Spring Breakers

College students Brit, Candy, and Cotty often spend their time partying while their friend Faith attends a religious youth group. As their classmates head to spring break, they are stuck behind because they don't have the money to travel. Desperate to make the trip, Brit and Candy get high on cocaine, don ski masks, and rob a local restaurant, using the threat of hammers and realistic-looking squirt guns. They are assisted by Cotty, who drives (and later burns) the getaway car stolen from one of their professors. Cotty, Candy, and Brit divulge the details of their crime to a horrified Faith, who keeps quiet about it.

In St. Petersburg, Florida, the girls attend wild beach parties fueled by alcohol, drugs, and sex. After a particularly wild party, all four are arrested for using narcotics. They spend the night in a holding cell, but are bailed out by Alien, a rapper, drug hustler, and arms dealer. Alien charms Cotty, Candy, and Brit with his money and "bad boy" swagger, but Faith is extremely uncomfortable. Alien takes the girls to a local club frequented by gang members, where Faith becomes even more uneasy. Alien attempts to seduce Faith and convince her to stay with him, using equal parts menace, threats, and tenderness, but Faith leaves, begging the others to come with her. They refuse, and she returns to college alone.

Alien takes the remaining girls to a strip club owned by his rival and childhood best friend, Big Arch, who warns Alien to stop selling drugs in his territory. Alien takes the girls to his mansion, where he flaunts his drug money and cache of weapons, describing his life as the "American Dream". Brit and Candy grab two of his guns and threaten to kill him. Aroused, Alien fellates the guns and declares that he has fallen in love with the girls, claiming that they are his soulmates.

Alien arms the girls with pink ski masks and shotguns and takes them to his pool, where the girls ask him to play something inspiring on the piano. They sing Britney Spears' "Everytime", while a montage plays of them performing several armed robberies. While in Alien's car, they are approached by Big Arch and another member of his gang who threaten them and execute a drive-by shooting, wounding Cotty in the process. Alien promises to retaliate, but a traumatized Cotty comes to her senses and chooses to return to college. Brit and Candy stay behind and have three-way sex with Alien in his pool. The three decide to take revenge on Big Arch. In a flashforward, the two girls call home, promising to work harder and become better people.

In the present, the three take a motorboat to Big Arch's mansion. After they dock at the pier, Alien is immediately shot and killed by one of Big Arch's guards. Brit and Candy carry on, killing the rest of the members before confronting and killing Big Arch. The camera pans over the dead bodies of Big Arch's gang while the girls speak in a voice-over, first heard earlier in the film, describing the beach's beauty and musing that they have discovered who they truly are. Brit and Candy, silent and wearing pensive, ambiguous expressions, drive to college in Big Arch's Lamborghini. A final flashback shows the two girls kissing Alien's dead body before departing.

• James Franco as Alien, a rapper, drug hustler, and arms dealer who takes the girls under his wing.
• Vanessa Hudgens as Candy, an irresponsible and uncaring college girl and Brit's best friend.
• Selena Gomez as Faith, who tries to devote her life to Christianity but is also friends with party girls Brit, Candy and Cotty.
• Ashley Benson as Brit, a rebellious and danger-seeking college girl, also Candy's best friend.
• Rachel Korine as Cotty, a girl who likes to party but is more careful than her friends Candy and Brit.
• Gucci Mane as Archie "Big Arch", Alien's childhood best friend who has become a rival drug dealer.

Additionally, Heather Morris, Ash Lendzion, and Emma Holzer appear as Faith's friends Bess, Forest, and Heather. Jeff Jarrett portrays a youth pastor and Russell Stuart appears as a DJ.

File:Spring Breakers Cast.jpg in February 2013: Rachel Korine, Ashley Benson, Selena Gomez and Vanessa Hudgens.|291x291px]]

According to Harmony Korine, he wrote the film partially to make up for his own spring breaks. As a youth he had been fully devoted to skateboarding, and missed out on what he later saw as opportunities for hedonistic pursuits.{{cite web|last=Durbin|first=Jonathan|date=May 7, 2012|url=http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/girls-gone-wild|title=Girls Gone Wild|work=Interview|access-date=July 8, 2012|archive-date=May 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120517103144/http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/girls-gone-wild|url-status=live}} Korine has referred to the film as a "beach noir".

