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Bowling for Columbine

2002·Movie
2h 0min·R

Where to watch

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

Bowling for Columbine fingerprint

Funny, immersive world, light on feelings.

Energy

Fast-paced

Fast from start to finish.

  • Fast Pace7
  • Tension6
  • Violence6

Heart

Moving and cathartic

  • Pathos7
  • Catharsis7
  • Melancholy6

Humor

Plenty of satire and dark humor

  • Satire & Parody8
  • Dark Humor7
  • Wit & Wordplay6

World

Society, everyday modern life, and politics

  • Dialogue Centrality9
  • Novelty8
  • World Immersion7

Craft

Standout direction and dialogue

  • Direction8
  • Dialogue Quality8
  • Acting7

Style

Standout editing

  • Editing8
  • Cinematography7
  • Music Composition6

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightParty VibeSolo WatchTeensDrop-in FriendlyThought-Provoking

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Are we a nation of gun nuts or are we just nuts?

This is not a film about gun control. It is a film about the fearful heart and soul of the United States, and the 280 million Americans lucky enough to have the right to a constitutionally protected Uzi. From a look at the Columbine High School security camera tapes to the home of Oscar-winning NRA President Charlton Heston, from a young man who makes homemade napalm with The Anarchist's Cookbook to the murder of a six-year-old girl by another six-year-old. Bowling for Columbine is a journey through the US, through our past, hoping to discover why our pursuit of happiness is so riddled with violence.
American Gun CultureSocial SatireDocumentaryPolitical CommentaryFear and ViolenceDark HumorThought-ProvokingControversialGun Control Debate

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Bowling for Columbine

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Bowling for Columbine legally?

You can watch it free with ads on Tubi TV. You can also rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Bowling for Columbine worth watching?

80
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 81/100 (IMDb 7.9, Rotten Tomatoes 95%, and Metacritic 72). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Bowling for Columbine rated?

RViolenceStrong languageDisturbing imagery

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: violence, strong language, and disturbing imagery.

How long is Bowling for Columbine?

2 h 0 min

Bowling for Columbine runs 2 h 0 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Bowling for Columbine?

Critics84
Audiences79

Yes. Critics average 84 and audiences 79 out of 100, so both groups see Bowling for Columbine much the same way.

Was Bowling for Columbine a box office hit?

Budget$4 million
Box office$36 million

Yes, a big one. It cost about $4 million to make and earned $36 million worldwide, 8.9 times its budget.

What language is Bowling for Columbine in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in Canada, Germany, United States.

In how many countries can I watch Bowling for Columbine?

11ATAUCACHDEGBGGIENLNZUS

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Bowling for Columbine in 11 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Bowling for Columbine use?

Pillow PistolFilm the HandOnly Sane ManMoral GuardiansYour Door Was OpenMean Character, Nice ActorManipulative EditingPop-Cultural OsmosisHive-Mind TestimonialMedia ScaremongeringLies, Damned Lies, and StatisticsShout-Outand 10 more

TV Tropes lists 22 storytelling tropes for Bowling for Columbine, including Pillow Pistol, Film the Hand, Only Sane Man.