Sofia Coppola wrote the screenplay for and directed a 97-minute film version, which was shot in the summer of 1998, and released on May 19, 1999 at the Cannes Film Festival. The Virgin Suicides was Sofia Coppola's feature directorial debut. The film then opened on April 21, 2000, in New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. The film starred Kirsten Dunst, James Woods, Kathleen Turner, and Josh Hartnett. The film is faithful to the novel; much of the dialogue and narration is taken verbatim from its source. The film received favorable reviews and was rated R for strong thematic elements involving teens.
The French band Air created the score to the film, also entitled The Virgin Suicides.