The original lineup of lead actresses was announced as Emma Roberts, Selena Gomez and Vanessa Hudgens.{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywire.com/2011/11/emma-roberts-selena-gomez-vanessa-hudgens-star-spring-break-flick|title=Emma Roberts, Selena Gomez & Vanessa Hudgens Star In Spring Break Flick|work=Hollywire|date=November 3, 2011|access-date=April 4, 2012|archive-date=November 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104194519/http://www.hollywire.com/2011/11/emma-roberts-selena-gomez-vanessa-hudgens-star-spring-break-flick|url-status=live}} Director Korine had purposely collected a group of well-known young actresses with a similar reputation to Roberts in Hollywood.{{cite web|last=Orange|first=B. Alan|url=http://www.movieweb.com/news/emma-roberts-pulls-out-of-harmony-korines-spring-breakers|title=Emma Roberts Pulls Out of Harmony Korine's Spring Breakers|work=Movieweb|date=January 12, 2012|access-date=April 4, 2012|archive-date=September 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920081745/http://www.movieweb.com/news/emma-roberts-pulls-out-of-harmony-korines-spring-breakers}} Ashley Benson was ultimately cast after Roberts dropped out. She was uncomfortable with the film's explicit sexuality.{{cite web|last=Finke|first=Nikki|url=https://deadline.com/2012/01/pretty-little-liars-ashley-benson-cast-in-spring-breakers-222894/|title='Pretty Little Liars' Ashley Benson Cast In 'Spring Breakers'|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=January 30, 2012|access-date=August 18, 2013|archive-date=August 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825122804/http://www.deadline.com/2012/01/pretty-little-liars-ashley-benson-cast-in-spring-breakers/|url-status=live}}

The film was shot in March and April 2012 in and around St. Petersburg, Florida. The exterior shots and some interior shots of the college that Gomez and Benson attend were filmed at New College of Florida. Dormitory and classroom shots were filmed at Ringling College of Art and Design.{{cite web | title='Spring Breakers' locations guide for locals | website=Tampa Bay Times | date=2013-03-21 | url=https://www.tampabay.com/things-to-do/movies/spring-breakers-locations-guide-for-locals/2110114/ | access-date=2023-04-19 | archive-date=April 19, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419120658/https://www.tampabay.com/things-to-do/movies/spring-breakers-locations-guide-for-locals/2110114/ | url-status=live }} Korine announced in 2013 he planned to "remix" the film's unused footage and alternate takes into an entirely new cut.{{cite news |last1=Lee |first1=Chris |title=Harmony Korine on 'Spring Breakers': 'We're doing a remix' |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-xpm-2013-jun-20-la-et-mn-korine-spring-breakers-remix-20130619-story.html |access-date=26 September 2019 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=20 June 2013 |archive-date=September 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926173601/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-xpm-2013-jun-20-la-et-mn-korine-spring-breakers-remix-20130619-story.html |url-status=live }}

