This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

Blistering performances.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

I have seen this movie and think it is absolutely brilliant, not only the movie but the casting as well, Tim McIntire for example played the part so realistically , my children grew up with this as well as movies like streets of fire, Eddie and the cruisers one and two as you can no doubt tell i am a music story buff , unfortunately i longer have a copy so if anyone knows if or when i can get this movie please let me know ,,,, a lot of Aussies i speak to say the same thing about this movie and others like it so keep making them for all us oldies but softies, rock and roll is here to stay it will never die , as sung in American Hot Wax the best movie of all time in my eyes thanks and enjoy

Looking over the VHS/DVD titles in the reduced price area of local department stores, I find it impossible to believe that some of these titles make the light of day and "American Hot Wax" is not available for purchase. I'm lucky enough to have taped it off of cable or I would be reduced to its limited showing on AMC. This failure to make this movie available reminds me of the 20 years it took for "Hollywood Knights" to make it's appearance. If you have a chance to see this movie, don't miss it. This movie is a classic. The performances of Jay Leno and Fran Dresher are very enjoyable. The job done by Tim McIntire defies description. Although I didn't know Alan Freed, I feel McIntire probably hit the mark in his portrayal.

This is one of the few films about Rock & Roll that gets it. The film has great music much of it from some of the original musicians. It has one of the most interesting performances in film history from Tim McIntire. He makes you feel both Freed's love of the music and the complexity of an individual who had great impact on our society. But most of all the film communicates how Rock & Roll can bring people together. If you can get beyond the film's lack of a plot you can pick up on the "feeling" the film has. There are scenes, such as the one in the recording studio, that are great examples of Marshall McLuhan's concept of "all-at- onceness" that is essential to the power of Rock & Roll.

Amusing look at Hollywood's version of the birth of rock n' roll. Some good old tunes were played throughout, the acting was good, the radio station looked like the real thing, but some of the picture didn't ring true [and I don't mean Chuck Berry's lousy acting]. Those rabid anti-rockers were so far out with their "rock music will end civilization" rant as to be totally hilarious; although there were some back then that held that opinion. I liked the film, the doo-wop harmony singers were great, McIntyre played his character to the hilt, and it just felt like going back in time to re-live the events all over. The old timer rockers should go for this one.