An alienated teenager finds his voice as "Hard Harry" on his pirate radio station, touching every segment of the student population. When a kid's suicide sets every authority figure in town on a crusade to find the school's new cult hero, he may have to reveal his alter ego.

"Pump Up The Volume" could be subtitled "Rebel with a Cause" in that a shy, intelligent teenager, tries to use his anger for the higher good. It is perhaps one of the best films made about contemporary suburban teenagers and their feelings of alienation and boredom.
Mark works as a disc jockey in his own pirate radio station, set up in his basement. He plays very cool music and rants about consumer culture, the danger of complacency, uncaring adults, and high school. He also takes calls from other lonely teens, but fails to prevent one depressed caller from commiting suicide. However, Mark hangs in there and broadcasts a call-to-arms that galvanizes the town's youth to demonstrate their unity.

Premiered at the Cannes Film Festival Market May 15, 1990.

Color by DeLuxe; using Panavision equipment.

Additional cast: Anthony Lucero (Malcolm), Keith Stuart Thayer (Luis Chavez), Jeff Chamberlain (Mr. Woodward), Lala Sloatman (Janie), Holly Sampson (Cheryl), Annie Rusoff (Annie), Jonathan Mazer (Jonathan), Alex Enberg (Alex), Robert Gavin (Doug), Dan Eisenstein (Donald), Mark Ballou (Eric), Daryl Sebert (Cory), Gregg Daniel (Teacher Moore), Marc Siegler (Teacher Stern), Robert Schenkkan (David Deaver), Arlana Mohit (Alissa), Jill Jarres (Mrs. Kaiser), Nolan Hemmings (Chip), and David McKnight (Detective).

Additional credits: Jeanne Marie Van Cott (UPM), Joe Fineman (post-production supervisor), Daniel Richard Sumart (assistant director), Thomas Bellisimio & Charles Belardinelli (special effects), Nicola Freegard (music coordinator), Dennis Herring (music consultant), Bill Black (music editor), Pablo Ferro (title design), Bradley Marcus (stand-in for Christian Slater)

Additional music credits: "Everybody Knows" also written by Sharon Robinson; "Why Can't I Fall in Love" written by Kenny Lee Lewis and John Finley; "Kick Out the Jams" written by Robert Derminer, Frederick D. Smith, Wayne Kambes, Dennis Tomich, Michael Davis; "Freedom of Speech" (with "Message from the Soul Sisters" by James Brown) written by Cold 187um and Laylaw; "Heretic" written by Kim Thayil and Hiro Yamamoto; "Titanium Exposé" written by Thurston Moore, Kim Gordon, Lee Renaldo, Steve Shelly; "Me and the Devil Blues" written by Robert Johnson' and "Tale o' the Twister" written by L. Nichols, D. Perkins, S. Taylor and performed by Chagall Guevara.

Rated BBFC 15 by the British Board of Film Classification.

Copyright 1990 New Line Corporation.

DVD Features:

Region 1
Snap Case
Full Frame - 1.33
Letterbox - 1.85
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround - English
Dolby Digital Stereo Surround - English
Additional Release Material:
Trailers: Theatrical Trailer
Interactive Features:
Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Text/Photo Galleries:
Filmographies: Cast & Crew

Christian Slater: American actor: TRUE ROMANCE (1993)
Cheryl Pollack: 
Samantha Mathis: Actress, PUMP UP THE VOLUME, BROKEN ARROW (1996)
Ellen Green: 
Mimi Kennedy: Supporting Actress
Billy Morrissette: 
Lala Sloatman: 
Ahmet Zappa: Supporting Actor
Seth Green: American TV/Film Actor: BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER TV series
Scott Paulin: American Supporting Actor
Juliet Landau: Actress/"Direct Hit"
Mark Ballou: 

Allan Moyle: Director/Screenwriter

Rupert Harvey: Director/Producer
Sandy Stern: 

Allan Moyle: Director/Screenwriter

Cliff Martinez: Composer
Michael Abbott: 

"...One of the smarter and more likable teen films of recent years....[Slater gives] a performance of surprising sweetness and depth..."