{{Main|Spring Breakers (Music from the Motion Picture)}}

The film score to Spring Breakers was composed by Cliff Martinez and Skrillex, marking the first scoring assignment for the latter.{{cite web|title=Skrillex Will Score The Movie "Spring Breakers"|url=http://www.disneydreaming.com/2012/07/02/skrillex-will-score-the-movie-spring-breakers/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915024356/http://www.disneydreaming.com/2012/07/02/skrillex-will-score-the-movie-spring-breakers/|archive-date=2012-09-15|access-date=2012-08-28|publisher=Disney Dreaming}}{{cite web|date=July 6, 2012|title=Skrillex and Cliff Martinez to Score 'Spring Breakers'|url=http://filmmusicreporter.com/2012/07/06/skrillex-and-cliff-martinez-to-score-spring-breakers/|access-date=October 30, 2013|work=Film Music Reporter|archive-date=November 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101122653/http://filmmusicreporter.com/2012/07/06/skrillex-and-cliff-martinez-to-score-spring-breakers/|url-status=live}} Skrillex was contacted after Korine sent music supervisor Randall Poster links to the electronica artist's music on YouTube. "I'm accustomed to being the oldest person at a gig," said Poster, "but when I went to see Skrillex at Roseland this year, it was dramatic. There were a lot of kids that looked like they were 15 years old. But I loved it. I truly loved it."{{cite web|last=Dombal|first=Ryan|date=June 27, 2012|title=Interviews: Wes Anderson|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/interviews/8877-wes-anderson/2/|access-date=October 30, 2013|work=Pitchfork Media|archive-date=November 5, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105081837/http://pitchfork.com/features/interviews/8877-wes-anderson/2/|url-status=live}} Magneto Dayo released the song "Spring Breakers", featuring Sage Odessa, which references the film and real-life spring break experiences.{{Cite web|title=Spring Breakers (Simpsonwave)|website=Spotify|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/4TdDR7hBTej8M9D0SooUWS|access-date=August 5, 2018|archive-date=August 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805052448/https://open.spotify.com/album/4TdDR7hBTej8M9D0SooUWS|url-status=live}} The soundtrack to the film was released on March 19, 2013 by Big Beat Records and Warner Music.{{cite web|title=Spring Breakers (Music From the Motion Picture) – Various Artists|url=https://music.apple.com/album/spring-breakers-music-from/608019859|access-date=2011-09-21|publisher=iTunes|archive-date=June 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616113150/https://itunes.apple.com/album/spring-breakers-music-from/id608019859|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Spring Breakers soundtrack|url=https://www.amazon.com/Music-Motion-Picture-Spring-Breakers/dp/B00B1E6E54|access-date=2011-09-21|publisher=Amazon|archive-date=January 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101185359/https://www.amazon.com/Music-Motion-Picture-Spring-Breakers/dp/B00B1E6E54|url-status=live}}

A three-minute preview of Spring Breakers was released at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival in May 2012.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}} The entire film premiered at the 69th Venice International Film Festival on September 4, 2012.{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/05/spring-breakers-james-franco-britney-spears_n_1858163.html|title='Spring Breakers': James Franco Sings Ariana Grande songs In New Film According To Early Reviews|work=The Huffington Post|first=Christopher|last=Rosen|date=September 5, 2012|access-date=February 19, 2020|archive-date=February 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207033432/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/05/spring-breakers-james-franco-britney-spears_n_1858163.html|url-status=live}} The film was released in New York and Los Angeles on March 15, 2013.{{cite news|url=http://www.inquisitr.com/524953/spring-breakers-gets-an-early-release-date/|title='Spring Breakers' Gets An Early Release Date|work=The Inquisitr|date=February 14, 2013|access-date=March 15, 2014|archive-date=September 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928122728/http://www.inquisitr.com/524953/spring-breakers-gets-an-early-release-date/|url-status=live}} The film was released nationwide on March 22, 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://movieweb.com/movie/spring-breakers/|title=Spring Breakers (2013)|website=MovieWeb|date=March 10, 2022|access-date=December 29, 2021|archive-date=December 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229045824/https://movieweb.com/movie/spring-breakers/|url-status=live}}

The film had a limited release in the U.K. on April 5, 2013.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/entertainment/articles/2013-01/18/spring-breakers-harmony-korine-film-trailer|title=Disney stars gone wild: see James Franco in the first trailer for Spring Breakers|magazine=GQ|first=Alex|last=Rees|date=January 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130326091033/http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/entertainment/articles/2013-01/18/spring-breakers-harmony-korine-film-trailer|archive-date=March 26, 2013}} The movie was also released in France on March 6, 2013 and was scheduled to be released in Australia in early March; however, it was pushed back to a release date of May 4.

