Rebel Without a Cause

It contains some extraordinarily good acting by the late James Dean, Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo. The direction by Nicholas Ray is outstanding... This is a superficial treatment of a vital problem that has been staged brilliantly.

With his slicked-up quiff, turned-up jeans and revved-up attitude, Dean instantly achieved icon status.

Looks and sounds so good it makes your heart thump.

A mighty, ageless jolt of teen petulance. Dean is supreme.

The drama and hepcat dialogue feel clunky now, but the movie's plea for dads to talk to their children -- what we now call emotional literacy -- is valid enough.

An unmissable film, made with a delirious compassion.

It's Dean who remains most memorable, and his heartfelt portrayal epitomised his tragically short career.

... the ultimate expression of teen alienation in an adult world of its era.... [James] Dean’s wound-up performances and stumbling delivery perfectly captures the flailing desperation of an adolescent searching for a role model.

A superb study of teen angst that still retains its power despite the number of inferior rip-offs that followed in its wake.

Rebel Without a Cause has withstood the test of time and remains one of the best films about teenagers in cinematic history.