Bob Roberts

1992, Comedy/Drama, 1h 42m

43 Reviews 5,000+ Ratings

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critics consensus

Behind and in front of the camera, Tim Robbins delivers a landslide comedic victory with Bob Roberts -- a shrewdly crackling lampoon of modern politics. Read critic reviews

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Bob Roberts Photos

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Movie Info

Millionaire conservative Bob Roberts (Tim Robbins) launches an insurgent campaign against incumbent senator Brickley Paiste (Gore Vidal), firing up crowds at his rallies by singing '60s-style acoustic folk songs with lyrics espousing far-right conservative social and economic views. Investigative journalist Bugs Raplin (Giancarlo Esposito) shadows the Roberts campaign, trying to connect Roberts to a drug-trafficking scheme, but an assassination attempt lays suspicion on both men.
  • Rating:
    R
  • Genre:
    Comedy, Drama
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Tim Robbins
  • Producer:
    Forrest Murray
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     wide
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $3.5M
  • Runtime:
  • Distributor:
    Pioneer Entertainment, Pathé Contemporary Films, Live Video, Paramount Pictures, Artisan Entertainment
  • Sound Mix:
    Stereo, Dolby, Surround

Cast & Crew

Tim Robbins
Bob Roberts
Giancarlo Esposito
Bugs Raplin
Ray Wise
Chet MacGregor
Brian Murray
Terry Manchester
Gore Vidal
Senator Brickley Paiste
Rebecca Jenkins
Delores Perrigrew
Harry Lennix
Franklin Dockett
John Ottavino
Clark Anderson
Robert Stanton
Bart Macklerooney
Kelly Willis
Clarissa Flan
Tim Robbins
Director
Tim Bevan
Executive Producer
Ronna B. Wallace
Executive Producer
Paul Webster
Executive Producer
Forrest Murray
Producer
David Robbins
Original Music
Tim Robbins
Original Music
Jean Lépine
Cinematography
Lisa Zeno Churgin
Film Editing
Douglas Aibel
Casting
Richard Hoover
Production Design
Gary Kosko
Art Director
Brian Kasch
Set Decoration
Bridget Kelly
Costume Design
Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Bob Roberts

All Critics (43) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (41) | Rotten (2)
Full Review… Clifford Terry Chicago Tribune Full Review… Kenneth Turan Los Angeles Times Full Review… David Ansen Newsweek Full Review… Anthony Lane Independent (UK) Full Review… Derek Smith Slant Magazine Full Review… Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Full Review… David Sterritt Christian Science Monitor Full Review… Malcolm Johnson Hartford Courant Full Review… Heather Boerner Common Sense Media Full Review… Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Full Review… Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Full Review… Caffeinated Clint Moviehole
View All Critic Reviews (43)

Audience Reviews for Bob Roberts

  • Jun 25, 2017
    Gets a bit too peachy at times, but overall the political commentary and satire play well (arguably even more so now than in '92).
    Alec B Super Reviewer
  • Feb 14, 2013
    Decent American political satire which sadly lacks teeth.
    Marcus W Super Reviewer
  • Jan 17, 2012
    Bob Roberts is a hilarious political satire mockumentary, relating the events of a fictional senatorial campaign. Despite coming out in 1992, many of the issues it brings up are surprisingly timely (occurring in the midst of the Gulf War), it has a lot of interesting (if not unfamiliar) things to say on our political system. The film's politics are driven by liberal-cliches, but it's done in a smart way that mocks the overall system rather than one party, and does so with some poignant thoughts from the great Gore Vidal (who also stars in the film). By far the best things about the film is the unbelievable cast filled with cameos from the top actors of the 90s (James Spader, John Cusack, etc), but also a number of laugh out loud lines such as: "Don't smoke crack. It's a ghetto drug." "I could use a strong finisher myself sometimes "
    Jeffrey M Super Reviewer
  • Jan 20, 2011
    I hate these boring political dramas that try to be slightly satirical, as if that's going to entertain people. Politics is so boring, and this movie doesn't do anything (except maybe adding Rickman as eye candy) to make the audience interested in it. It's not one of the worst movies out there, but I really didn't care for it.
    Aj V Super Reviewer
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