Spring Breakers was released digitally on June 25, 2013,{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/AshBenzo/status/349603018926329858|title=Soooo Spring Breakers is out on DVD now!!!!|last=Benson|first=Ashley|work=Twitter|date=June 25, 2014|access-date=June 23, 2014|archive-date=October 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022155827/https://twitter.com/AshBenzo/status/349603018926329858|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/springbreakers/status/349223630170886148|title=#springbreakers is YOURS tomorrow|date=June 25, 2014|access-date=June 24, 2014|work=Twitter|archive-date=October 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022155128/https://twitter.com/springbreakers/status/349223630170886148|url-status=live}} and on DVD and Blu-ray on July 9, 2013.{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/Spring-Breakers-DVD-Digital-UltraViolet/dp/B00BEJL4RO/ |title=Spring Breakers (DVD + UltraViolet Digital Copy) (2012) |website=Amazon |access-date=September 14, 2014 |archive-date=July 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130714121456/http://www.amazon.com/Spring-Breakers-DVD-Digital-UltraViolet/dp/B00BEJL4RO |url-status=live }}

Spring Breakers grossed $14,124,284 in North America and $17,600,000 in other countries for a worldwide total of $31,724,284. In North America, the film opened to #6 in its first weekend with $4,858,944, behind The Croods, Admission, The Call, Oz the Great and Powerful, and Olympus Has Fallen.{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2013&wknd=12&p=.htm |title=Weekend Box Office Results for March 22–24, 2013 |publisher=IMDB |work=Box Office Mojo |date=March 25, 2013 |access-date=March 25, 2013 |archive-date=March 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130324215219/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2013&wknd=12&p=.htm |url-status=live }}

File:James Franco 2007 Spiderman 3 premiere.jpg earned praise from critics. A24 started a campaign to support him for a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.]]

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 68% based on 199 reviews, with an average rating of 6.6/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Spring Breakers blends stinging social commentary with bikini cheesecake and a bravura James Franco performance."{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/spring_breakers_2013/ |title=Spring Breakers (2013)|publisher=Fandango Media |work=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=September 7, 2024 |archive-date=November 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117025557/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/spring_breakers_2013 |url-status=live }} At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted mean rating from film critics, it received a rating score of 63 out of 100 based on 40 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/spring-breakers|title=Spring Breakers|work=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=December 8, 2014|archive-date=November 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117025551/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/spring-breakers|url-status=live}}

Xan Brooks of The Guardian said the film is Korine's "most fully realised, purely satisfying feature film since Gummo."{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/sep/05/spring-breakers-review|title=Spring Breakers – review|newspaper=The Guardian|first=Xan|last=Brooks|date=September 5, 2012|access-date=December 13, 2016|archive-date=October 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014100714/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/sep/05/spring-breakers-review|url-status=live}} Emma Seligman of The Huffington Post described the film as "Scarface meets Britney Spears."{{cite news|url= https://www.huffingtonpost.com/emma-seligman/review-spring-breakers_b_1894384.html |title=REVIEW: 'Spring Breakers'|work=The Huffington Post|first=Emma|last=Seligman|date=September 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107195045/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/emma-seligman/review-spring-breakers_b_1894384.html|archive-date=January 7, 2017}} Oliver Lyttlelton of IndieWire gave the film a B, stating that the film would be a future cult favorite for "midnight moviegoers".{{cite news|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/venice-review-harmony-korines-spring-breakers-is-a-surprisingly-semi-conventional-genre-flick-future-cult-favorite-20120904|title=Venice Review: Harmony Korine's 'Spring Breakers' Is A Semi-Conventional Genre Flick & Future Cult Favorite|work=IndieWire|first=Oliver|last=Lyttlelton|date=September 4, 2012|access-date=February 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130504105506/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/venice-review-harmony-korines-spring-breakers-is-a-surprisingly-semi-conventional-genre-flick-future-cult-favorite-20120904|archive-date=May 4, 2013}}

