Great Balls of Fire!

Great Balls of Fire!

The true story of a legend.

PG-13 1989 · 108 min · ★ 6.3 · Drama, History, Music

The story of Jerry Lee Lewis, arguably the greatest and certainly one of the wildest musicians of the 1950s. His arrogance, remarkable talent, and unconventional lifestyle often brought him into conflict with others in the industry, and even earned him the scorn and condemnation of the public.

Directed by Jim McBride · Written by Jim McBride

Your Rating

Cast

Make it a double feature

2h 34m together

Great Balls of Fire!

Pictures from Life's Other Side

Both from Jim McBride.

More from Jim McBrideSee all →

Pictures from Life's Other SidePictures from Life's Other Side · 1971
Pictures from Life's Other Side
★ 10.01971
MovieDocumentary
A sequel to My Girlfriend's Wedding. Pictures from Life’s Other Side focuses almost entirely on a later cross-country trip, this one also including Clarissa’s illegitimate, preadolescent son Joe and a couple of dogs, with Clarissa and Joe taking over the commentary and the whole family trading off various sound and camera duties.
Alan Jackson: Small Town Southern ManAlan Jackson: Small Town Southern Man · 2018
Alan Jackson: Small Town Southern Man
★ 8.92018
MovieDocumentary
The feature-length documentary chronicles Alan’s life from his upbringing in Georgia in the 1950s and ’60s to his Hall of Fame induction in 2017. The film is primarily narrated by Alan and includes interviews with family members, musical colleagues and country stars, including Carrie Underwood. Written, produced and directed by John Albarian, the film showcases the inspirations that led Alan to write hits such as “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow,” “Chattahoochee,” “Here in the Real World,” “Livin’ on Love,” and “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning).”
The Wonder YearsThe Wonder Years · 1988
The Wonder Years
★ 8.31988
SeriesComedyDrama
The story of Kevin Arnold facing the trials and tribulations of youth while growing up during the 1960s and 70s. Told through narration from an adult Kevin, Kevin faces the difficulties of maintaining relationships and friendships on his enthralling journey into adulthood.
Six Feet UnderSix Feet Under · 2001
Six Feet Under
★ 8.12001
SeriesDrama
When death is your business, what is your life? For the Fisher family, the world outside of their family-owned funeral home continues to be at least as challenging as—and far less predictable than—the one inside.
Meat Loaf: To Hell and BackMeat Loaf: To Hell and Back · 2000
Meat Loaf: To Hell and Back
★ 7.92000
MovieDrama
"Meat Loaf" Aday is an overgrown Texas youngster, the son of a gentle woman dying of cancer and an alcoholic, abusive father. Tormented by his father and schoolmates over his size, he strikes out on his own after his mother's death, in an impossible task to prove himself to the world and to himself. A chance audition for a musical leads him to join forces with composer Jim Steinman, and together the two make music history with the operatic rock album "Bat Out of Hell." But the demons that drive Meat Loaf aren't assuaged by success, and eventually he must come to terms with them.
The Twilight ZoneThe Twilight Zone · 1985
The Twilight Zone
★ 7.71985
SeriesSci-Fi & FantasyDrama
This 1980s revival of the classic sci-fi series features a similar style to the original anthology series. Each episode tells a tale (sometimes two or three) rooted in horror or suspense, often with a surprising twist at the end. Episodes usually feature elements of drama and comedy.
The InformantThe Informant · 1997
The Informant
★ 6.61997
MovieActionWar
