Don't Come Knocking

Play trailer

Don't Come Knocking

R

2005

2h 5m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

41%

Tomatometer

99 Reviews

60%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Washed-up movie star Howard Spence (Sam Shepard) spends his days drowning his sorrows in an endless stream of drugs and alcohol, but news that he may have fathered a child offers him a ray of hope. He sets out to find his offspring and discovers a whole life that he has missed.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

The cinematography conjures beautifully evocative landscapes, but aside from that, the film is meandering and pointless.

Read Critics Reviews

Richard Brody

The New Yorker

Despite the film's false notes, its balladlike moods ring true.

Oct 30, 2017

Full Review

Richard Falcon

Sight & Sound

[It has] a terrific sense of place, something missing from much contemporary US cinema.

Sep 28, 2006

Full Review

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

By the time we get to the point where the camera is endlessly circling Shepard sitting on a sofa in the middle of the street, it feels as if he and his director were making things up as they went along.

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

The bitterness of the playwright's vision is expanded by the director's fascinated fondness for American culture

Aug 30, 2009

Full Review

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Apart from an extraordinary scene of attempted reconciliation between Shepard and Lange "Don't Come Knocking" is an inflated drama that lies stagnate on the screen.

Rated: C

Apr 20, 2009

Full Review

Jonathan Kiefer

Sacramento News & Review

Rated: 3/5

Aug 7, 2008

Full Review

Read all reviews

Jerod S

There was a chance for "Don't Come Knocking" to have a point, especially when it comes to bringing family into focus after brokenness. Sam Shepherd doesn't have a lot of lines to deliver and the ones he does are lifeless. Even Jessica Lange can't save this script.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

08/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I lile the photography,Good mood,Nice takes, music well choosen

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A man's journey into his past turns up a son he never knew that he had and small town living that clearly doesn't care if he's around or not. Wenders makes a pretty film, but an aging movie star who flees a set and goes on a journey of...personal discovery (?) just never fully engages the audience, as he doesn't seem to know why he's there either, y'know? It's an okay time-waster, but I would be hard pressed to say when I would revisit this one. A rental, at best.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

Audience Member

So underrated. It's a real shame nobody seems to get this wonderful film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It never really works, but Wim Wenders movie can't help but be a pleasure. It has the feel of something that might have been made in the '70's. As expected, Shepard and Lange are outstanding. Despite its flaws, fans of the three main artists will enjoy every moment.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

Frances H

Quirky off beat story of a man who decides rather late in life that it's time to pick up the dropped threads of a life he abandoned a long time ago. Love Sarah Polley's role and the Hopper inspired camera work.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/03/14

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Wim Wenders

Director

Sam Shepard

Howard Spence

Jessica Lange

Doreen

Tim Roth

Sutter

Gabriel Mann

Earl

Sarah Polley

Sky

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Last Days

58%

50%

Last Days

Watchlist

Fighting Tommy Riley

63%

53%

Fighting Tommy Riley

Watchlist

The Woodsman

88%

77%

The Woodsman

Watchlist

Ripple Effect

29%

%

Ripple Effect

Watchlist

Winter Solstice

61%

43%

Winter Solstice

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

South By Southwest Festival Starts Friday

View more photos

Synopsis

Washed-up movie star Howard Spence (Sam Shepard) spends his days drowning his sorrows in an endless stream of drugs and alcohol, but news that he may have fathered a child offers him a ray of hope. He sets out to find his offspring and discovers a whole life that he has missed.

Director: Wim Wenders
Producer: Peter Schwartzkopff, Karsten Brünig, In-Ah Lee
Screenwriter: Sam Shepard
Production Co: Road Movies
Rating: R (Language|Brief Nudity)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Mar 17, 2006
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $438.7K
Runtime: 2h 5m

Most Popular at Home Now