Bowfinger

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Bowfinger

PG-13

1999

1h 37m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

108 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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Jacob W

@RT17896586 Oct 22, 2026

This is an underrated film that depicts life in Hollywood as a director and what it takes to make a movie. Written by the great SM he illustrates this show well in the lead character. This to me was his comeback and while it may have gone under the radar it is a great performance. What makes this even more great is SM is opposite Eddie M who up until this had not had the comeback for a while. Both are very funny and I would have liked more films with these giants of comedy but nothing. For now at least watch these masters of comedy at their best.

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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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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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