Bottle Shock

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2:23

Bottle Shock

PG-13

2008

1h 50m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

48%

Tomatometer

122 Reviews

59%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Paris-based wine expert Steven Spurrier heads to California in search of cheap wine that he can use for a blind taste test in the French capital. Stumbling upon the Napa Valley, the stuck-up Englishman is shocked to discover a winery turning out top-notch Chardonnay. Determined to make a name for himself, he sets about getting the booze back to Paris.

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Critics Consensus

Bottle Shock fails to properly utilize the inspiring true tale at its core, settling instead for an ordinary, plodding account.

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David Stratton

The Australian

Apr 10, 2009

2.5/5

As a rather strenuous attempt at a feel-good movie, Bottle Shock falls a long way short of the mark.

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Paul Byrnes

Sydney Morning Herald

Apr 3, 2009

3.5/5

It's not in the same league as Sideways but it has a fragrant sense of the beauty of wine and winemaking, not just the drinking.

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Jim Schembri

The Age (Australia)

Mar 27, 2009

3.5/5

Rickman is priceless as the self-parodying wine snob, stealing every scene he is in by continually pulling the rug from under himself.

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Felicia Feaster

Charleston City Paper

Jan 27, 2020

[A]necdotally interesting, but artistically underwhelming.

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Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

Nov 7, 2019

[K]ick back and relax and take a sip of BOTTLE SHOCK. It will linger on your palette long after the curtain falls.

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Nikki Baughan

Roll Credits

Oct 31, 2019

4/5

[A] film that acknowledges the passion, dedication and commitment of those owner/growers who keep our wine cellars, cupboards and fridges stocked and, to that end, it's worth a tipple.

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Gene B

@GeneBrissie Sep 12, 2026

A pale reflection of a movie like A Good Year. Cast is good, including the late, great Alan Rickman, but the humor is lowbrow. Avoid unless you have nothing better to watch.

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Bruce E

@RT62730390 Jul 26, 2026

I cant believe this movie has such a low rating. It is absolutely fantastic. I loved it.

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Grady H.

@Grady Feb 7, 2026

This is a great movie! Forget that Ii is not 100 or 60 per cent correct! What movie is? Watch the movie! There’s no action p o r n! It’s cute! A classic clash of cultures!

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Karl N

@RT02655090 Dec 24, 2025

Can’t believe the rating. This was a very enjoyable movie. Good characters, well acted, fun story.

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Nathan J.

@TribianiRamoray Oct 30, 2025

Rating: 6.5/10 Bottle Shock is a charming, sunny underdog story with a fantastic cast and a wonderful true story. The film is a light, enjoyable dramedy with a great classic rock soundtrack. Highlights - Compelling True Story: The "Judgment of Paris" story is a perfect setup for a crowd-pleasing underdog movie. - Fantastic Cast: Alan Rickman, Bill Pullman, and Chris Pine deliver standout performances. - Beautiful Cinematography: The film captures the sun-drenched beauty of Napa Valley. Criticisms - Formulaic Screenplay: The plot is predictable and relies on tired clichés. - Underdeveloped Characters: Supporting characters feel generic and underdeveloped. Verdict Bottle Shock is a charming, enjoyable piece of feel-good entertainment. It's a perfect, light, and sunny film to watch with a good glass of wine.

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Melissa R.

@kickpigeon Jul 4, 2025

Entertaining story and pretty scenery with a couple of great actors. A few really dumb scenes drag it down, but far from sinking the ship.

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Randall Miller

Director

Alan Rickman

Steven Spurrier

Chris Pine

Bo Barrett

Bill Pullman

Jim Barrett

Rachael Taylor

Sam

Freddy Rodríguez

Gustavo

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Synopsis

Paris-based wine expert Steven Spurrier heads to California in search of cheap wine that he can use for a blind taste test in the French capital. Stumbling upon the Napa Valley, the stuck-up Englishman is shocked to discover a winery turning out top-notch Chardonnay. Determined to make a name for himself, he sets about getting the booze back to Paris.

Director: Randall Miller
Producer: J. Todd Harris, Brenda Lhormer, Marc Toberoff, Randall Miller, Jody Savin, Marc Lhormer
Screenwriter: Jody Savin, Randall Miller, Ross Schwartz
Distributor: Freestyle Releasing
Production Co: Zin Haze Productions, Unclaimed Freight, Intellectual Properties Worldwide (I), Shocking Bottle
Rating: PG-13 (Brief Strong Language|A Scene of Drug Use|Some Sexual Content)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 6, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 29, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $4.0M
Runtime: 1h 50m

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