Movie · 2002 · Comedy, Drama · 1h 38m · R · English
Curator score: 0.8/10 (18.2K ratings)
Some friendships last forever... like it or not.
Overview
In the late '60s, the self-proclaimed belles of the rock 'n' roll ball, rocked the worlds of every music legend whose pants they could take off -- and they have the pictures to prove it. But it's been more than two decades since the Banger Sisters earned their nickname -- or even laid eyes on each other. Their reunion is the collision of two women's worlds; one who's living in the past, and one who's hiding from it. Together they learn to live in the moment.
Ratings
Curator score: 0.8/10
IMDb: 5.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 47%
Metacritic: 48
TMDB: 5.6/10
Director
Bob Dolman
Production
Fox Searchlight Pictures, Gran Via Productions, The Cantillon Company
Cast
Goldie Hawn, Susan Sarandon, Geoffrey Rush, Erika Christensen, Robin Thomas, Eva Amurri, Matthew Carey, Andre Ware, Adam Tomei, Sal Lopez, Kohl Sudduth, Tinsley Grimes, Larry Krask, Marlayna Cherisse, Josh Todd, Yogi Lonich, Keith Nelson, Devon Glenn, Jonathan Brightman
Curator Review
Verdict
A breezy, uneven midlife buddy comedy with real chemistry between Goldie Hawn and Susan Sarandon, but the script leans on broad jokes and sentimental beats that don’t always land. It’s best approached as a light, raunchy, character-driven hangout movie rather than a sharp comedy or deep drama.
Best for
fans of female-led buddy comedies
viewers who like messy friendship stories
people in the mood for easygoing early-2000s star vehicles
audiences open to vulgar, nostalgic humor
Skip if
you want tightly written comedy
you dislike crude sexual humor
you prefer emotionally rigorous drama
you need a fresh or especially original premise
Overview
The Banger Sisters works mainly because Goldie Hawn and Susan Sarandon are so watchable together. Their reunion has a lived-in, slightly bruised warmth, and the film understands the appeal of two women rediscovering each other after very different adult lives. When it stays close to that dynamic, it’s funny, affectionate, and a little wistful in a pleasant way.
Worth noting
The problem is that the movie often reaches for easy jokes and familiar redemption-movie beats. Its raunchy, late-60s-rock nostalgia can be entertaining, but it also feels like it’s trying to coast on attitude more than structure. Some supporting material is thin, and the emotional turns are gentler than the setup suggests.
Bottom line
Still, if you’re in the mood for a loose, star-powered comedy about friendship, aging, and second chances, it has enough charm to justify the watch. It’s not a hidden classic, but it is more likable than its reputation suggests, especially for viewers who enjoy women-centered road-trip-adjacent comedies with a scrappy edge.
Top Letterboxd reviews
rhys (5★) · 175 likes
which is gayer: being gay, or the banger sisters?
jane (2.5★) · 148 likes
Susan Sarandon’s kids in this deserve to be bullied
alice (4★) · 117 likes
WHY ARE THE REVIEWS SO NEGATIVE??? this was literally amazing !!!! its not peak cinema but its not meant to be!!!! it's literally so funny and heartwarming and great and the characters are so lovable and it's sweet and it's original and it made me very emotionnal but in a good way!!!!!!! also they shouldve been girlfriends but thats a discussion for another day...
Patrick (3★) · 82 likes
I would kill to dance in a bar with Goldie Hawn and Susan Sarandon.
ZaraGwen (2.5★) · 72 likes
Goldie Hawn is literally just playing the grown-up version of Kate Hudson's character in Almost Famous
1994 · Comedy, Drama, Romance · 1h 46m · R · Curator 4.7/10 (45.3K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Paramount Plus Essential, Netflix Standard with Ads
A funny, aching story about self-invention and the gap between fantasy and real adulthood.
A more grounded family dramedy about siblings, aging parents, and the complicated work of growing up late.
Topics
female buddy comedy, midlife crisis, raunchy humor, nostalgic, road-trip energy, star vehicle, coming-of-age later in life, family drama, early 2000s, lighthearted