "vibes" and "cinema," they’ll prefer Rumble Fish. If they want a good cry and a clear hero, they’ll stick with The Outsiders.
Rumble Fish is the "cool" choice. It’s the movie that makes a teen feel like they’ve graduated from "kid stuff" to "real film." It’s gritty, it’s weirdly beautiful, and it respects the intelligence of its audience by not spelling everything out. If your kid is ready for a story that doesn't have a happy ending but does have a lot to say, this is the one.
- For more high-quality teen cinema, check out our best movies for kids list.
- If they want more gritty coming-of-age stories, see our digital guide for high schoolers.
- Ask our chatbot for more movies like Rumble Fish
