American Pop
“All those years, all those dreams, all those sons... one of them is going to be a star.”
Synopsis
The history of American popular music runs parallel with the history of a Russian Jewish immigrant family, with each male descendant possessing different musical abilities.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
American Pop (1981) - 4K Remastered Trailer [Open Matte Version]
Type: Trailer • Published 2025-09-10
Top Cast
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Ron Thompson
Tony Belinksy / Pete Belinksy (voice)
Lisa Jane Persky
Bella (voice)
Jeffrey Lippa
Zalmie Belinksy (voice)
Frank De Kova
Crisco (voice)
Roz Kelly
Eva Tanguay (voice)
Mews Small
Frankie (as Marya Small)
Elsa Raven
Hannele (voice)
Vincent Schiavelli
Theatre Owner (voice)
Richard Moll
Beat Poet (voice)
Lynda Wiesmeier
The Blonde (voice)
Lee Ving
Punk Rocker (voice)
Jerry Holland
Louie (voice)
Gene Borkan
Izzy (voice)
Rick Singer
Benny (voice)
Ben Frommer
Palumbo (voice)
Amy Levitt
Nancy (voice)
Leonard Stone
Leo Stern (voice)
Eric Taslitz
Little Pete (voice)
Release History & Theatrical Window
February 13, 1981
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$1.5M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$6M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
4x
+$4.5M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Ralph Bakshi
- Screenplay & Story
- Ronni Kern
- Original Score
- Lee Holdridge
- Original Title
- American Pop
- Country of Origin
- United States of America, Netherlands, South Korea, United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English, Hebrew, Russian, Yiddish
- Runtime
- 1h 36m
- Production Budget
- $1.5M
- Worldwide Gross
- $6M
- Production Studios
- Bakshi Productions, Aspen Productions, Columbia Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Ralph Bakshi
Ronni Kern
Lee Holdridge
David Ramirez
Richard R. St. Johns, Maggie Abbott, Ralph Bakshi, Martin Ransohoff
Department Leadership Roster
Ralph Bakshi
Director
Lee Holdridge
Original Music Composer
Ralph Bakshi
Producer
Ronni Kern
Writer
Martin Ransohoff
Producer
David Ramirez
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for American Pop.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring American Pop.
Movie Collection
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Topher's Vault: Adult Animation & Satire — Movies
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Frequently Asked Questions About American Pop
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is American Pop about?
The history of American popular music runs parallel with the history of a Russian Jewish immigrant family, with each male descendant possessing different musical abilities.
Who directed American Pop?
American Pop was directed by Ralph Bakshi.
Who stars in American Pop?
The principal cast of American Pop includes Ron Thompson, Lisa Jane Persky, Jeffrey Lippa, Frank De Kova, Roz Kelly.
When was American Pop released and how long is it?
American Pop was released in 1981 with a total runtime of 1h 36m.
What was the box office and production budget of American Pop?
American Pop had a reported production budget of $1.5M and grossed $6M at the worldwide box office (4 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for American Pop?
The original motion picture soundtrack for American Pop was composed by Lee Holdridge.
What is the age rating and content advisory for American Pop?
American Pop holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: TP; US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).