Opening

78% Fast & Furious 6 May 24
—— The Hangover Part III May 23
—— Epic May 24
95% Before Midnight May 24
100% We Steal Secrets: The Story Of Wikileaks May 24
—— Fill the Void May 24
—— A Green Story May 24
—— Alyce Kills May 24

Top Box Office

86% Star Trek Into Darkness $70.2M
78% Iron Man 3 $35.8M
49% The Great Gatsby $23.9M
46% Pain & Gain $3.2M
69% The Croods $3.0M
77% 42 $2.8M
56% Oblivion $2.3M
98% Mud $2.2M
37% Peeples $2.2M
8% The Big Wedding $1.2M

Coming Soon

—— After Earth May 31
—— Now You See Me May 31
88% The East May 31
100% The Kings of Summer May 31

Bowling for Columbine (2002)

tomatometer

96

Average Rating: 8.2/10
Reviews Counted: 162
Fresh: 156 | Rotten: 6

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

94

Average Rating: 7.7/10
Critic Reviews: 33
Fresh: 31 | Rotten: 2

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

audience

81

liked it
Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 181,319

My Rating

Movie Info

Filmmaker, author, and political activist Michael Moore trains his satirical eye on America's obsession with guns and violence in his third feature-length documentary, which gets its title from a pair of loosely related incidents. On April 20, 1999, shortly before they began their infamous killing spree at Columbine High School in Littleton, CO, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold attended their favorite class, a no-credit bowling course held at a bowling alley near the school, the same bowling alley

Aug 19, 2003

$21.2M

United Artists Films - Official Site External Icon

Watch It Now

ADVERTISEMENT

All Critics (179) | Top Critics (37) | Fresh (160) | Rotten (6) | DVD (38)

All in all, Mr. Moore has given us a lot to think about in Bowling for Columbine, and he has entertained us royally in the process.

December 19, 2002 Full Review Source: New York Observer
New York Observer
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Fascinating, thought-provoking, often fitfully funny and sometimes devastatingly sad.

November 2, 2002 Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A worthy successor to Roger & Me.

October 31, 2002
Orlando Sentinel
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Bowling for Columbine would never be mistaken for even-handed, but it is at least a sincere attempt to find the source of this country's inability to curb gun violence and murder.

October 26, 2002 Full Review Source: Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A sweeping, sometimes insightful and often funny look at America's culture of violence.

October 26, 2002
Denver Rocky Mountain News
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Gutsy, mandatory viewing.

October 25, 2002 Full Review Source: Sacramento Bee
Sacramento Bee
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Must-see gun violence documentary is brutal.

December 22, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media

Agree with his messages or not, there's no denying the effectiveness of Moore's presentation.

December 30, 2008 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com
TheMovieReport.com

Master movie muckraker Moore retraces the final days of the Columbine shooters, in an alternately sordid and absurd trail that ends up encompassing a culpable media and a wacky gun love culture.

August 1, 2007 Full Review
WBAI Web Radio

For all its gallows humor and choked laughter of disbelief, it feels rather soul-sick and bewildered.

July 23, 2007 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com
eFilmCritic.com

It may be more op-ed than journalistic, but that does not distract from the fact that BFC makes for a thoroughly enjoyable, thought provoking film.

June 21, 2007 Full Review Source: Film Scouts
Film Scouts

Why do Americans seem so inclined to slaughter one another? Once again, Michael Moore has once again waded into some rather murky waters to weigh in on a very thorny subject.

January 12, 2007 Full Review Source: Global Rhythm Magazine
Global Rhythm Magazine

Even if his information is, oh, even 40% false... the ideas he is presenting need to be heard, examined, and reckoned with.

January 15, 2005
Looking Closer

Bowling for dollars

October 11, 2004 Full Review Source: JWR | Comments (6)

Moore's timing couldn't be better aimed for all Americans to search in their heart of hearts and ask why we live in a pathological gun culture.

February 16, 2004 Full Review Source: Boulder Weekly

Audience Reviews for Bowling for Columbine

Michael Moore examines the social climate which resulted in the massacre at Columbine High School, when two socially awkward students armed themselves with automatic weapons and went on a killing spree. Michael Moore is very much a Marmite kind of film maker; people either love or hate him and his one man crusades against the established way of thinking. I personally applaud his willingness to stand up to those who would suppress the truth to promote their own agenda and let's face it, the American corporate system is the biggest propaganda machine in the world so anyone claiming that Moore is "biased" really ought to be taking a closer look at his opposition. In Bowling For Columbine he surprisingly does not point the finger directly at US gun culture (although there has to be something to be said for Chris Rock's ammunition pricing system! If it works for cigarettes...) Instead he examines the economic climate in which the local community had been drained of employment and opportunity, the media's sensationalist, fear-mongering agenda and the lack of hope that the educational system cultivates within the disenfranchised. Occasionally a little heavy handed (ending on a confrontation with Charlton Heston which comes across as the meaningless harassment of an old man was a mistake) but always informative and entertaining.
November 5, 2006
garyX
xGary Xx

Super Reviewer

A terrific portrait of a America full of fears and violence, a great masterpiece by Michael Moore. Fresh.
April 20, 2012
Lucas Martins

Super Reviewer

    1. himself: It was the morning of April 20th 1999, and it was pretty much like any other morning in America. The Farmer did his chores. The milkman made his deliveries. The President bombed another country whose name we couldn't pronounce.
    – Submitted by Gonzalo D (8 months ago)

Discussion Forum

Topic Last Post Replies
Must watch for all americans especially liberals following a violent 2012 4 months ago 1

Latest News on Bowling for Columbine

June 25, 2007:
Michael Moore Talks "Sicko," Heath Care, Edutainment, Cuba
There isn't much middle ground on Michael Moore; his bromide-laden documentaries have earned him...

May 20, 2007:
Cannes Wrap-Up: Michael Moore's Latest And Leo's Global Warming Doc
Michael Moore's latest doc, "Sicko," has stirred up more controversy for the Michigan...

August 14, 2006:
Box Office Wrapup: "Talladega Nights" Stays #1, "Step Up" Surprises
Despite a pair of newcomers close behind in its rearview mirror, Will Ferrell's hit comedy Talladega...

Help | About | Jobs | Critics Submission | API | Licensing | Mobile