GREAT CINEMAMASTER LIST
Menu

Master Rank #472

Wild at Heart

1990

GCML Total8.4840% Greatness · 40% Engagement · 20% Ease

Directed by David Lynch

CastNicolas Cage · Laura Dern · Willem Dafoe

USAEnglishComedy / Crime124 minR
GCML CuratedNarrative FeatureModerate pace
Find Where to Watch
Original poster artwork · Great Cinema Master List
Cannes · 1

Spoiler-free premise

Young lovers Sailor and Lula run from the variety of weirdos that Lula's mom has hired to kill Sailor.

Read expanded premiseLonger, still spoiler-free

After serving prison time for killing a man in self-defense, Sailor Ripley reunites with Lula Pace Fortune and breaks parole to drive toward California. Lula's mother Marietta hires pursuers to separate them and keep family secrets buried.

Why it belongs

David Lynch transforms outlaw romance into a feverish collision of Elvis, Oz, fire, grotesque danger, and Cage and Dern's absolute commitment.

Read expanded why it belongsThe fuller editorial case

Snakeskin, highway lines, heavy metal, lipstick, matches, Wizard of Oz imagery, and eruptions of grotesque violence make the lovers' private mythology visibly fragile; Nicolas Cage and Laura Dern play sincerity at full volume.

Major award record

Metadata only · zero points in 40/40/20
Cannes1 win1990 · official festival record ↗
Palme d'or1990 · David LYNCHofficial festival record ↗

Totals include every recorded competitive win. Only Picture or top-film honors, Direction, Screenplay, and lead or supporting performances are named.

Continue the conversation

Double Feature