Bowfinger

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Bowfinger

PG-13

1999

1h 37m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

110 Reviews

61%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

On the verge of bankruptcy and desperate for his big break, aspiring filmmaker Bobby Bowfinger (Steve Martin) concocts a crazy plan to make his ultimate dream movie. Rallying a ragtag team that includes a starry-eyed ingénue (Heather Graham), a has-been diva (Christine Baranski) and a film studio gofer (Jamie Kennedy), he sets out to shoot a blockbuster featuring the biggest star in Hollywood, Kit Ramsey (Eddie Murphy) -- only without letting Ramsey know he's in the picture.

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Critics Consensus

A witty commentary on modern film-making, with enough jokes to keep it entertaining throughout.

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Xan Brooks

Independent (UK)

Dec 20, 2024

Breathless and breakneck, Bowfinger marks a rousing return to form for writer-star Martin.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Dec 22, 2010

3/5

Entertaining, great actors but not a home run.

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Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

Feb 2, 2009

The best thing about Bowfinger is the way the script by Steve Martin is tooled to his own and Murphy's comic strengths.

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Chuck Klosterman

Akron Beacon Journal

Oct 26, 2023

3/4

Bowfinger is a terrifically witty movie that skewers all the right targets. It's self-referential and geared toward movie buffs, but it's not so insular that you need an in-depth knowledge of the industry to get the jokes.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Aug 19, 2023

Steve Martin's tribute to shoestring filmmaking and big-screen dreams is a loving lampoon that gamely straddles the chasm between cynical con-artistry and benign innocence.

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Alex Behan

The Post NZ

May 28, 2021

Martin makes a perfect delusional meglomaniac and Murphy's double act still plays really well.

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Jerod S

@jeroduptown Oct 1, 2026

Martin takes a lot of stabs at the movie industry. Maybe I was too late to the game to pick up on all the humor...

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A P.

@FilmFan4547 Jun 10, 2026

One of the funniest and most inventive films about the film industry ever made! Brilliantly hilarious! How this only is rated in the 60% range from the audience reviews is ridiculous!

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Ryan M

@trm.valnas Jan 19, 2026

It seemed over the top at the time, but now a classic. I don't think Steve and Eddie's usual audience was ready for something this ambitious and it might of came off as pretentious judging by the box office. I really feel like Eddie elevated himself in this one. The gimmick of him playing two characters in a movie wasn't novel, but in this case it really worked. They were two convincingly good performances and he carried and ensemble over a lot of ground. Harkening back to Sellers in this one rather than all the hamfisted kid comedies with fart jokes.

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Giancarlo Z

@Giantcarlot Dec 21, 2025

I think this might be the most underrated Eddie Murphy movie. So funny and I love the ending.

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bob c

@RT46426964 Aug 4, 2025

Junk, Steve Martin style. About a Steve Martin type in the movie business dealing with a post peak Eddie Murphy type, doubled. Still junk tho.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 May 29, 2025

The worldwide gross is $98,625,775.00 over a production budget of $55,000,000.00. Difference of $43,625,775.00.

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Frank Oz

Director

Steve Martin

Bobby Bowfinger

Eddie Murphy

Kit Ramsey

Heather Graham

Daisy

Christine Baranski

Carol

Jamie Kennedy

Dave

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Synopsis

On the verge of bankruptcy and desperate for his big break, aspiring filmmaker Bobby Bowfinger (Steve Martin) concocts a crazy plan to make his ultimate dream movie. Rallying a ragtag team that includes a starry-eyed ingénue (Heather Graham), a has-been diva (Christine Baranski) and a film studio gofer (Jamie Kennedy), he sets out to shoot a blockbuster featuring the biggest star in Hollywood, Kit Ramsey (Eddie Murphy) -- only without letting Ramsey know he's in the picture.

Director: Frank Oz
Producer: Brian Grazer
Screenwriter: Steve Martin
Distributor: United International Pictures, MCA/Universal Pictures [us], CIC-Taft Home Video, Filmes Lusomundo, Argentina Video Home
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 13, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 26, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $66.4M
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)

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