Although it doesn’t teach you how to DJ or cover DJ equipment, people still really enjoy reading and discovered what I believed to be the best rave movies.

After some feedback, I think it’s time to cover a few more rave movies worth your time. I’ll say this up front, some of these aren’t the best but they’re still entertaining.

Hollywood does  a hit and miss job representing a lot of cultures, rave movies are no exception to this rule (think Jaws, and then think Jaws 3D).

Okay, enough rambling, let’s get on with the list.

1. Party Monster

Party Monster stars Seth Green and Macaulay Culkin, you know those guys from Home Alone and Austin Powers?

The basis of the movie is that Macauly Culkin’s character, Michael Alig, travels to New York City and runs into Seth Green’s character, James St. James, where he teaches him all about how to be fabulous.

Well, the movie gets weird really really fast. Everything starts to go into a trippy, tranny lovefest where both the characters run around to clubs and parties.

I don’t want to spoil the movie but it gets to the point where some really heavy stuff happens between the characters, everything goes wonky. Oh, and lot’s more cross dressing.

This movie, the first time, was pretty horrid but then it became genius. It’s a bit like Rocky Horror, it has this cult vibe to it. I definitely recommend checking it out.

You can buy Party Monster here.

2. The 51st State aka Formula 51

Formula 51 stars none other than snake killing, mushroom cloud laying Samuel L. Jackson as Elmo McElroy – a master chemist (who’s Scottish).

Elmo creates a new super drug, POS 51, which 51 times as potent as ecstacy, opiates, amphetamines and cocaine. Because Elmo is working for none other than Meatloaf, err I mean The Lizard, he’s commissioned to make the drug for the crime syndicate.

Sam Jackson, as you’d expect, said “F@CK THAT” and bolted, taking the formula with him.

The rave aspect comes in as he decides to do a test run on a club, which is a great scene as lazers, music and people go absolutely crazy.

This movie is pretty bad ass, I’d say grab it up immediately.

You can buy Formula 51 here.

3. A Midsummer Night’s Rave

A Midsummer Night’s Rave is a modern take on A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream – at a rave.

The movie is just too poppy for me, it has a lot of decent scenes in it but every one of the characters are vapid and annoying. It’s worth watching if you want to see raves depicted in movies.

I’d say definitely rent this one instead, you’ll get a kick out of it.

You can buy A Midsummer Night’s Rave here.

Only 3? WTF?

Yeah, I only went with 3 on this one because most of the other movies that deal with raves are more about electronic music, gear and the innovators – which I plan to post about soon enough :)

Hopefully this covered the last of the movies about raves. This now totals up 13 rave movies you should check out, that should fill up some time.

Okay, so what did I miss this time?

P.S. I added affiliate links for Amazon up there. If you end up buying them (I assumed you’ll just download em heh) I’ll get a commission which allows me to hold contests and other crazy shit – yeah!

Although a few of them aren’t directly about raves (using that term loosely), each of these movies have some sort of party element to them with electronic music. Some you may have seen – others may be something new. Either way, here is the Top 10 Best Rave Movies of All Time…in no particular order.

It’s All Gone Pete Tong

First up is the title ‘It’s All Gone Pete Tong’. This movie is about the character Frankie Wilde, a really popular DJ in Ibiza that eventually goes deaf from years of loud music. What’s great about this movie is that it has a pretty killer sound track, really funny scenes, the character Frankie is really identifiable. The film is shot in this pseudo-documentary style where there are interviews with real DJs talking as if Donnie were amongst them.

I’m not going to spoil the movie but it’s one that you can watch over and over because of how solid it is. It shows the rise of fall of Frankie, from the top of his game to a really bleak moment. You get to see these really great party scenes that pull the movie together, mix in a cocaine habit and you get one wild character. Could you imagine losing your hearing when you’re a DJ? You should check it out.

Read the reviews about It’s All Gone Pete Tong.

Groove

Ahhh Groove, perhaps my most favorite from the list. This is the stereotypical ‘rave’ movie. Basically, a group of people break into a warehouse to throw a rave and the kicker…they’re all waiting on Digweed to show up. In between you get all sorts of small interactions between the characters from the DJ that messing up his set, druggies, a flaky marriage, rolling and all sorts of events which you’d think to see at a typical rave.

Although the movie is a bit overblown and styled for Hollywood, there are many events and dialog between the characters that always seem to happen at parties.

What makes Groove so great is that it’s a perfect blend of the party and the people. Each character, although not entirely dynamic, is someone that you like. Each person’s story seems to arch and come together in the end, one of those ‘feel good movies’.

Read the full review of Groove.

Human Traffic

Second to Groove would be Human Traffic. Now, if you get the movie, you need to find the UK version. There is both a U.S. and recut version, but these both suck.

