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 is available to rent/own on Amazon Prime Video.
PARK CITY, UT - JANUARY 24
Joan Jett and Kristen Stewart atThe Runaways premiere during the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.
PARK CITY, UT - JANUARY 24
Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning atThe Runaways premiere during the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.
PARK CITY, UT - JANUARY 24
Stewart serves up sapphic energy at Sundance!
PARK CITY, UT - JANUARY 24
The cast and director gather on the red carpet at Sundance.
HOLLYWOOD - MARCH 11
Joan Jett is all leather and smiles at the Los Angeles premiere.
HOLLYWOOD - MARCH 11
Stewart and Fanning pose with their real life inspo at the Los Angeles premiers.
HOLLYWOOD - MARCH 11
Scout-Taylor Compton channels her inner Lita Ford at the Los Angeles premiere.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 11
Jett poses for cameras in Los Angeles.
HOLLYWOOD - MARCH 11
Director Floria Sigismondi poses with actor Michael Shannon and music producer Kim Fowley on the Los Angeles red carpet.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 11
Stewart and Jett team up to sign autographs in Los Angeles.
HOLLYWOOD - MARCH 11
Adam Scott poses on the red carpet in Los Angeles.
HOLLYWOOD - MARCH 11
We love rock'n'roll and Joan Jett!
HOLLYWOOD - MARCH 11
Sigismondi shares a moment with producer art Linson in Los Angeles.
HOLLYWOOD - MARCH 11
Stewart and Jett smile for fans in Los Angeles.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 11
Look at that digital camera! What a time capsule.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 11
Fanning and Stewart are joined by the latter's Twilight co-star Taylor Lautner at the premiere.
HOLLYWOOD - MARCH 11
Riley Keough poses with her mother Lisa Marie Presley and director Sigismondi in Los Angeles.
HOLLYWOOD - MARCH 11
Ok, but they totally look like a band here.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 11
Stewart and Jett share a moment at the afterparty.
HOLLYWOOD - MARCH 11
Obsessed with everything about this photo.
NEW YORK - MARCH 17
Is it even a party until Chloe Sevigny is there?
NEW YORK - MARCH 17
Richie Rich hit the red carpet for the New York premiere.
NEW YORK - MARCH 17
Care Bears on Fire attended the NYC premiere.
NEW YORK - MARCH 17
Julianne Moore and Bart Freundilch hit the red carpet in NYC.
NEW YORK - MARCH 17
Stewart was utterly breathtaking at the NYC premiere.
NEW YORK - MARCH 17
Jett and Stewart pose in NYC.
NEW YORK - MARCH 17
Just a close of Chloe, because we deserve nice things.
NEW YORK - MARCH 17
Fanning enjoys the afterparty in NYC.
NEW YORK - MARCH 17
Speaking of rock legends, Debbie Harry hit the red carpet in NYC.
NEW YORK - MARCH 17
Michael Shannon was ready to rock at the NYC premiere.
NEW YORK - MARCH 17
Sophie, Jena, and Izzy of Care Bears On Fire posed with director Sigismondi.
NEW YORK - MARCH 17
Martha Plimpton joined the premiere festivities in NYC.
AUSTIN, TX - MARCH 18
Fanning and Dakota shared a moment at SXSW.
AUSTIN, TX - MARCH 18
Ok, two moments. Seriously we need another excuse to get these two back on screen together, stat.