Guy Lodge of Variety gave it a negative review, saying, "this attractively fizzy pic may be a shock to the system for fans of teen queens Selena Gomez and Vanessa Hudgens, but remains pretty toothless titillation by its writer-helmer's standards."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117948216/|title=Variety Reviews – Spring Breakers – Venice Film Festival Review|magazine=Variety|first=Guy|last=Lodge|date=September 5, 2012}} David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter noted that James Franco gives one of his more bizarre performances in his unpredictable career, saying "he's a cross between Bo Derek in 10 and Richard Kiel in Moonraker."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/spring-breakers-venice-review-368066|title=Spring Breakers: Venice Review|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter |first=David|last=Rooney|date=September 5, 2012}}

Andrew Schenker of Slant Magazine gave the film 3 out of 4 stars.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/review/spring-breakers|title=Spring Breakers - Film Review|magazine=Slant Magazine|first=Andrew|last=Schenker|date=March 12, 2013}} Jamie Dunn of The Skinny gave it 4 out of 5 stars, saying: "If Michael Mann was to take a lot of hallucinogenics and shoot a Girls Gone Wild video, it might look something like this."{{cite web|url=http://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/film_festivals/304162-spring_breakers|title=Spring Breakers - Film Review|publisher=The Skinny|first=Jamie|last=Dunn|date=April 1, 2013|access-date=October 21, 2013|archive-date=October 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021042234/http://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/film_festivals/304162-spring_breakers|url-status=live}} Richard Roeper of Rogerebert.com gave the film three-and-a-half stars out of four, praising the character of Alien and the film's sense of humor.{{cite news|last=Roeper|first=Richard|date=March 20, 2013|title=Spring Breakers Movie Review|work=Rogerebert.com|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/spring-breakers-2013-1|access-date=2016-01-21|archive-date=November 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102143234/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/spring-breakers-2013-1|url-status=live}}

A24 began a campaign in September 2013 in support of a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for Franco's performance. This was preceded by the Hollywood.com website that produced a "For your consideration" poster in support of a nomination for Franco in March 2013.{{cite news|author=Christopher Rosen|date=3 September 2013|title=James Franco's 'Spring Breakers' Role Gets For Your Consideration Oscar Ad|newspaper=The Huffington Post|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/03/james-franco-spring-breakers_n_3860080.html|access-date=21 December 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053203/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/03/james-franco-spring-breakers_n_3860080.html|url-status=live}} On December 2, 2013, A24 published a YouTube video titled "James Franco - Consider this Sh*t" and also released print advertisements following the "Consider this Sh*t [sic]" theme.{{cite news|author=Christopher Rosen|date=2 December 2013|title=James Franco's 'Spring Breakers' Oscar Campaign Gets Serious|newspaper=The Huffington Post|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/02/james-franco-spring-breakers-oscars_n_4369269.html|access-date=21 December 2013|archive-date=October 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011124409/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/02/james-franco-spring-breakers-oscars_n_4369269.html|url-status=live}} Originally, Internet chatter considered the campaign a joke, but A24 emphasized that it was serious.{{cite web|date=December 9, 2013|title=James Franco Wins One for 'Spring Breakers' - Just Like That, A24's Awards Campaign 'Feels More Real' - TheWrap|url=https://www.thewrap.com/james-francos-first-win-spring-breakers-a24s-awards-campaign-feels-real/|access-date=29 September 2014|work=TheWrap |archive-date=May 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519065148/https://www.thewrap.com/james-francos-first-win-spring-breakers-a24s-awards-campaign-feels-real/|url-status=live}}

