What is the iRankMovies score for Whiplash?

Name: Whiplash
Director: Damien Chazelle
Genre: drama, music, thriller
Released: 2014
Duration: 1 h 47 min
Rating: 8.5

Whiplash has an iRankMovies score of 88/100, based on a weighted combination of IMDb (×3.0), Rotten Tomatoes (×2.0), Metacritic (×1.5), and TMDb (×1.0).

Whiplash (2014)

The road to greatness can take you to the edge.

Release:2014

Runtime:1h 47m

Country:United States

Director:Damien Chazelle

Language:English

Genre

DramaMusicThriller

See the best drama movies →

Keywords

New York CityJazzMusicianObsessionMusic TeacherConservatoryDrumsMontage

iRank88

Whiplash rating: IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic

IMDb8.5/10· 1.1M votes

Rotten Tomatoes94%

Metacritic89%

TMDb8.375/10· 17K votes

With 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, backed by 8.5/10 on IMDb and 89/100 on Metacritic, critical reception of this film has been very positive.

About Whiplash

Under the direction of a ruthless instructor, a talented young drummer begins to pursue perfection at any cost, even his humanity.

Cast of Whiplash

Miles Teller
as Andrew
J.K. Simmons
as Fletcher
Paul Reiser
as Jim
Melissa Benoist
as Nicole
Austin Stowell
as Ryan
Nate Lang
as Carl
Chris Mulkey
as Uncle Frank
Damon Gupton
as Mr. Kramer
Suanne Spoke
as Aunt Emma
Max Kasch
as Dorm Neighbor
Charlie Ian
as Dustin
Jayson Blair
as Travis

Whiplash facts

Budget: $3.3M
Box office: $50.3M

Our take on Whiplash

Damien Chazelle's 2014 powerhouse pits an ambitious young jazz drummer against a tyrannical conservatory instructor who'll destroy a student to forge a genius. Tense as a thriller and edited like a drum solo, it asks what greatness costs — and whether it's worth it. If its punishing intensity and ambiguous ending gripped you, seek out high-pressure dramas about obsession, mentorship and the brutal price of perfection.

Ranked by the iRankMovies editorial teamUpdated August 2026Methodology Data sources

Audience opinions

What the audience liked

•Damien Chazelle captures angry anxiety through percussion and drummer performance
•Conservatory setting grounds thriller within tight musical world and high stakes
•Drums become character themselves, driving relentless rhythmic tension throughout

What the audience disliked

•Pacing becomes relentless, exhausting viewers despite compelling psychological portrait
•Morally ambiguous mentor relationship sometimes feels one-dimensional in portrayal