The 10 Best Rave Movies of All Time

By Muxx - November 18th, 2009 - Reviews - View Comments

If you’re into the electronic music scene, I’m sure at one point you’ve looked online for ‘rave’ movies to watch. Unfortunately, there aren’t many out there and on top of that, plus, many of them suck. However, I’ve put together a list of the best rave movies of all time.

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

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.

Groove

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’.

Human Traffic

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.

Go

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.

Trainspotting

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.

24 Hour Party People

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’.

One Perfect Day

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.

Rise: The Story of Rave Outlaw Disco Donnie

Rise: 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.

Small Town Ecstasy

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

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.

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!

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  • oktave
    My favs are....

    'Better Living Through Circuitry' an awesome rave doc, talking about Frankie Bones and his famous Storm Raves to how weird BT is!

    'Kids' it not much of a rave movie, but it does have a scene were they go to the infamous NASA club in New York

    'Party Monster' as far out as this movie is, it does have some rave history in it: DJ Keoki and the Limelight club, plus the crazy random parties those club kids would throw.

    'Hackers' probably one of the best soundtracks in my opinion. Not any real rave scences, but I think the warddrobe of the characters and score of the movie makes any raver feel comfy.
  • Muxxex
    Each of those movies are absolutely amazing.

    I want to do a round up of Electronic Music documentaries which would include Better Living along with a ton of others.

    Kids is such an effed up movie but I love it because it's such a spot on representation. Most of my friends refuse to watch it again but I usually throw it on every few weeks just because it's like watching a train wreck, you can't look away.

    Party Monster, from what I remember, has 2 versions. There's a documentary version and then the movie style. What a weird movie but also one of those ones that's so odd that it's definitely worth watching.

    Last but not least, Hackers. Hackers is actually one of the big reasons why I got into Electronic Music and computers in general. I remember catching it in theater and have seen it about 2,000 times since, no lie. Hackers is my fall back movie, it's there whenever I just want to have fun. A friend and I have analyzed the hell out of it, so many references ha!

    Great suggestions Oktave.
  • LadyVibez
    The "51st State" Is Deninately Missing From That List
  • Muxxex
    Ohh, I think a lot of us know it as Formula 51 - Sam Jackson!

    I think it was originally going to be on the list when I began writing it but it didn't make the cut. I need to watch that movie again, forgot how awesome it was. Thanks for the heads up!
  • Thank you for including "Kevin & Perry", which is despite it's cartoony gross out humor IMO the most realistic depiction of life as an outsider/newcomer DJ and especially the fight with arrogant asshole DJs ever!
  • Muxxex
    Definitely.

    The first 20 mins of the movie, a friend and I were thinking WTF? As it kept going, we just treated it as some UK version of American Pie but then it started to really get funny.

    The one DJ was a dick haha. Love how he was doing shots with his eyeball.
  • djdervik
    Try out "A Midsummer Night's Rave". Kinda goofy but very fun with a shitload of drugs involved.
  • Muxxex
    Oh man, haven't seen that in forever.

    I'll need to find a copy, probably check it out again this weekend.

    I laughed at "shitload of drugs involved" - priceless.
  • djdervik
    As good of a movie as it is, don't waste your money on renting or buying it. Just torrent it. And, yes there are a shitload of drugs involved.
  • Muxxex
    I'm surprised there aren't many rave movies that deal with whip its, every party I've been too there is usually some dude walking around with his backpack stacked with em, you can hear the jingle a mile away.
  • Trashman
    Try 'Hey DJ' or its known as 'DJ Houndog' in the US. Both versions have differant soudtracks throughout. Follows DJ Houndog as he starts off fixing DJ equipment with a dream of mixing up some Elvis music. The British version has a mix from start to finish - superb.
  • Muxxex
    I haven't heard of that one but I'll have to check it out, sounds pretty interesting.

    Thanks for the comment
  • Check out 'The Chemical Generation' too! Just started watching and it looks promising.
  • DJ Psyence
  • Muxxex
    Oooh very cool!

    I think I may have seen this a long time ago but I may be mixing it up with this other documentary by the History channel. I'll definitely have to check this out.
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