Spring Breakers has since appeared on various retrospective "best of" lists, including one honoring the best films of the 21st century. In 2016, British film magazine Little White Lies placed the film at number 40 on their list of the 50 best films of the decade (so far).{{cite web|title=The 50 best films of the decade (so far) – part 1|url=http://lwlies.com/articles/the-best-films-of-the-decade-part-one/|website=Little White Lies|access-date=12 January 2016|archive-date=January 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109074752/http://lwlies.com/articles/the-best-films-of-the-decade-part-one/|url-status=live}} In August of that same year, BBC Magazine conducted a poll on the 21st century's 100 greatest films so far, with Spring Breakers ranking at number 74.{{cite news|title=BBC - Culture - The 21st Century's 100 greatest films|work=BBC Magazine|url=http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160819-the-21st-centurys-100-greatest-films|date=August 23, 2016|access-date=August 28, 2016|archive-date=January 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131124228/http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160819-the-21st-centurys-100-greatest-films|url-status=live}} In France, the magazine Les Cahiers du cinéma featured Spring Breakers on their March 2013's cover,{{cite web|work=Les Cahiers du cinéma|url=https://www.cahiersducinema.com/produit/mars-2013-n687|title=Korine Révolution Pop, Mars 2013 – n°687|access-date=February 26, 2018|archive-date=February 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227034329/https://www.cahiersducinema.com/produit/mars-2013-n687/|url-status=live}} and placed it second on their December 2013 Top Ten chart.{{cite web|work=Cahiers du cinéma|url=https://www.cahiersducinema.com/produit/top-ten-2013|title=Top Ten 2013 des meilleurs films, Décembre 2013 – n°695|access-date=February 26, 2018|archive-date=February 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227094241/https://www.cahiersducinema.com/produit/top-ten-2013/|url-status=live}}

Spring Breakers appeared on many critics' top ten lists for 2013.{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/feature/film-critic-top-10-lists-best-movies-of-2013|title=Film Critic Top 10 Lists - Best Movies of 2013 - Metacritic|work=Metacritic|access-date=April 16, 2020|archive-date=January 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102162352/http://www.metacritic.com/feature/film-critic-top-10-lists-best-movies-of-2013|url-status=live}}

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• Best of 2013 (not ranked) – Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times
• 2nd – Nigel M. Smith, Gabe Toro, & Katie Walsh, Indiewire{{Cite web|url = https://www.indiewire.com/article/indiewires-editors-and-bloggers-pick-this-top-10-films-and-tv-shows-of-2013|title = Indiewire's Editors and Bloggers Pick Their Top 10 Films (And in Some Cases TV Shows) of 2013|date = December 25, 2013|access-date = February 19, 2020|archive-date = March 4, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061015/http://www.indiewire.com/article/indiewires-editors-and-bloggers-pick-this-top-10-films-and-tv-shows-of-2013|url-status = live}}
• 2nd – Cahiers du cinéma{{Cite web|url=https://www.cahiersducinema.com/boutique/produit/top-ten-2013/|title=Top Ten 2013|website=Cahiers du Cinéma|access-date=April 19, 2023|archive-date=April 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419120539/https://www.cahiersducinema.com/boutique/produit/top-ten-2013/|url-status=live}}
• 4th – Ben Kenigsberg, The A.V. Club
• 6th – David Ehrlich, Film.com
• 6th – Gregory Ellwood, HitFix
• 7th – Drew McWeeny, Hitfix
• 8th – Ty Burr, The Boston Globe
• 8th – Kristopher Tapley, HitFix
• 8th – Marlow Stern, The Daily Beast
• 10th – Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York
• 10th – A.O. Scott, The New York Times
• Best of 2013 (listed alphabetically, not ranked) – Manohla Dargis, The New York Times

{{Div col end}}

On February 15, 2012, Korine contacted rapper Riff Raff about appearing in an upcoming film, which later developed as Spring Breakers.{{cite magazine|last=Buyanovsky|first=Dan|date=July 19, 2013|title=RiFF RaFF Speaks On 'Spring Breakers' Lawsuit, What He'd Do With $10 Million|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/07/riff-raff-speaks-on-spring-breakers-lawsuit-what-hed-do-with-10-million/|magazine=XXL|access-date=August 1, 2013|archive-date=July 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723161126/http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/07/riff-raff-speaks-on-spring-breakers-lawsuit-what-hed-do-with-10-million/|url-status=live}} Once the trailer was released, there was speculation that the character Alien was based on Riff Raff.{{cite magazine|last=Long|first=Stephanie|date=March 28, 2012|title=James Franco to Play Riff Raff in Upcoming Harmony Korine Film|url=http://www.vibe.com/article/james-franco-play-riff-raff-upcoming-harmony-korine-film|magazine=Vibe}} According to Franco, Alien is based on the underground rap artist Dangeruss, who has a cameo in the film. "Of course, Harmony and I looked at some of Riff Raff's videos as inspiration, but he was one of a number of people we looked at. I would say the biggest influence on the role was this local, Florida rapper named Dangeruss. He's fairly unknown, but he was down there in the place, living the life, and he became the biggest model for me, and he's in the movie."{{cite magazine|last=Sebra|first=Matthew|date=May 1, 2012|title=Last Night...Talking Cornrows with James Franco|url=https://www.gq.com/style/blogs/the-gq-eye/2012/05/last-nighttalking-cornrows-with-james-franco.html|magazine=GQ|access-date=August 1, 2013}}

