Mystery Train

1989 1h 46m EN

👍

7.3

SOLID

🍅

89%

FRESH

💯

METACRITIC

⭐

7.5

IMDB

★7.3TMDB · 539🍅89%Rotten Tomatoes●80Metacritic★7.5IMDB · 33,294

Comedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In Memphis, Tennessee, over the course of a single night, the Arcade Hotel, run by an eccentric night clerk and a clueless bellboy, is visited by a young Japanese couple traveling in search of the roots of rock; an Italian woman in mourning who stumbles upon a fleeing charlatan girl; and a comical trio of accidental thieves looking for a place to hide.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

Criterion ChannelSubscription

Cast

Youki Kudoh
Mitsuko
Masatoshi Nagase
Jun
Screamin' Jay Hawkins
Night Clerk
Cinqué Lee
Bellboy
Nicoletta Braschi
Luisa
Elizabeth Bracco
Dee Dee
Joe Strummer
Johnny
Rick Aviles
Will Robinson

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jim Jarmusch
Writers: Jim Jarmusch
Languages: English, Italian, Japanese
Countries: Japan, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $2.8M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 55% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

37 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 3 languages: English, Italian, Japanese.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Japan, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Jim Jarmusch, shot by Robby Müller. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by John Lurie. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Melody London shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jim Jarmusch directs. Robby Müller behind the camera. John Lurie scores. Melody London cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in Japan, United States of America. Dialogue in English, Italian, Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Shot for just $2.8M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
2Earned back only 55% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
337 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
4Dialogue crosses 3 languages: English, Italian, Japanese.
5International production across 2 countries: Japan, United States of America.
6Directed by Jim Jarmusch, shot by Robby Müller. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
7Original score by John Lurie. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
8Editor Melody London shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
9Youki Kudoh and Masatoshi Nagase and Screamin' Jay Hawkins carry the top of the cast.
10IMDB entry: tt0097940 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.