This is what it looked like when 'The Runaways' premiered 15 years ago
| 03/19/25
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Jeff Vespa/WireImage; Jim Spellman/WireImage; Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
The Runways turns 15 today!
It’s strange to think there was a time when Kristen Stewart wasnt the out and proud sapphic IT girl that she is today — but looking back The Runaways truly was the beginning of that rainbow arc.
Set in the 1970s, the film is equal parts coming-of-age film and rock biopic of the titular band and its members Joan Jett (Stewart), Cherry Currie (Dakota Fanning), Lita Ford (Scout Taylor-Compton), Sandy West (Stella Maeve), and a fictional character named Robin Robbins (Alia Shawkat) based on Jackie Fox who declined to be included in the film. The film took inspiration from Currie's memoir, Neon Angel, was directed by Floria Sigismondi and follows the story of the band from its inception in 1975 to its implosion in 1979, along with Currie’s substance abuse struggles and romantic entanglement with Jett.
The film garnered largely positive reviews from critics, but it quickly became a sapphic fave, for its depiction of the romance between Jett and Currie — and for the chemistry between its two lead actresses, who share a steamy onscreen kiss. It would be another 7 years before Stewart would publically come out as queer, but she already had a long-established sapphic fanbase.
The movie made its world debut in Park City Utah at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2010 which was followed by its first official premiere in Los Angeles at the ArcLight Cinemas Cinerama Dome on March 11. The celebration continued with a New York premiere at Landmark Sunshine Cinema on March 17. Finally, the stars hit the red carpet one last time in Austin at the SXSW Film Festival the following day, before the film finally arrived in theaters on March 19, 2010. Both the cast and band members Joan Jett and Cherrie Curry made appearances at the events, along with costars Taylor-Compton, Riley Keough, Michael Shannon, and Tatum O’Neal — as well as some notable and surprising celebs!
Keep scrolling to take a walk down memory lane with photos from The Runaways, Los Angeles and NYC premieres along with its debut at Sundance and SXSW. And if you’re craving a rewatch The Runaways isavailable to rent/own on Amazon Prime Video.
PARK CITY, UT - JANUARY 24
Musician Joan Jett (L) and actress Kristen Stewart attend "The Runaways" premiere during the 2010 Sundance Film Festival at Eccles Center Theatre on January 24, 2010 in Park City, Utah.
George Pimentel/Getty Images
Joan Jett and Kristen Stewart atThe Runaways premiere during the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.
PARK CITY, UT - JANUARY 24
Actresses Kristen Stewart (L) and Dakota Fanning attend "The Runaways" premiere during the 2010 Sundance Film Festival at Eccles Center Theatre on January 24, 2010 in Park City, Utah.
George Pimentel/Getty Images
Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning atThe Runaways premiere during the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.
PARK CITY, UT - JANUARY 24
Actress Kristen Stewart attends "The Runaways" Premiere during the 2010 Sundance Film Festival at Eccles Center Theatre on January 24, 2010 in Park City, Utah.
C Flanigan/FilmMagic
Stewart serves up sapphic energy at Sundance!
PARK CITY, UT - JANUARY 24
(L-R) Actresses Tatum O'Neal, Kristen Stewart, Stella Maeve, Dakota Fanning, Riley Keough, director Floria Sigismondi, and actor Michael Shannon attend "The Runaways" premiere during the 2010 Sundance Film Festival at Eccles Center Theatre on January 24, 2010 in Park City, Utah.
George Pimentel/Getty Images
The cast and director gather on the red carpet at Sundance.
HOLLYWOOD - MARCH 11
Musician Joan Jett arrives at the premiere of Apparition's 'The Runaways' held at ArcLight Cinemas Cinerama Dome on March 11, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Joan Jett is all leather and smiles at the Los Angeles premiere.
HOLLYWOOD - MARCH 11
Musician Joan Jett, actress Kristen Stewart, actress Dakota Fanning and musician Cherie Currie arrive at the Los Angeles Premiere of The Runaways presented by Apparition and KLIPSCH at ArcLight Cinemas Cinerama Dome on March 11, 2010 in Hollywood, California.
