Kids premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on 17 May 1995 before its official release in September.
After directing a music video for Chris Isaak in 1993 ("Solitary Man"), 50-year-old photographer Larry Clark became interested in directing a feature length film and asked 18-year-old Harmony Korine to write the script.
Rosario Dawson (15), Leo Fitzpatrick (16 at the time of filming), Justin Pierce (19), and Chloe Sevigny (20) all made their feature film debuts in Kids (Sevigny was initially cast in a smaller role, but 2 days before filming began, she replaced Mia Kushner as Jennie).
Given an NC-17 rating for its depictions of drug use and sex, Kids was controversial, polarizing among critics and audiences, and a financial success. It was nominated for the Palme D'Or at Cannes, received 4 nominations at the Independent Spirit Awards, including Best First Feature, Best Supporting Female (Sevigny), and Best First Screenplay. Justin Pierce received the award for Best Debut Performance. It also received Dishonorable Mention as Worst Movie at the Stinkers Bad Movie Awards.