After much back-and-forth about the issue, Riff Raff announced in July 2013 that he was suing the creators of Spring Breakers for $10 million for "sampling" his life without his permission or a proper producer credit.{{cite magazine|author=C. Vernon Coleman|date=July 16, 2013|title=Riff Raff Is Suing 'Spring Breakers' Creators For $10 Million|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/07/riff-raff-is-suing-spring-breakers-creators-for-10-million/|magazine=XXL|access-date=August 1, 2013|archive-date=July 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130721210630/http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/07/riff-raff-is-suing-spring-breakers-creators-for-10-million/|url-status=live}} However, a September 2013 search by LA Weekly for court documents resulted in no findings.{{cite news|last1=Weiss|first1=Jeff|title=Is Riff Raff Serious?|newspaper=LA Weekly|url=http://www.laweekly.com/2012-05-24/music/riff_raff_sodmg_mtv_diplo_mad_decent/|access-date=24 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619072127/http://www.laweekly.com/2012-05-24/music/riff_raff_sodmg_mtv_diplo_mad_decent/|archive-date=June 19, 2012|ref=laweekly}}

Spring Breakers has generated debate and controversy among critics, with some regarding the film as sexist due to its objectification of women, while others viewed the film as a feminist or female-empowerment film. In regard to the former perspective, The Guardian suggests that the film "reinforces rape culture" and "turns young women into sex objects."{{cite news|last=Long|first=Heather|date=March 28, 2013|title=Spring Breakers isn't just a terrible movie, it reinforces rape culture|newspaper=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/mar/28/spring-breakers-movie-wild-girls-rape-culture|access-date=November 18, 2013|archive-date=October 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023081257/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/mar/28/spring-breakers-movie-wild-girls-rape-culture|url-status=live}} Other reviewers state that it "pushes booze-and-bikini hedonism to the extreme,"{{cite news|last=Meyer|first=Carla|date=March 22, 2013|title=Movie review: James Franco only non-vacuous part of Spring Breakers'|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|url=http://www.sacbee.com/2013/03/22/5279605/james-franco-only-non-vacuous.html|access-date=November 18, 2013|archive-date=October 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023155118/http://www.sacbee.com/2013/03/22/5279605/james-franco-only-non-vacuous.html|url-status=live}} as the "camera glides up, down, and around these women's bodies like a giant tongue".{{cite journal|last=Edelstein|first=David|date=March 15, 2013|title=Three New Films Examine What It Means When Girls Act Out|url=https://www.npr.org/2013/03/15/174322481/three-new-films-examine-what-it-means-when-girls-act-out|journal=National Public Radio|access-date=September 5, 2013|archive-date=December 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204020417/http://www.npr.org/2013/03/15/174322481/three-new-films-examine-what-it-means-when-girls-act-out|url-status=live}} According to Rolling Stone, the film presents "a kind of girl-power camaraderie that could almost be called feminist," a result of the director's intent to "do the most radical work, but put it out in the most commercial way (...) to infiltrate the mainstream".{{cite magazine|last=Eells|first=Josh|date=March 15, 2013|title=Inside 'Spring Breakers,' the Most Debauched Movie of the Year|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/inside-spring-breakers-the-most-debauched-movie-of-the-year-20130315|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=November 18, 2013}} In his review of the film, Richard Roeper wrote:

"Korine's camera is nearly an intrusive weapon as he lingers over the soft, limber bodies of Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez, Ashley Benson, and his wife, Rachel Korine.... I think that's sort of the point. When a pre-med student on spring break loses her top, drinks to the point of passing out, and grabs a willing lugnut by the ears for six hours of anonymous fun, is she setting the woman's movement back 40 years, or taking charge of her life like any man would do at that age?"

