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Bowling for Columbine

  • 2002
  • R
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
151K
YOUR RATING
Michael Moore in Bowling for Columbine (2002)
Home Video Trailer from MGM Home Entertainment
Play trailer2:07
2 Videos
47 Photos
Political DocumentaryCrimeDocumentaryDrama

Filmmaker Michael Moore explores the roots of America's predilection for gun violence.Filmmaker Michael Moore explores the roots of America's predilection for gun violence.Filmmaker Michael Moore explores the roots of America's predilection for gun violence.

  • Director
    • Michael Moore
  • Writer
    • Michael Moore
  • Stars
    • Michael Moore
    • Charlton Heston
    • Marilyn Manson
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.0/10
    151K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Michael Moore
    • Writer
      • Michael Moore
    • Stars
      • Michael Moore
      • Charlton Heston
      • Marilyn Manson
    • 903User reviews
    • 154Critic reviews
    • 72Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 39 wins & 13 nominations total

    Videos2

    Bowling for Columbine
    Trailer 2:07
    Bowling for Columbine
    Bowling For Columbine: Epk
    Featurette 3:11
    Bowling For Columbine: Epk
    Bowling For Columbine: Epk
    Featurette 3:11
    Bowling For Columbine: Epk

    Photos47

    View Poster
    View Poster
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    + 43
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    Top cast84

    Edit
    Michael Moore
    Michael Moore
    • Self - Narrator
    Charlton Heston
    Charlton Heston
    • Self
    Marilyn Manson
    Marilyn Manson
    • Self
    Salvador Allende
    Salvador Allende
    • Self - President of Chile
    • (archive footage)
    Mike Bradley
    • Self - Mayor of Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
    Arthur A. Busch
    • Self - County Prosecutor: Flint, Michigan
    • (as Arthur Busch)
    George Bush
    George Bush
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    George W. Bush
    George W. Bush
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Michael Caldwell
    • Self - Police Detective
    Richard Castaldo
    Richard Castaldo
    • Self - Columbine Victim
    Dick Clark
    Dick Clark
    • Self
    Bill Clinton
    Bill Clinton
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Steve Davis
    • Self - Deputy Sheriff
    • (archive footage)
    Ngo Dinh Diem
    Ngo Dinh Diem
    • Self - President of South Vietnam
    • (archive footage)
    Mike Epstein
    • Self - Shopper in Mall
    Joe Farmer
    • Self - Superintendent of Schools
    • (archive footage)
    Denny Fennell
    • Self - Home Security Consultant
    Barry Glassner
    • Self - Author of 'The Culture of Fear'
    • (as Prof. Barry Glassner)
    • Director
      • Michael Moore
    • Writer
      • Michael Moore
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews903

    8.0151.3K
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    Featured reviews

    10octomagneto

    A movie that should be mandatory for all politicians

    Yes Mr. Moore may lean left, and yes he may not be the most objective documentarian.

    However the facts stand: America has many, many more deaths attributed to guns than any other nation. It's a sad truth.

    Unfortunately Mr. Moore has been vilified for asking why. And typical of the "head-stuck-in- the-sand" mentality of the far right, they are angry for his work, not at the facts.

    This movie is well done and if you're left, right, in-between, gun nut, or responsible gun owner it is definitely worth viewing.

    I suspect most of the negative comments posted about this movie at IMDB and similar sites are by people who haven't seen the movie. They're just angry at what they perceive the movie to be.

    It isn't a movie about gun control. It's a movie that merely ask why so many deaths.

    Enjoy.
    9cbudtz

    The key to understanding the american dream (or nightmare?)

    This movie makes me feel that it is the first time i just remotely understand the American society. Michael Moore explores the darkest side of America - the society built on fear. Fear of terrorists, fear of the coloureds fear of your neighbor. It appears that americans have lost perspective, not noticing the real dangers of life: pollution, traffic, e.t.c. With TV-channels telling stories only about violence and terrorism and populistic politicians scaring people to vote for them Americans trust only in themselves.

    Michael Moore tries with this movie to make the Americans consider and think for themselves being rationals, and to tell the rest of the world how the American society works. Really something to think about... See it, its necessary
    9billcr12

    Moore Strikes Again

    The two high school students made infamous for their rampage at Columbine were rumored to have been at a bowling class at the school the morning of the shooting. It turned out to be urban legend, but Moore kept the catchy title, anyway. There seems to be no in between in regards to the filmmaker. I flat out love his work, all the way back to Roger and Me, and his TV shows, TV Nation and The Awful Truth. Here he takes on the NRA and Charleton Heston, or Moses, as he is best remembered, as he was the chief spokesman for the gun rights organization. As a gun owner, living in a secluded area, even I recognize the need for proper screenings and some restrictions on firearms.

