In downtown Manhattan, twentysomething Allie, whose father is not around and whose mother is institutionalized, is a big Charlie Parker fan. He almost subconsciously searches for meaning in his life and meets some idiosyncratic characters along the way.
Permanent Vacation (1981) is a comedy and drama film directed by Jim Jarmusch, released on March 6, 1981 with a runtime of 1h 15m. It stars Chris Parker, Leila Gastil, John Lurie and Richard Boes. Viewers rate it 5.9 out of 10 across 222 ratings.
Watch the official trailer for Permanent Vacation before you stream it.
Chris Parker
as Allie
Leila Gastil
as Leila
John Lurie
as Sax Player
Richard Boes
as War Vet
Sara Driver
as Nurse
Charlie Spademan
as Patient
Jane Fire
as Nurse
Ruth Bolton
as Mother
Evelyn Smith
as Patient
Maria Duval
as Latin Girl
Lisa Rosen
as Popcorn Girl
Frankie Faison
as Man in Lobby
Directed by Jim Jarmusch, written by Jim Jarmusch and Jim Jarmusch, produced by Jim Jarmusch.
Average viewer score of 5.9/10 from 222 ratings.
A slice-of-life student film from legendary filmmaker Jim Jarmusch, Permanent Vacation follows young Aloysius Allie Parker, a teenager obsessed with jazz genius Charlie Parker, who is searching for meaning in his life. He drifts through New York City without a clear destination, guided more by feeling than intent. Along the way, he encounters strange and compelling people who briefly enter his life, offering…
Reviewed on December 20, 2025
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Permanent Vacation (1981) is available to stream on HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel and HBO Max, and to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. Streaming availability is checked against JustWatch data and can change by region.
The main cast of Permanent Vacation (1981) includes Chris Parker, Leila Gastil, John Lurie, Richard Boes and Sara Driver. The film was directed by Jim Jarmusch. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
Permanent Vacation was released on March 6, 1981 and runs for 1h 15m.
Permanent Vacation (1981) holds an average rating of 5.9 out of 10 from 222 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy comedy and drama films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.
Yes. The official Permanent Vacation trailer is embedded in the trailer section of this page and plays instantly, no download or sign-up required.