Franco won the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor (tied with Jared Leto for Dallas Buyers Club), National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor, and San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor, while the Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association nominated him for its Best Supporting Actor award.{{cite web|title=L.A. Film Critics: 'Gravity,' 'Her' Tie for Best Picture|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/la-film-critics-awards-winners-664033|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=21 December 2013|author=Gregg Kilday|date=8 December 2013|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112010810/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/la-film-critics-awards-winners-664033|url-status=live}}

{{Anchor|Awards}}

A sequel, under the name of Spring Breakers: The Second Coming, was announced on May 6, 2014, to have been written by Irvine Welsh and directed by Jonas Åkerlund. Welsh's script focused on a set of Spring Breakers coming into conflict with Christian extremists,{{cite magazine |url=http://www.screendaily.com/5071351.article |title=Wild Bunch unveils full Cannes 2014 slate |last=Goodfellow |first=Melanie |date=May 6, 2014 |magazine=ScreenDaily |access-date=June 9, 2016}} and Wild Bunch originally slated the film to debut at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival. Upon the announcement, Franco released a statement saying that the sequel was "not being done with Harmony Korine or my consent" and that the producers were "capitalizing on that innovative film to make money on a weak sequel" and attempting to "make money off someone else's creativity".{{cite web |url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/james-franco-says-spring-breakers-sequel-will-be-a-terrible-film-that-makes-money-off-someone-elses-creativity-20140515 |title=James Franco Says 'Spring Breakers' Sequel Will Be "A Terrible Film" That Makes "Money Off Someone Else's Creativity" |last=Jagernauth |first=Kevin |date=May 15, 2014 |publisher=The Playlist |work=Indiewire |access-date=June 9, 2016 |archive-date=August 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814015514/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/james-franco-says-spring-breakers-sequel-will-be-a-terrible-film-that-makes-money-off-someone-elses-creativity-20140515 |url-status=live }}

By 2017, the project had been shelved in favor of a digital series for short-video platform Blackpills; the series never materialized, however, and Blackpills itself shut down after less than two years online. As a result, development on Spring Breakers: The Second Coming had restarted, with Harmony Korine, who would direct the 2019 film The Beach Bum, being open to directing and writing the sequel.

In May 2025, a sequel, Spring Breakers: Salvation Mountain, was officially announced, with Chris Hanley and Jordan Gertner of Muse Productions returning to produce. Matthew Bright will direct, while Bella Thorne, Ariel Martin, True Whitaker, and Grace Van Dien were announced to join the cast.{{Cite web |last=Ritman |first=Alex |date=May 14, 2025 |title=‘Spring Breakers 2’ Set With New Cast: Bella Thorne, ‘Stranger Things’ Star Grace Van Dien and More |url=https://variety.com/2025/film/global/spring-breakers-2-bella-thorne-sequel-1236397224/ |access-date=June 3, 2025 |website=Variety}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20131021052353/http://www.springbreakersmovie.com/}}
• {{IMDb title|2101441|Spring Breakers}}
• {{mojo title|springbreakers|Spring Breakers}}

{{Harmony Korine}}

{{Annapurna Pictures}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spring Breakers}}

Category:2012 films

Category:2012 independent films

Category:A24 (company) films

Category:Vertigo Films films

Category:Icon Productions films

Category:Annapurna Pictures films

Category:Division Films films

Category:2010s English-language films

Category:Films about casual sex

Category:Films scored by Cliff Martinez

Category:Films about drugs

Category:Films about spring break

Category:Films set on beaches

Category:Films directed by Harmony Korine

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Category:Films set in St. Petersburg, Florida

Category:Films shot in Florida

Category:Obscenity controversies in film

Category:2010s female buddy films

Category:2010s American films

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Category:English-language buddy films