Jeff Vespa/WireImage
Stewart and Fanning pose with their real life inspo at the Los Angeles premiers.
HOLLYWOOD - MARCH 11
Actress Scout-Taylor Compton arrives at the premiere of Apparition's 'The Runaways' held at ArcLight Cinemas Cinerama Dome on March 11, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Scout-Taylor Compton channels her inner Lita Ford at the Los Angeles premiere.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 11
Musician Joan Jett arrives at the premiere of Apparition's "The Runaways" held at ArcLight Cinemas Cinerama Dome on March 11, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Jett poses for cameras in Los Angeles.
HOLLYWOOD - MARCH 11
Music producer Kim Fowley, director Floria Sigismondi and actor Michael Shannon arrive at the Los Angeles Premiere of The Runaways presented by Apparition and KLIPSCH at ArcLight Cinemas Cinerama Dome on March 11, 2010 in Hollywood, California.
Jeff Vespa/WireImage
Director Floria Sigismondi poses with actor Michael Shannon and music producer Kim Fowley on the Los Angeles red carpet.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 11
Actress Kristen Stewart (L) and musician Joan Jett arrive at the premiere of Apparition's "The Runaways" held at ArcLight Cinemas Cinerama Dome on March 11, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Stewart and Jett team up to sign autographs in Los Angeles.
HOLLYWOOD - MARCH 11
Actor Adam Scott arrives at the Los Angeles Premiere of The Runaways presented by Apparition and KLIPSCH at ArcLight Cinemas Cinerama Dome on March 11, 2010 in Hollywood, California.
Jeff Vespa/WireImage
Adam Scott poses on the red carpet in Los Angeles.
HOLLYWOOD - MARCH 11
Musician Joan Jett arrives at the premiere of Apparition's 'The Runaways' held at ArcLight Cinemas Cinerama Dome on March 11, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
We love rock'n'roll and Joan Jett!
HOLLYWOOD - MARCH 11
Producer Art Linson and director Floria Sigismondi attend the after party for the Los Angeles premiere of "The Runaways" presented by Apparition and KLIPSCH at Cabana Club on March 11, 2010 in Hollywood, California.
Jeff Vespa/WireImage
Sigismondi shares a moment with producer art Linson in Los Angeles.
HOLLYWOOD - MARCH 11
Actress Kristen Stewart and singer Joan Jett arrive at the Los Angeles Premiere of The Runaways presented by Apparition and KLIPSCH at ArcLight Cinemas Cinerama Dome on March 11, 2010 in Hollywood, California.
Jeff Vespa/WireImage
Stewart and Jett smile for fans in Los Angeles.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 11
Actress Kristen Stewart arrives at the premiere of Apparition's "The Runaways" held at ArcLight Cinemas Cinerama Dome on March 11, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Look at that digital camera! What a time capsule.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 11
Actress Kristen Stewart, actor Taylor Lautner and actress Dakota Fanning attend the after party for the premiere of Apparition's 'The Runaways' held at ArcLight Cinemas Cinerama Dome on March 11, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Fanning and Stewart are joined by the latter's Twilight co-star Taylor Lautner at the premiere.
HOLLYWOOD - MARCH 11
(L-R) Director Floria Sigismondi, Lisa Marie Presley and actress Riley Keough attend the after party for the Los Angeles premiere of "The Runaways" presented by Apparition and KLIPSCH at Cabana Club on March 11, 2010 in Hollywood, California.
Jeff Vespa/WireImage
Riley Keough poses with her mother Lisa Marie Presley and director Sigismondi in Los Angeles.
HOLLYWOOD - MARCH 11
(L-R) Director Floria Sigismondi, actress Kristen Stewart, actress Dakota Fanning and singer Joan Jett attend the after party for the Los Angeles premiere of "The Runaways" presented by Apparition and KLIPSCH at Cabana Club on March 11, 2010 in Hollywood, California.
Jeff Vespa/WireImage
Ok, but they totally look like a band here.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 11
Actress Kristen Stewart and singer Joan Jett attend the after party for the premiere of Apparition's 'The Runaways' held at ArcLight Cinemas Cinerama Dome on March 11, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Stewart and Jett share a moment at the afterparty.
