Rotten Tomatoes
Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Bukowski: Born Into This

Play trailer Poster for Bukowski: Born Into This R 2003 2h 10m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
84% Tomatometer 50 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
This documentary chronicles the writer Charles Bukowski, who is as well known for his drinking binges as for his poetry and prose. Using interviews with Bukowski and other footage, filmmaker John Dullaghan tells the story of a man who struggles to make a living while he writes from the heart. Then, after editor John Martin of Black Sparrow Press discovers Bukowski, his work becomes much more widely read. The film also includes comments from famous fans Bono, Sean Penn and Harry Dean Stanton.

Where to Watch

Bukowski: Born Into This

Bukowski: Born Into This

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A thoroughly engrossing documentary examining the life of talented but troubled writer Charles Bukowski.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Marc Savlov Austin Chronicle 01/16/2005
4/5
Dullaghan uncovers the human being behind the myth, thanks again to old footage. Go to Full Review Jane Sumner Dallas Morning News 10/28/2004
B+
An amazing, worthy journey. Go to Full Review Lisa Kennedy Denver Post 08/20/2004
3/4
The filmmaker knows when to shift the rhythm of his investigation. The authenticity of art is woven with the artifice of life. Go to Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com 09/04/2020
3.5/4.0
It captures the essence of Bukowski in a powerful and beautiful way. Go to Full Review PJ Nabarro Patrick Nabarro 12/08/2018
4/5
This excels by not merely charting the fascinating raw materials of the man's life and work, but in finding a symbiosis between its own aesthetic and the spirit of its subject Go to Full Review Felix Vasquez Jr. Cinema Crazed 04/29/2009
3/4
We witness Bukowski warts and all in his worst, in his best, and at his most violent--and we still love him for it. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Geke g @RT40239519 07/29/2024 Documents are on another stage from now on. Perfect See more Munkhchimeg T @RT64187897 07/29/2024 Very good documentary. It shows the work, job, personal life really well at the same time in a good harmony. See more 08/22/2016 A great documentary. It could have romanticized Bukowski but as the footage used showed he could really be a nasty cunt. Speaking of cunts no surprise rent a quote Bono showed up. See more 12/04/2014 Makes you want to read the man. See more 08/01/2014 Born Into This, its title taken from one of his poems, is a remarkable movie, because, like Crumb or even American Splendor, it adores the very people most of us might ignore if they passed us on the street. This portrait of Bukowski is both wide ranging AND intimate. I learned that Bukowski was tireless at plying his craft. Despite his alcoholism, he wrote daily and continually submitted work for publication. This doc is an amazing worthy journey. See more 07/01/2014 An extremely well put together film, that marries the genius and madness that is Charles Bukowski. We get to peek inside the loneliness to look at the artist build emotional walls to hide his vulnerability. A very raw and intense story told by the man himself... See more Read all reviews
Bukowski: Born Into This

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

John Dullaghan

Director

Bono

Self

John Bryan

Self

Diane Markrow

Co-Producer

John McCormick

Co-Producer

Matt Jacobson

Cinematographer

More Like This

View All
This So-Called Disaster 89% 64% This So-Called Disaster Watchlist Eddie Griffin: Dysfunktional Family 43% 77% Eddie Griffin: Dysfunktional Family Watchlist Tupac: Resurrection 77% 90% Tupac: Resurrection Watchlist Stoked: The Rise and Fall of Gator 81% 77% Stoked: The Rise and Fall of Gator Watchlist Mayor of the Sunset Strip 87% 78% Mayor of the Sunset Strip Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

Bukowski: Born Into This

Bukowski: Born Into This (2003) Bukowski: Born Into This (2003) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis This documentary chronicles the writer Charles Bukowski, who is as well known for his drinking binges as for his poetry and prose. Using interviews with Bukowski and other footage, filmmaker John Dullaghan tells the story of a man who struggles to make a living while he writes from the heart. Then, after editor John Martin of Black Sparrow Press discovers Bukowski, his work becomes much more widely read. The film also includes comments from famous fans Bono, Sean Penn and Harry Dean Stanton.
Director
John Dullaghan
Distributor
Magnolia Films
Rating
R (Language|Sexual Content/Nudity)
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 18, 2003, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 25, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$311.4K
Runtime
2h 10m