Blow

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Blow

R

2001

2h 4m

Crime

Drama

Biography

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

56%

Tomatometer

142 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

In the turbulence of the 1970s, the international drug trade underwent a fast, violent and lucrative revolution - and one ordinary American was at its center. But in just a few short years, George Jung (Johnny Depp), a high-school football star single handedly became the world's premiere importer of cocaine from Colombia's Medellin cartel, changing the course of an entire generation. Blow is a high-velocity look at George Jung's spectacular rise and fall.

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Critics Consensus

With elements that seem borrowed from movies like Goodfellas and Boogie Nights, Blow is pretty much been-there-done-that despite another excellent performance from Johnny Depp. It, also, becomes too sentimental at the end.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

The first half of Blow is a shallow but lively fun ride; the audience gets a contact high. But when George's fortunes start to go from bad to worse, so does the movie.

Mar 6, 2018

Full Review

Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

This is one of the few drug movies where you actually feel a little sorry for the drug-dealing coke-infested lead character.

Rated: A

Sep 12, 2017

Full Review

Peter Rainer

New York Magazine/Vulture

The filmmakers are torn between presenting George's life story as a cautionary tale, or as a blast.

Sep 26, 2002

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Michael D. Reid

Victoria Times Colonist (B.C., Canada)

Director Ted Demme's colorful, vividly evocative biopic about the rise and fall of one-time American coke kingpin George Jung recalls the energy and period stylism of other blasts to the past.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 30, 2024

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Although Depp has little range, he's acceptable in the lead - a source of calm and emotional steadiness, which contrasts the nervousness and paranoia of his associates.

Rated: 5/10

Sep 25, 2020

Full Review

M. Faust

Common Sense Media

Uneven drug trade story has explicit drug use.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 2, 2011

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Tanya W

So much better than Traffic which came out a few months prior and had all the critical praise, winning awards, etc. This film really centered on the human dynamic of the characters it focused on. Also, there was none of the hypocrisy of the so called "drug czar" fighting the good fight that you see in Traffic. Love Michael Douglas but his character never seemed that real to me. Sicario it certainly was not!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/21/25

Full Review

Joe N

Great film from start to finish! One of the all time classics !

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/17/25

Full Review

Mackenzie A

great film with stellar director, writer, and cast

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/24/25

Full Review

Belo M

Demme's colorful, vividly evocative biopic about the rise and fall of one-time American coke kingpin George Jung recalls the energy and period stylism of other blasts to the past.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/23/25

Full Review

Arman T

a moving true story about the trials and tribulations of the drug trade both on society and the family. Stand out performances all around

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/17/25

Full Review

Ronny J

"Blow" is a sobering story well-told.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/11/25

Full Review

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Ted Demme

Director

Johnny Depp

George Jung

Penélope Cruz

Mirtha Jung

Franka Potente

Barbara Buckley

Rachel Griffiths

Ermine Jung

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Synopsis

In the turbulence of the 1970s, the international drug trade underwent a fast, violent and lucrative revolution - and one ordinary American was at its center. But in just a few short years, George Jung (Johnny Depp), a high-school football star single handedly became the world's premiere importer of cocaine from Colombia's Medellin cartel, changing the course of an entire generation. Blow is a high-velocity look at George Jung's spectacular rise and fall.

Director: Ted Demme
Producer: Ted Demme, Denis Leary, Tomas Krejci, Joel Stillerman
Screenwriter: Bruce Porter, David McKenna, Nick Cassavetes
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Production Co: Apostle Pictures, New Line Cinema, Spanky Pictures, Avery Pix
Rating: R (Pervasive Drug Content|Language|Sexuality|Some Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 6, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 8, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $53.1M
Runtime: 2h 4m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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