A former Irish Republican Army fighter, Gingy McAnally (Anthony Brophy), is reluctant about being called back into service after serving time in prison. He executes the grisly task but ends up captured by a sympathetic British police lieutenant named Ferris (Cary Elwes). The intimidating Chief Inspector of the Belfast Police (Timothy Dalton) convinces Gingy that his best hope is to become an informant and turn in other IRA operatives. As Gingy's marriage unravels under the stress, he is forced to come to terms with the fact that in this war both sides lose. Three men, three political circles, each fighting for their lives, each with their own agenda in the battle for Northern Ireland.
Welcome to São PauloWelcome to São Paulo · 2004
Welcome to São Paulo
★ 6.62004
MovieDramaDocumentary
All the feature is given prestige to by the narration in Caetano Veloso's voice, that also signs one of the segments of the project. São Paulo is the largest city of the Southern Hemisphere, with an incessant dynamics of cultural mixtures, with immigrants of all the world and migrants of all parts of Brazil. The gathering of these peculiarities are seen through the 13 film directors's sensibilities and their segments.
Fallen AngelsFallen Angels · 1993
Fallen Angels
★ 6.61993
SeriesCrimeDrama
A neo-noir anthology television series, set in somber Los Angeles right after World War II and before the election of American President John F. Kennedy. The episodes, although filmed in color, mimicked what had been done by Hollywood filmmakers during the film noir era of the 1940s and 1950s in terms of tone, look, and story content.
David Holzman's DiaryDavid Holzman's Diary · 1967
David Holzman's Diary
★ 6.41967
MovieComedyDrama
A young filmmaker decides to make a movie about his day-to-day activities in an attempt to understand himself and get his life back in order. A precursor to reality television and vlogs.
The Big EasyThe Big Easy · 1986
The Big Easy
★ 6.21986
MovieDramaAction
Remy McSwain is a New Orleans police lieutenant who investigates the murder of a local mobster. His investigation leads him to suspect that fellow members of the police force may be involved.
ProntoPronto · 1997
Pronto
★ 6.01997
MovieThrillerComedy
Harry Arno is a Miami Beach bookie who finds himself in trouble with his mob bosses for reasons he can't quite figure out. When an assailant attempts to kill him, he decides that it's time to retire, so he relocates to Greece.
BreathlessBreathless · 1983
Breathless
★ 5.91983
MovieRomanceDrama
Jesse, a small-time criminal, high-tails it to Los Angeles to rendezvous with a French exchange student. Stealing a car and accidentally killing a highway patrolman, he becomes the most wanted fugitive in L.A.
My Girlfriend's WeddingMy Girlfriend's Wedding · 1969
My Girlfriend's Wedding
★ 5.81969
MovieDocumentary
Director Jim McBride's "liberated" English girlfriend talks candidly about her life and her reasons for marrying another man. The awkward city hall ceremony and aftermath are also photographed.
UncoveredUncovered · 1995
Uncovered
★ 5.61995
MovieThriller
While restoring a fifteenth-century painting Julia reveals a hidden Latin phrase. A series of murders begin to rock her small world of art experts, patrons and restorers, and she finds that the mystery of the painting is interwoven with the mystery of the deaths around her.
Last EmbraceLast Embrace · 1979
Last Embrace
★ 5.51979
MovieThrillerMystery
Secret agent Harry Hannan suffers a mental breakdown when a botched mission in Mexico results in the death of his wife. He is sent to a mental asylum, after which he eventually returns to work. But, once again, he begins to doubt his sanity when he receives a bizarre death threat written in Hebrew. Not knowing which of his colleagues wants to kill him, Hannan teams up with pretty young college student Ellie Fabian to attempt to unravel the mystery.

