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Bowling for Columbine

Play trailer Poster for Bowling for Columbine R 2002 2h 0m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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95% Tomatometer 172 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
Political documentary filmmaker Michael Moore explores the circumstances that lead to the 1999 Columbine High School massacre and, more broadly, the proliferation of guns and the high homicide rate in America. In his trademark provocative fashion, Moore accosts Kmart corporate employees and pleads with them to stop selling bullets, investigates why Canada doesn't have the same excessive rate of gun violence and questions actor Charlton Heston on his support of the National Rifle Association.
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Bowling for Columbine

Bowling for Columbine

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Critics Consensus

Though it may not always convince, Bowling for Columbine asks important questions and provokes thought.

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Critics Reviews

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Olivia B. Waxman TIME Magazine 09/19/2024
The filmmaker Michael Moore seeks to explain how the massacre could occur, and why gun deaths are so much higher in the U.S. than in other countries, he’s not afraid to confront high-profile figures. Go to Full Review Joshua Rothkopf In These Times 03/16/2020
Readers of these pages need no introduction to Michael Moore, nor will they require any acrobatics on my part to go see Bowling for Columbine, which is (brace yourselves) pretty terrific. Go to Full Review Nell Minow Common Sense Media 12/22/2010
4/5
Must-see gun violence documentary is brutal. Go to Full Review Andrew Collins Radio Times 06/07/2024
5/5
Bowling for Columbine urges you to think about what patriotism really means. Go to Full Review Savina Petkova A Good Movie To Watch 10/29/2023
8.6/10
No one vivisects the shortcomings of America better than Michael Moore. Go to Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review 03/14/2022
2.5/4
The film's continued relevance is impossible to ignore. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 07/07/2025 Real footage in 2 hours, 00 minutes, and 00 seconds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated R for Some Violent Images and Language!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $21,200,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Copyright 2002-2025 by Amazon MGM Studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Bahad j @RT27093708 08/10/2024 I really liked the characters and actions of the actors See more Geke g @RT40239519 08/01/2024 Once again. Micheal did a great job See more Cole N @RT62025989 04/02/2024 This documentary is biased in the fact that it exclusively tells one side of the story of gun violence in America. But it tells this side with both concerning and eye-opening detail. Moore transparently and powerfully appeals to the emotions of the audience, for one. This transparency is most evident and admirable, though, as he confronts the former NRA president and the K-Mart corporate headquarters, pleading for answers. Moore aptly focuses on the fear factor as that which is the drive to own guns in America, while pointing out the hypocrisy and denial of those that refuse to see the problem. Moore also does well to highlight the class disparities and the wealthy aloofness that only exacerbates this issue. See more Thomas S @RT53929595 03/19/2024 Very puzzling, I wouldn't live in the USA especially after seeing this. The showdown with Heston was upright epic! See more Mauro L @Mauro_Lanari 02/09/2024 (Mauro Lanari) Moore could have avoided lingering on the problem by summarizing it with the acronym WASP. Some unexpected and unpredictable moments of utter absurdity are unparalleled ("What's bowling class?" "Just an elective you can take for a gym credit" "Where's the educational value of this, though?" "I guess there isn't really any"). Marilyn Manson, the phenomenon of that era, has given way to Taylor Swift's embodied algorithm. See more Read all reviews
Bowling for Columbine

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Cast & Crew

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Michael Moore

Director

Michael Moore

Narrator

George W. Bush

Self

Dick Clark

Self

Charlton Heston

Self

Marilyn Manson

Self

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Bowling for Columbine

Michael Moore, director of BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE. A scene from Michael Moore's BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE. A scene from Michael Moore's BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE. A scene from Michael Moore's BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE. A scene from Michael Moore's BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE. A scene from Michael Moore's BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE. A scene from Michael Moore's BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE. A scene from Michael Moore's BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE. A scene from Michael Moore's BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE. A scene from Michael Moore's BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Political documentary filmmaker Michael Moore explores the circumstances that lead to the 1999 Columbine High School massacre and, more broadly, the proliferation of guns and the high homicide rate in America. In his trademark provocative fashion, Moore accosts Kmart corporate employees and pleads with them to stop selling bullets, investigates why Canada doesn't have the same excessive rate of gun violence and questions actor Charlton Heston on his support of the National Rifle Association.
Director
Michael Moore
Producer
Charles Bishop, Jim Czarnecki, Michael Donovan, Kathleen Glynn, Michael Moore
Screenwriter
Michael Moore
Distributor
United Artists
Production Co
Dog Eat Dog Films, Salter Street Films International, United Broadcasting Inc.
Rating
R (Some Violent Images|Language)
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 11, 2002, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 17, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$21.2M
Runtime
2h 0m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby Stereo
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