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IMDbPro

American Splendor

  • 2003
  • R
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
51K
YOUR RATING
Paul Giamatti in American Splendor (2003)
Home Video Trailer from HBO Home Video
Play trailer2:20
2 Videos
72 Photos
BiographyComedyDrama

An original mix of fiction and reality illuminates the life of comic book hero everyman Harvey Pekar.An original mix of fiction and reality illuminates the life of comic book hero everyman Harvey Pekar.An original mix of fiction and reality illuminates the life of comic book hero everyman Harvey Pekar.

  • Directors
    • Shari Springer Berman
    • Robert Pulcini
  • Writers
    • Harvey Pekar
    • Joyce Brabner
    • Shari Springer Berman
  • Stars
    • Paul Giamatti
    • Shari Springer Berman
    • Harvey Pekar
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    51K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Shari Springer Berman
      • Robert Pulcini
    • Writers
      • Harvey Pekar
      • Joyce Brabner
      • Shari Springer Berman
    • Stars
      • Paul Giamatti
      • Shari Springer Berman
      • Harvey Pekar
    • 236User reviews
    • 193Critic reviews
    • 90Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 31 wins & 50 nominations total

    Videos2

    American Splendor
    Trailer 2:20
    Watch American Splendor
    American Splendor
    Trailer 2:25
    Watch American Splendor

    Photos72

    Paul Giamatti in American Splendor (2003)
    Hope Davis in American Splendor (2003)
    Hope Davis and Paul Giamatti in American Splendor (2003)
    Harvey Pekar in American Splendor (2003)
    Harvey Pekar and Joyce Brabner in American Splendor (2003)
    Judah Friedlander and Paul Giamatti in American Splendor (2003)
    Paul Giamatti and Sylvia Kauders in American Splendor (2003)
    Paul Giamatti in American Splendor (2003)
    Judah Friedlander and Paul Giamatti in American Splendor (2003)
    Judah Friedlander, Paul Giamatti, Harvey Pekar, and Toby Radloff in American Splendor (2003)
    Harvey Pekar and Joyce Brabner at an event for American Splendor (2003)
    Harvey Pekar and Joyce Brabner at an event for American Splendor (2003)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Paul Giamatti
    Paul Giamatti
    • Harvey Pekar
    Shari Springer Berman
    Shari Springer Berman
    • Interviewer
    • (voice)
    Harvey Pekar
    Harvey Pekar
    • Real Harvey
    Chris Ambrose
    • Superman
    Joey Krajcar
    • Batman
    Josh Hutcherson
    Josh Hutcherson
    • Robin
    Cameron Carter
    • Green Lantern
    Daniel Tay
    • Young Harvey
    Mary Faktor
    Mary Faktor
    • Housewife
    Larry John Meyers
    • Throat Doctor
    • (as Larry John Myers)
    Vivienne Benesch
    • Lana
    Barbara Brown
    Barbara Brown
    • Nurse
    Earl Billings
    Earl Billings
    • Mr. Boats
    Danny Hoch
    Danny Hoch
    • Marty
    James Urbaniak
    James Urbaniak
    • Robert Crumb
    Eli Ganias
    Eli Ganias
    • Pahls
    Sylvia Kauders
    Sylvia Kauders
    • Old Jewish Lady
    Rebecca Borger
    • Cashier
    • Directors
      • Shari Springer Berman
      • Robert Pulcini
    • Writers
      • Harvey Pekar
      • Joyce Brabner
      • Shari Springer Berman
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      NBC would not lease out the actual Late Show with David Letterman (1993) footage where Harvey Pekar finally lashed out at David Letterman, so the scene had to be recreated with actors.
    • Goofs
      The scene where Harvey gets stuck behind the old Jewish woman leaves out a detail that would help it make sense.

      In the movie, she says that the glasses are 6 for $2, but she couldn't carry 12 last time,, so they should charge her only $1.50 for the additional 6. There is no explanation as to why she should be charged less.

      In the story from the original comic, she says that the glasses are 6 for $2 or 12 for $3.50, but she couldn't get all 12 last time, so they should charge her only $1.50 for the 6 she is buying now.
    • Quotes

      Real Harvey: I felt more alone that week than any. Sometimes I'd feel a body lying next to me like an amputee feels a phantom limb. All I did was think about Jennie Gerhardt and Alice Quinn and all the decades of people I had known. The more I thought, the more I felt like crying. Life seemed so sweet and so sad, and so hard to let go of in the end. But hey, man, every day is a brand new deal, right? Just keep on working and something's bound to turn up.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Le Divorce/The Housekeeper/American Splendor/Open Range (2003)
    • Soundtracks
      Paniots Nine
      Written by Peter Dolger

      Performed by Joe Maneri

      Courtesy of Avant Records

    User reviews236

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Something different.
    By no means your average true story, American Splendor blends fact with fiction to create a slightly surreal world. Surreal, because it's so down-to-earth. It's a tale about the life of Harvey Pekar, essentially a relative non-entity. His one saving grace is that he writes comic books, the twist being that they're not about superheroes or anything extraordinary. Rather, they're about gritty reality. Pekar is the star of his own stories, and the life he leads, the people he knows and the everyday things he does are the essence of what his stories entail.

    It's a strange story, and to rate it as a movie seems odd, somehow. The guy has led a pretty staple life, and there's nothing in it which elevates him above anyone else. Then again, that's really the point. There are plenty of elements in here which we can all relate to, and consequently, we find ourselves drawn into it. Ultimately it's convincing.

    The acting is generally pretty impressive, particularly from Paul Giamatti as Harvey. Given the real Harvey features in the movie (Hence the blending of fact and fiction) we are able to compare them, and it must be said Giamatti gets it spot on. He does a great job of portraying a grump with a heart. By no means is Pekar ever shown as a mercenary worker, but it's pretty obvious he's one of the good guys; hence another strength here. Because he's shown as wysiwyg, you feel like you either know him, or are him. He's the epitome of your average man, and not even just American.

    It's a quirky subject for a movie, but it certainly works and entertains. It's so ordinary yet surreal that it demands your attention, and it's a worthwhile journey to go on.

    For many people, this movie is a mirror.
    helpful•14
    2
    • Danny_G13
    • Feb 14, 2004

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 12, 2003 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Huy hoàng kiểu Mỹ
    • Filming locations
      • Cleveland, Ohio, USA
    • Production companies
      • Good Machine
      • Dark Horse Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $6,010,990
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $159,705
      • Aug 17, 2003
    • Gross worldwide
      • $7,986,084
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 41 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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