More Like This

9 Songs9 Songs · 2004
9 Songs
★ 5.52004
MovieDramaMusic
Matt, a young glaciologist, soars across the vast, silent, icebound immensities of the South Pole as he recalls his love affair with Lisa. They meet at a mobbed rock concert in a vast music hall - London's Brixton Academy. They are in bed at night's end. Together, over a period of several months, they pursue a mutual sexual passion whose inevitable stages unfold in counterpoint to nine live-concert songs.
ChocolatChocolat · 2000
Chocolat
★ 7.02000
MovieComedyDrama
In the winter of 1959, a single mother and her young daughter arrive in a rural French town, where they open an unusual chocolate shop that disrupts the moral fiber of the strictly Catholic townsfolk and mayor.
Walk the LineWalk the Line · 2005
Walk the Line
★ 7.52005
MovieDramaMusic
A chronicle of country music legend Johnny Cash's life, from his early days on an Arkansas cotton farm to his rise to fame with Sun Records in Memphis, where he recorded alongside Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins.
Blind ChanceBlind Chance · 1987
Blind Chance
★ 7.51987
MovieDrama
Witek runs after a train. Three variations follow on how such a seemingly banal incident could influence the rest of Witek's life.
Gimme ShelterGimme Shelter · 1970
Gimme Shelter
★ 7.41970
MovieDocumentaryMusic
A detailed chronicle of the famous 1969 tour of the United States by the British rock band The Rolling Stones, which culminated with the disastrous and tragic concert held on December 6 at the Altamont Speedway Free Festival, an event of historical significance, as it marked the end of an era: the generation of peace and love suddenly became the generation of disillusionment.
Bob Dylan – Don't Look BackBob Dylan – Don't Look Back · 1967
Bob Dylan – Don't Look Back
★ 7.41967
MovieDocumentaryMusic
In this wildly entertaining vision of one of the twentieth century’s greatest artists, Bob Dylan is surrounded by teen fans, gets into heated philosophical jousts with journalists, and kicks back with fellow musicians Joan Baez, Donovan, and Alan Price.
Lost in TranslationLost in Translation · 2003
Lost in Translation
★ 7.42003
MovieDramaComedy
Two lost souls visiting Tokyo -- the young, neglected wife of a photographer and a washed-up movie star shooting a TV commercial -- find an odd solace and pensive freedom to be real in each other's company, away from their lives in America.
The Arrival of a Train at La CiotatThe Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat · 1896
The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat
★ 7.11896
MovieHistoryDocumentary
A group of people are standing along the platform of a railway station in La Ciotat, waiting for a train. One is seen coming, at some distance, and eventually stops at the platform. Doors of the railway-cars open and attendants help passengers off and on. Popular legend has it that, when this film was shown, the first-night audience fled the café in terror, fearing being run over by the "approaching" train. This legend has since been identified as promotional embellishment, though there is evidence to suggest that people were astounded at the capabilities of the Lumières' cinématographe.
High FidelityHigh Fidelity · 2000
High Fidelity
★ 7.12000
MovieDramaComedy
After his long-time girlfriend dumps him, a thirty-year-old record store owner seeks to understand why he is unlucky in love while recounting his "top five breakups of all time".
About a BoyAbout a Boy · 2002
About a Boy
★ 6.72002
MovieDramaComedy
Will Freeman is a good-looking, smooth-talking bachelor whose primary goal in life is avoiding any kind of responsibility. But when he invents an imaginary son in order to meet attractive single moms, Will gets a hilarious lesson about life from a bright, but hopelessly geeky 12-year-old named Marcus. Now, as Will struggles to teach Marcus the art of being cool, Marcus teaches Will that you're never too old to grow up.
The Railway Children ReturnThe Railway Children Return · 2022
The Railway Children Return
★ 6.52022
MovieDramaFamily
Follow a group of children who are evacuated to a Yorkshire village during the Second World War, where they encounter a young soldier who, like them, is far away from home.
The WanderersThe Wanderers · 1979
The Wanderers
★ 7.01979
MovieDrama
The streets of the Bronx are owned by '60s youth gangs where the joy and pain of adolescence is lived. Philip Kaufman tells his take on the novel by Richard Price about the history of the Italian-American gang ‘The Wanderers.’
Lucky Number SlevinLucky Number Slevin · 2006
Lucky Number Slevin
★ 7.52006
MovieDramaThriller
Slevin is mistakenly put in the middle of a personal war between the city’s biggest criminal bosses. Under constant watch, Slevin must try not to get killed by an infamous assassin and come up with an idea of how to get out of his current dilemma.
The Party 2The Party 2 · 1982
The Party 2
★ 6.41982
MovieComedyRomance
A young French teenage girl after moving to a new city falls in love with a boy and is thinking of having sex with him because her girlfriends have already done it.
The Shawshank RedemptionThe Shawshank Redemption · 1994
The Shawshank Redemption
★ 8.71994
MovieDramaCrime
Imprisoned in the 1940s for the double murder of his wife and her lover, upstanding banker Andy Dufresne begins a new life at the Shawshank prison, where he puts his accounting skills to work for an amoral warden. During his long stretch in prison, Dufresne comes to be admired by the other inmates -- including an older prisoner named Red -- for his integrity and unquenchable sense of hope.

Rate this film

Your ratings make Midnight smarter