Bowling for Columbine

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Bowling for Columbine

R

2002

2h 0m

Documentary

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

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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Critics Consensus

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

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Olivia B. Waxman

TIME Magazine

Sep 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.

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Joshua Rothkopf

In These Times

Mar 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.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Dec 22, 2010

4/5

Must-see gun violence documentary is brutal.

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Andrew Collins

Radio Times

Jun 7, 2024

5/5

Bowling for Columbine urges you to think about what patriotism really means.

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Savina Petkova

A Good Movie To Watch

Oct 29, 2023

8.6/10

No one vivisects the shortcomings of America better than Michael Moore.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Mar 14, 2022

2.5/4

The film's continued relevance is impossible to ignore.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jul 7, 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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Bahad j

@RT27093708 Aug 10, 2024

I really liked the characters and actions of the actors

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Geke g

@RT40239519 Aug 1, 2024

Once again. Micheal did a great job

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Cole N

@RT62025989 Apr 2, 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.

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Thomas S

@RT53929595 Mar 19, 2024

Very puzzling, I wouldn't live in the USA especially after seeing this. The showdown with Heston was upright epic!

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Mauro L

@Mauro_Lanari Feb 9, 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.

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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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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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