    As usual, Moore uses sardonic humor to make his point. At a bank in Colorado, he is given a hunting rifle for purchasing a CD. As he leaves the bank with the weapon, he asks, don't you think it's a little dangerous handing out guns at a bank? The high point is when Moore interviews Heston, asking him about the high level of gun violence, and Chuck answers that the reason is "race mixing" in America. This was seen by some as an ambush; I see it as Moore capturing the actors true feelings, and they are frightening. RIP Charlie boy.

    Bowling for Columbine is both informative and entertaining, and Moore is our best documentary filmmaker. Look out, Dittoheads, the truth hurts.
    9evanston_dad

    Hard to Disagree with the Point Even If You Don't Like the Artist

    Michael Moore's incendiary film about America and its gun culture.

    Moore uses the Columbine school massacre as an opportunity to discourse upon the subject of why tragedies like that one are so much more prevalent in America than anywhere else. His thesis, that America promotes a culture of fear and violence, is hard to refute, even if you disagree with his methods. Like all of Moore's films, "Bowling for Columbine" is fantastically entertaining, and also enraging. His version of America is one that I'm ashamed to live in.

    Moore won the 2002 Oscar for Best Documentary Feature, and then eliminated the chance that he'll ever win again by ranting against then President Bush in his acceptance speech in one of the Academy's most infamous moments.

    Grade: A
    9shadow-max

    difference feeling about guns in the US and China

    I like Michael Moore's documentaries. Bowling for Columbine seems a little successful than Fahrenheit 9/11 for me. The background is the shooting violence affair in Columbia High School. Michael figured it out through different attitude of US citizens about this violence affair. He made issues of guns as the original problem in US violence.

    In my personal opinion, this movie revealed that people transit a mood of insecurity. And all these bad things came from guns. Due to the idea throughout seemed to be the inherent evil with guns it was obvious from the questions asked that this isn't really true. Maybe there is a possibility, which shows American gun culture that people have their right and freedom to protect themselves, even they have power to fight against government in order to press somebody powerful. As a Chinese, I think if this gun-allowed policy was used in China, it will be a worse trouble, since Chinese government was controlled by only one party, their policy serviced for themselves, there are a lot of unstable things in society. If people have right to use guns, killing will happen everywhere.

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    Related interests

    The Fight (2020)
    Political Documentary
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
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    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Because the film didn't fit neatly into any established categories at Cannes, the Jury created a special 55th Anniversary Award just for the film.
    • Goofs
      The film claims that that Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold attended a bowling class on the morning of the massacre. This is incorrect as testified in a judicial review.
    • Quotes

      Michael Moore: If you were to talk directly to the kids at Columbine or the people in that community, what would you say to them if they were here right now?

      Marilyn Manson: I wouldn't say a single word to them. I would listen to what they have to say, and that's what no one did.

    • Crazy credits
      In the credits, there is a thank-you to Mike's Militia--Athens Branch. This does not exist; during his speaking engagement at Ohio University to promote his book "Stupid White Men", Michael Moore screened two versions of the "History of gun control" animated segment, which featured the same animation but different narration. The audience was asked to vote on which of the two versions should be included. After choosing a version, Moore claimed he would include Athens, Ohio and the audience in the credits, but wasn't sure what name to give credit to. Several suggestions were shouted out and Mike Michigan Militia, Athens, Ohio branch was finally chosen.
    • Alternate versions
      In the theatrical release, a caption was inserted into a 1988 Bush-Quayle ad, "Revolving Doors," which read "Willie Horton released. Then kills again." In the DVD release, the caption reads "Willie Horton released. Then rapes a woman." Neither version makes it clear that the text was not part of the original ad.
    • Connections
      Edited from Peasants' Paradise (1931)
    • Soundtracks
      Take the Skinheads Bowling
      (1985)

      Written by Victor Krummenacher, David Lowery, Christopher Molla, and

      Jonathan Segel

      Performed by Teenage Fanclub

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    FAQ19

    • How long is Bowling for Columbine?Powered by Alexa
    • What are the clips shown during "Happiness Is a Warm Gun?"

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 15, 2002 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Canada
      • Germany
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Masacre en Columbine
    • Filming locations
      • Windsor, Ontario, Canada
    • Production companies
      • United Artists
      • Alliance Atlantis Communications
      • Salter Street Films International
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $4,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $21,576,018
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $209,148
      • Oct 13, 2002
    • Gross worldwide
      • $58,015,923
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h(120 min)
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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