Kids

On a single day in New York City, a tight knit group of teens roams the streets chasing noise and danger. They skateboard through crowded avenues, crash parties, share drugs and cheap thrills, and flirt with risk at every turn. The day unfolds with rapid, kinetic energy, capturing the rapid shifts in mood from bravado to vulnerability as the group tests boundaries, friendship, and loyalty. Through their conversations and rough humor, the film sketches a portrait of urban youth submerged in a culture of partying, sexual experiences, and endless chatter about status and belonging. The result is a stark, raw snapshot of adolescence told without sentimental polish. The film uses a documentary style that makes the city feel immersive.

Released in 1995, the film was directed by Larry Clark, with a screenplay by Harmony Korine and Jim Lewis. It marks a notable collaboration between a celebrated photographer director and young writers drawing on real street life, and it helped attract an international wave of attention.

Its box office performance was strong for an indie drama, grossing about 20.4 million on a budget of 1.5 million, helping it reach a larger audience through word of mouth and festival play. It drew varied responses from critics.

The film's raw portrayal of urban teen life and sexual bravado sparked intense discussion about how adolescence is shown on screen and helped cement a legacy for late 90s indie cinema. Its use of real locations and nonprofessional actors influenced a wave of grittier, more intimate youth dramas.

Critics were divided, praising the film for its fearless atmosphere while accusing it of sensationalism. The film tackles risk, peer pressure, and friendship amid urban isolation, showing how a crowded city can amplify moral ambiguity and the louder impulses of adolescence. Its themes still resonate in discussions about youth culture.