HOLLYWOOD - MARCH 11
(L-R) Actress Kristen Stewart, actress Dakota Fanning and director Floria Sigismondi attend the after party for the Los Angeles premiere of "The Runaways" presented by Apparition and KLIPSCH at Cabana Club on March 11, 2010 in Hollywood, California.
Jeff Vespa/WireImage
Obsessed with everything about this photo.
NEW YORK - MARCH 17
Actress Chloe Sevigny attends "The Runaways" New York premiere at Landmark Sunshine Cinema on March 17, 2010 in New York City.
Jim Spellman/WireImage
Is it even a party until Chloe Sevigny is there?
NEW YORK - MARCH 17
Richie Rich attends "The Runaways" New York premiere at Landmark Sunshine Cinema on March 17, 2010 in New York City.
Jim Spellman/WireImage
Richie Rich hit the red carpet for the New York premiere.
NEW YORK - MARCH 17
(L-R) Musicians Sophie, Jena and Izzy, of Care Bears on Fire attend "The Runaways" New York premiere at Landmark Sunshine Cinema on March 17, 2010 in New York City.
Jim Spellman/WireImage
Care Bears on Fire attended the NYC premiere.
NEW YORK - MARCH 17
Actress Julianne Moore and filmmaker Bart Freundlich attends the premiere of "The Runaways" at Landmark Sunshine Cinema on March 17, 2010 in New York City.
Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images
Julianne Moore and Bart Freundilch hit the red carpet in NYC.
NEW YORK - MARCH 17
Actress Kristen Stewart attends the premiere of "The Runaways" at Landmark Sunshine Cinema on March 17, 2010 in New York City.
Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images
Stewart was utterly breathtaking at the NYC premiere.
NEW YORK - MARCH 17
Musician Joan Jett and actress Kristen Stewart attend "The Runaways" New York premiere at Landmark Sunshine Cinema on March 17, 2010 in New York City.
Charles Eshelman/FilmMagic
Jett and Stewart pose in NYC.
NEW YORK - MARCH 17
Actress Chloe Sevigny attends the premiere of "The Runaways" at Landmark Sunshine Cinema on March 17, 2010 in New York City.
Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images
Just a close of Chloe, because we deserve nice things.
NEW YORK - MARCH 17
Dakota Fanning attends "The Runaways" New York premiere after party on March 17, 2010 in New York City.
Theo Wargo/WireImage
Fanning enjoys the afterparty in NYC.
NEW YORK - MARCH 17
Singer Debbie Harry attends the premiere of "The Runaways" at Landmark Sunshine Cinema on March 17, 2010 in New York City.
Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images
Speaking of rock legends, Debbie Harry hit the red carpet in NYC.
NEW YORK - MARCH 17
Actor Michael Shannon attends "The Runaways" New York premiere at Landmark Sunshine Cinema on March 17, 2010 in New York City.
Theo Wargo/WireImage
Michael Shannon was ready to rock at the NYC premiere.
NEW YORK - MARCH 17
Director Floria Sigismondi, and musicians Sophie, Jena, and Izzy of Care Bears On Fire attend the after party for the New York premiere of "The Runaways" at The Bowery Hotel on March 17, 2010 in New York City.
Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images
Sophie, Jena, and Izzy of Care Bears On Fire posed with director Sigismondi.
NEW YORK - MARCH 17
Martha Plimpton attends "The Runaways" New York premiere at Landmark Sunshine Cinema on March 17, 2010 in New York City.
Jim Spellman/WireImage
Martha Plimpton joined the premiere festivities in NYC.
AUSTIN, TX - MARCH 18
Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart attend the movie premiere of "The Runaways" during the 2010 SXSW Festival on March 18, 2010 in Austin, Texas.
Jesse Knish/WireImage
Fanning and Dakota shared a moment at SXSW.
AUSTIN, TX - MARCH 18
Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart attend the movie premiere of "The Runaways" during the 2010 SXSW Festival on March 18, 2010 in Austin, Texas.
Jesse Knish/WireImage
Ok, two moments. Seriously we need another excuse to get these two back on screen together, stat.
