Eddie and the Cruisers is a 1983 (1983 in film) American film (Cinema of the United States) directed by Martin Davidson with the screenplay written by the director and Arlene Davidson, based on the novel by P. F. Kluge. The film is about a television reporter named Maggie Foley (Ellen Barkin) investigating the mysterious death of musician Eddie Wilson (Michael Par�) and the search for his bands second album, which disappeared from the vaults of Satin Records the day after Eddies alleged death.

Only two cast members, Michael "Tunes" Antunes, the tenor saxophone player for John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band, and Helen Schneider were professional musicians in the fictional band.

The film was not very successful at the box office, grossing USD (United States dollar)$4.7 million in North America. It also received many negative to mixed reviews from critics. However, in the fall of 1984, the soundtrack album suddenly climbed the charts, as the film was rediscovered on cable television and home video, prompting the studio to re-release the album.

The film was followed by one sequel, Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives! in 1989. It was marketed with the tagline "Rebel. Rocker. Lover. Idol. Vanished."