Bowfinger

PG-13

Released Aug 13, 1999

1h 37m

Comedy

List

81%

Tomatometer

113 Reviews

61%

Audience Score

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 ingenue (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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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Entertaining, great actors but not a home run.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 22, 2010

Full Review

Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

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

Feb 2, 2009

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

This is enjoyable but thin, which is no doubt what was intended.

Feb 27, 2008

Full Review

Cory Woodroof

For the Win (USA Today)

The film relies heavily on the chemistry Murphy and Martin have together, and the former’s uncanny ability to disappear into multiple roles blended well with the Hollywood shenanigans.

Jul 8, 2024

Full Review

Chuck Klosterman

Akron Beacon Journal

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.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 26, 2023

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

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.

Aug 19, 2023

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Rishi M

a very funny comedy must watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/02/24

Full Review

Diger 4

The movie was good funny action packed and loved the actors robert Downey jr also Eddie Murphy great see NOW

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/24/23

Full Review

Daniel M

Somehow I missed this one when it released and I was surprised how fun and original the story was. Great concept and the characters were great!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/07/23

Full Review

Josh D

Underrated film. Heavenly God!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/07/23

Full Review

Pam K

This is one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. I was laughing so hard at the scene were Eddie Murphy's character is supposed to run across the 134 fwy I almost fell off the sofa. Great satire as well as to the non-morals of Hollywood.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/11/23

Full Review

Scofield S

One of the funniest movies I have seen.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/01/23

Full Review

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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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Bowfinger: Official Clip - Buck the Wonder Slave