The ’80s represented a pivotal era for cinematic musicals. Instead of the conventional showtunes found in classic productions like “Oklahoma!” and “Cabaret,” musical films of the 1980s frequently incorporated rock and pop-influenced soundtracks to attract a younger mainstream audience and mirror the chic, stylized music videos that gained popularity following MTV’s debut in 1981. Numerous prominent artists of the decade took on roles or contributed soundtracks to these movies, including Prince (“Purple Rain”) and David Bowie (“Labyrinth”).
Consequently, some of the most remarkable musical films ever — along with their irresistibly catchy tunes — originated from this era, featuring the cinematic renditions of “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life,” “The Blues Brothers,” and “Fame.” Nevertheless, not every ’80s movie musical achieved the same timeless acclaim. In 1983, MGM/United Artists launched “Rock & Rule,” a sci-fi fantasy musical targeting adults that fused Disney-style animation with tracks from some of the biggest names in rock ‘n’ roll. Although this concept appeared, on the surface, to guarantee commercial success, the film underperformed at the box office — and was subsequently relegated to obscurity.
What is Rock & Rule?
Taking place in a post-apocalyptic U.S. inhabited by animal-like humans, Rock & Rule (also referred to as “Ring of Power”) is a Canadian animated musical that centers on Mok Swagger (Don Francks, known for voicing Grimaldi in “Heavy Metal”), a legendary, aging rock star who embarks on a quest to discover a singer whose voice possesses the ability to unleash a powerful demon from another dimension. Upon encountering Angel (voiced by Susan Roman of “Sailor Moon” fame), a keyboardist in a rock band, Mok realizes that she has the vocal talent he requires to release the demon’s strength. However, she is resistant to participating, leading Mok to kidnap her — and it falls to her band to rescue her. This isn’t exactly the kind of endearing, family-friendly content that one might expect from the reboot “Stranger Things: Tales From ’85.”
In terms of appearance, the characters in “Rock & Rule” bear a resemblance to those in Disney’s “A Goofy Movie,” and viewers might even catch some notable Powerline energy from certain musical segments. However, this film is not intended for children, due to its inclusion of profanity, themes of sexuality, and — of course — the central demonic storyline. Even if the premise doesn’t captivate you, “Rock & Rule”‘s musical segments are definitely worth experiencing, as the soundtrack features tracks from renowned artists like Rick Nielsen (from Cheap Trick), Debbie Harry of Blondie, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, and Beloyd Taylor. It’s a remarkable collection, perhaps one to consider while searching for a movie soundtrack to try out your latest audiophile gear.
Why Rock & Rule is considered a box office flop
Financially, “Rock & Rule” turned out to be a substantial box office disaster, with a production budget of $8 million, yet grossing only $30,379 in North America — nearly leading to the bankruptcy of its production company, Nelvana. This could largely be attributed to the film’s severely limited release in the U.S. by MGM/United Artists, as well as the edits applied to the American version of the film, which included redubbed characters, trimmed scenes, and an abbreviated finale that might have secured a spot on our list of alternate endings that could have transformed popular films… had “Rock & Rule” enjoyed any real acclaim.
Critical responses to “Rock & Rule” at the time of its debut were somewhat mixed. The New York Times, for instance, remarked that “Rock & Rule” was “more notable for its soundtrack than for the events depicted on the screen,” characterizing the film’s tone as “dopey and loud.” However, subsequent evaluations — in light of the film’s DVD release in 2005 and a two-disc Blu-Ray featuring both versions in 2010 — have been more favorable. Spin praised the film for its sci-fi eccentricity, while Birmingham Live labeled it as “the antithesis of Disney” and “flawed but ahead of its time,” and Vice deemed it enjoyable and somewhat nostalgic.
While Rotten Tomatoes lacks sufficient critical reviews to officially certify “Rock & Rule,” the film holds a 71% rating on the Popcornmeter. Some viewers commend its animation, character, and soundtrack, whereas others feel that the psychedelic feature has an unfinished quality. You can form your own opinion, as “Rock & Rule” is accessible for viewing on Tubi.
