Pollock

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Pollock

R

2000

1h 58m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

79%

Tomatometer

110 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

In August 1949, Life Magazine ran a banner headline that begged the question: Jackson Pollock: Is he the greatest living painter in the United States? The film is a look back into the life of an extraordinary man, a man who has fittingly been called an artist dedicated to concealment, a celebrity who nobody knew. As he struggled with self-doubt, engaging in a lonely tug-of-war between needing to express himself and wanting to shut the world out, Pollock began a downward spiral.

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Critics Consensus

Though Pollock does not really allow audiences a glimpse of the painter as a person, it does powerfully depict the creative process. Harris throws himself into the role and turns in a compelling performance.

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Joe Morgenstern

Wall Street Journal

Jun 18, 2012

For better and worse, Pollock is an Action Painterly picture, an ambitious work of ambiguous surfaces.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Dec 27, 2010

4/5

Wonderful movie, but for adults and older teens.

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Peter Rainer

New York Magazine/Vulture

Sep 26, 2002

Harris as an actor does justice to his long-term passion to play Pollock.

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

Jun 8, 2024

6/10

A biopic that features stellar performances by Ed Harris and Marcia Gay Harden, but whose surface, unfortunately, has bland moments and advances at a slow pace similar to that of wet painting drying on the canvas surface. [Full review in Spanish]

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Dec 26, 2023

2.5/4

Like too many other like-minded films, it assumes that a historical figure’s insufferable behavior automatically makes him or her a fascinating movie character. But there’s no faulting the performances.

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John A. Nesbit

Old School Reviews

Apr 25, 2013

D+

a plodding glimpse of the latter part of Jackson Pollock's life

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Jerod S

@jeroduptown May 30, 2026

It's the pain of a creative painter stuck in alcoholism. Ed Harris is the groundbreaking artist.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jul 12, 2025

Success in 1 hour and 58 minutes. Winner of 2001 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (Marcia Gay Harden).

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Gareth v

@geewah Jun 20, 2023

Not a bad biopic. Shame it's pretty conventional, which is the opposite to how Pollock worked and lived.

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Shioka O

@RT54204327 Nov 25, 2022

I think this biopic project by actor Ed Harris is successful. Paid respect for the artist and his creative development. Maybe I would love to see more younger and beginning of his career. The ending is true but sad.

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jona i

@RT86387422 Dec 27, 2021

An interesting take on a real life story, with excellent performances

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dave s

@RT68722908 Oct 11, 2021

Whether you appreciate (or even understand, for that matter) the art of Jackson Pollock, Ed Harris' Pollock is an insightful look into the life of the iconic American painter. The film follows Pollock from his early days as an artist, detailing his journey through abstract expressionism into his drip period later in life. Harris is brilliant as the tortured artist, as is Marcia Gay Harden as his long-time partner and fellow artist Lee Krasner. What makes the film so special, however, is Harris' subdued and restrained directorial style. Instead of mirroring the often frantic and mercurial behavior of the protagonist with quick cuts, Harris allows the camera to observe the artist in both social interactions and the creative process with long, uninterrupted takes. The film provides remarkable insight into a truly intriguing character.

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Ed Harris

Director

Ed Harris

Jackson Pollock

Marcia Gay Harden

Lee Krasner

Amy Madigan

Peggy Guggenheim

Jennifer Connelly

Ruth Klingman

Jeffrey Tambor

Clement Greenberg

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Synopsis

In August 1949, Life Magazine ran a banner headline that begged the question: Jackson Pollock: Is he the greatest living painter in the United States? The film is a look back into the life of an extraordinary man, a man who has fittingly been called an artist dedicated to concealment, a celebrity who nobody knew. As he struggled with self-doubt, engaging in a lonely tug-of-war between needing to express himself and wanting to shut the world out, Pollock began a downward spiral.

Director: Ed Harris
Producer: Fred Berner, Ed Harris, Jon Kilik, James Francis Trezza
Screenwriter: Steven Naifeh, Gregory White Smith, Barbara Turner, Susan Emshwiller
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Fred Berner Films, Brant-Allen, Zeke Productions, Pollock Films
Rating: R (Language|Brief Sexuality)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 30, 2000, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $8.6M
Runtime: 1h 58m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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