The movie is about a group of friends going out for a weekend of partying. What’s great about the movie is that it deals more about the people, their relationships with one another and growing up as well as trying to figure it all out. Each of the characters are a fairly decent portrayal of being young and discontent.

Every scene has memorable quotes and laughs because everyone involved is so sketch. There’s a bit of philosophy mixed in with it about the party life, politics, growing up and the likes, but it doesn’t make it too preachy.

The crew start off by preloading at a local bar where they break out into song (not as cheesy as it sounds), faking their way into a club, having major fun at the party, landing at the after party and wrapping it all up with a talk about the previous night.

Definitely check this one out.

Read the reviews of Human Traffic.

Go

Go is about a drug deal that goes bad and the people involved with it. The story is split between the characters telling each side. There’s so much going on in the movie that you really need to see it for yourself instead of reading about it.

Go check out…Go.

Read the full review of Go.

Trainspotting

I’m sure you’ve heard of Trainspotting, who hasn’t?

Trainspotting is about a group of people addicted to heroin. The movie is basically a glorification of the drug until it begins to turn sour. From robbing tourists, the worst bathroom you’ll ever see, character twists, self revelations and the trap of it all, Trainspotting has a great blend of comedy and serious scenes.

Trainspotting isn’t so much about raves but it does have a scene where he goes to a few clubs. This would be more like the outside life from the party, what goes on behind the scenes.

Read reviews about Trainspotting.

24 Hour Party People

24 Hour Party People is this pseudo-documentary based on real events about the rising punk scene in the U.K.

I know what you’re thinking, what the hell does this have to do with raves and partying? Well, eventually the main character opens the Hacienda club, this gigantic club in the U.K that hosts a ton of big name acts and antics.

The movie is great because it breaks the third wall as the main character talks to the audience, real people play their own roles and there’s this mentality of ‘just go with it’.

Read reviews about 24 Hour Party People.

One Perfect Day

One Perfect Day is an Australian rave movie about a guy that is really in tune with sounds and music. His girlfriend is also a singer, but he doesn’t get to visit her often, it’s a mix between a love story and the new success of becoming a DJ.

The main character eventually learns to DJ and makes his own songs using the sounds all around him from nature. Not to spoil it but a lot of heavy stuff happens in the movie that changes up the characters. There is a really awesome outdoor party scene which is enough to warrant checking out the movie, reminds me of festivals past.

It’s not one of the movies you’d watch over and over but it should be on your list.

Read the reviews about One Perfect Day.

Rise: The Story of Rave Outlaw Disco Donnie

I must say, I love Rise. This movie is actually a documentary about a party promoter in New Orleans named Disco Donnie.

It opens before the party starts where it introduces the main people involved with party promotion, mainly Disco Donnie. Along the way, Rise includes a few candid interviews with people attending and the life they live. Finally, the movie goes right into the party up, pounding music and dancing peoples, right up til the end.

Rise mixes in a bit of interviewing with each side including the law, seeing what they have to say about it and the mentality they bring to an otherwise perfect party.

It’s a good watch if you want to see the 90s U.S. rave scene.

Read the reviews of Rise: The Story of Rave Outlaw Disco Donnie.

Small Town Ecstasy

Small Town Ecstasy is a really iffy, but also quite great.

Small Town Ecstasy is about a dad who is introduced to the rave scene by his son. The main character is one of those ‘party dads’ that goes to raves with his kids and encourages them to take ecstasy, which brings him trouble sooner than he thinks.

It’s a bit unnerving to see people be so reckless at times but it’s a documentary, so what do you expect? Small Town Ecstasy shows what happens when the party comes crashing down, bringing the people with it.

Kevin and Perry Go Large

This movie Kevin and Perry Go Large is goofy as shit. I’m not joking.

Both characters are just these goofball bedroom DJs that dream of going to Ibiza to play at a big dance club. Kevin and Perry are a bit hard to adjust to because it reminds you of a movie made specifically for kids in middle school but after a while you start to get a grin at what’s going on, the smart little quirks that they make at people and the overall sense of ‘who cares’.

Kevin and Perry is the stereotypical ‘get a girl in the sack’ type thing (think American Pie), it’s about all the goofy stuff that happens to them in the meantime. Kevin and Perry Go Large is exactly what you expect from British comedy – dry, often uneventful but very lasting and fulfilling.

Read the reviews of Kevin and Perry Go Large.

There you have it!

So, there you have it, the Top 10 Best Rave Movies of All Time.

Can we expect more in the future? Yes.

However, for the time being, these are the movies you should check out if you’ve been itching to see some ravey/party movies. Just sit back, chill out, watch the movie and get some good vibes. Each of these movies have different scenes that you’ll love right away and quote it with your friends.

Now, go have a good time.

Got any other ‘ravey’ movie suggestions? Leave a comment!