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Bowfinger

Play trailer Poster for Bowfinger PG-13 1999 1h 37m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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83% Tomatometer 110 Reviews 61% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
On the verge of bankruptcy and desperate for his big break, aspiring filmmaker Bobby Bowfinger (Steve Martin) concocts a crazy plan to make his ultimate dream movie. Rallying a ragtag team that includes a starry-eyed ingénue (Heather Graham), a has-been diva (Christine Baranski) and a film studio gofer (Jamie Kennedy), he sets out to shoot a blockbuster featuring the biggest star in Hollywood, Kit Ramsey (Eddie Murphy) -- only without letting Ramsey know he's in the picture.
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Bowfinger

Bowfinger

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Critics Consensus

A witty commentary on modern film-making, with enough jokes to keep it entertaining throughout.

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Critics Reviews

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Xan Brooks Independent (UK) 12/20/2024
Breathless and breakneck, Bowfinger marks a rousing return to form for writer-star Martin. Go to Full Review
Nell Minow Common Sense Media 12/22/2010
3/5
Entertaining, great actors but not a home run. Go to Full Review
Richard Schickel TIME Magazine 02/02/2009
The best thing about Bowfinger is the way the script by Steve Martin is tooled to his own and Murphy's comic strengths. Go to Full Review
Chuck Klosterman Akron Beacon Journal 10/26/2023
3/4
Bowfinger is a terrifically witty movie that skewers all the right targets. It's self-referential and geared toward movie buffs, but it's not so insular that you need an in-depth knowledge of the industry to get the jokes. Go to Full Review
Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 08/19/2023
Steve Martin's tribute to shoestring filmmaking and big-screen dreams is a loving lampoon that gamely straddles the chasm between cynical con-artistry and benign innocence. Go to Full Review
Alex Behan The Post NZ 05/28/2021
Martin makes a perfect delusional meglomaniac and Murphy's double act still plays really well. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Giancarlo Z @Giantcarlot Dec 21 I think this might be the most underrated Eddie Murphy movie. So funny and I love the ending. See more bob c Aug 4 Junk, Steve Martin style. About a Steve Martin type in the movie business dealing with a post peak Eddie Murphy type, doubled. Still junk tho. See more Stephen C @bob25009 May 29 The worldwide gross is $98,625,775.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more thiago s @Thiagostone Feb 22 Filme ruim, o roteiro é fraco, o filme não tem cenas boas, quase o filme todo é fraco, o elenco nao melhora o filme, e não tem cenas engraçadas e nem relevantes, com tudo isso, eu não recomendo esse filme See more Sarfaraz A Jan 10 This satirical comedy film was written by Steve Martin and directed by Frank Oz. Terence Stamp, Eddie Murphy, Heather Graham, Steve Martin, and Robert Downy Jr. (in cameos) are among the cast members. In the film, Steve Martin plays a mediocre filmmaker who is captivated by an extraterrestrial invasion plot. To finance his film, he has saved almost two thousand dollars. He hopes to work with Eddie Murphy, a well-known Hollywood actor who will not be aware that he is being filmed, while having fleeting and incidental interactions with Martin's quirky crew, which includes illegal Mexican migrants and a gorgeous aspiring actress who sleeps with anyone she thinks is involved in the filming. The movie seemed to be fast-paced and joyous, but it lacked the humorous bits that Steve Martin is known for. I have no clue why the movie has garnered so many favorable reviews, other than the fact that the film's plot revolves on filmmaking and other film industry-related narratives that generally please cinema critics. I'd want to be educated on the opposite to my assumptions about the film. Eddie Murphy was unfunny, despite portraying two roles as twin brothers. Perhaps the part was not intended for a comedic performer, since Martin had the character developed for Keanu Reeves. It's watchable, but not so much that you'd regret not seeing it. See more wally r 09/24/2024 An extremely funny, witty and clean movie proving that comedies don't have to be vulgar. A family favorite now for 25 years. See more Read all reviews
Bowfinger

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Bowfinger

Bowfinger: Official Clip - Buck the Wonder Slave Bowfinger: Official Clip - Buck the Wonder Slave 2:59 Bowfinger: Official Clip - Gotcha Suckers! Bowfinger: Official Clip - Gotcha Suckers! 2:57 Bowfinger: Official Clip - A Go Picture Bowfinger: Official Clip - A Go Picture 2:21 Bowfinger: Official Clip - Crossing the Freeway Bowfinger: Official Clip - Crossing the Freeway 3:08 Bowfinger: Official Clip - My Gonads Bowfinger: Official Clip - My Gonads 1:40 Bowfinger: Official Clip - Guerrilla Filmmaking Bowfinger: Official Clip - Guerrilla Filmmaking 3:00 Bowfinger: Official Clip - Spearchucker Says Hello! Bowfinger: Official Clip - Spearchucker Says Hello! 2:16 Bowfinger: Official Clip - High-Heel Wearing Dog Bowfinger: Official Clip - High-Heel Wearing Dog 2:37 Bowfinger: Official Clip - Daisy's Topless Scene Bowfinger: Official Clip - Daisy's Topless Scene 2:02 Bowfinger: Official Clip - Chubby Rain Movie Premiere Bowfinger: Official Clip - Chubby Rain Movie Premiere 1:51 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis On the verge of bankruptcy and desperate for his big break, aspiring filmmaker Bobby Bowfinger (Steve Martin) concocts a crazy plan to make his ultimate dream movie. Rallying a ragtag team that includes a starry-eyed ingénue (Heather Graham), a has-been diva (Christine Baranski) and a film studio gofer (Jamie Kennedy), he sets out to shoot a blockbuster featuring the biggest star in Hollywood, Kit Ramsey (Eddie Murphy) -- only without letting Ramsey know he's in the picture.
Director
Frank Oz
Producer
Brian Grazer
Screenwriter
Steve Martin
Distributor
United International Pictures, MCA/Universal Pictures [us], CIC-Taft Home Video, Filmes Lusomundo, Argentina Video Home
Production Co
Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 13, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 26, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$66.4M
Runtime
1h 37m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)
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