Release: 1995

 

1995

Genre: Drama/Adventure

Director: Stephen Chbosky

Writer: Joshua Collins

Cast: Grant Felly, Nell Fisher, Eli D. Goss, Ja'Siah Young, Asher Morrissette

Budget: $13,000,000

Domestic Box Office: $25,009,469

Foreign Box Office: $14,993,783

Total Profit: $15,766,699

Reaction: A very nice profit margin for such an inexpensive film whose most bankable star is a 14 year old girl.

"While 1995 nails its nostalgic tone and features strong young performances, it occasionally drifts, favoring vibe over structure. The episodic journey can feel meandering, and some emotional beats—particularly involving the parents—aren’t fully explored. Still, the ensemble works well together, and moments like the Hawthorne House give the film a meaningful core. It’s heartfelt, even if uneven." - Clint Avery, Backlot Review

"While it may be similar to a particular Stephen King story, Stephen Chbosky's emotional and insightful direction gives the heart of Joshua Collins' script time to breathe as the young cast (especially Fisher) shines with the roles they are given, even if they trip or skip a couple of steps along the way." - Jade Aubrey-Mitchell, The Gazelle

"1995 is an earnest, nostalgia-soaked coming-of-age drama that clearly wears its influences on its sleeve, sometimes to its own detriment. Stephen Chbosky brings warmth and sensitivity to the material, but the film leans so heavily into familiar beats of childhood mythmaking that it rarely surprises. The young cast is strong and naturalistic, yet the episodic structure and constant needle drops occasionally make the journey feel curated rather than lived-in. Sincere and emotionally accessible, 1995 works best as a mood piece, even if its sentimentality sometimes edges into self-conscious nostalgia." - Dave Manning, Ridgefield Press

Rated PG-13 for thematic material involving childhood peril, and some language.