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Bowfinger

  • 1999
  • PG-13
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
76K
YOUR RATING
Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy in Bowfinger (1999)
Prince Akeem is set to return in 'Coming 2 America' on Prime Video, and it's only fitting that we royally declare the essential films you can stream now to experience the dynamic career of the one-and-only Eddie Murphy.
Play clip3:31
Watch The Essential Films of Eddie Murphy to Stream Now
3 Videos
99+ Photos
SatireComedy

When a desperate movie producer fails to get a major star for his bargain-basement film, he decides to shoot the film secretly around him.When a desperate movie producer fails to get a major star for his bargain-basement film, he decides to shoot the film secretly around him.When a desperate movie producer fails to get a major star for his bargain-basement film, he decides to shoot the film secretly around him.

  • Director
    • Frank Oz
  • Writer
    • Steve Martin
  • Stars
    • Steve Martin
    • Eddie Murphy
    • Heather Graham
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    76K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Frank Oz
    • Writer
      • Steve Martin
    • Stars
      • Steve Martin
      • Eddie Murphy
      • Heather Graham
    • 413User reviews
    • 115Critic reviews
    • 73Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 6 nominations total

    Videos3

    Bowfinger
    Trailer 2:14
    Bowfinger
    The Essential Films of Eddie Murphy to Stream Now
    Clip 3:31
    The Essential Films of Eddie Murphy to Stream Now
    The Essential Films of Eddie Murphy to Stream Now
    Clip 3:31
    The Essential Films of Eddie Murphy to Stream Now
    Bowfinger: Steve Martin Gets Eddie Murphy To Run Across The Freeway
    Clip 3:10
    Bowfinger: Steve Martin Gets Eddie Murphy To Run Across The Freeway

    Photos174

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    Top cast49

    Edit
    Steve Martin
    Steve Martin
    • Bowfinger
    Eddie Murphy
    Eddie Murphy
    • Kit Ramsey…
    Heather Graham
    Heather Graham
    • Daisy
    Christine Baranski
    Christine Baranski
    • Carol
    Jamie Kennedy
    Jamie Kennedy
    • Dave
    Barry Newman
    Barry Newman
    • Kit's Agent
    Ana-Sofia Mastroianna
    Ana-Sofia Mastroianna
    • Afrim
    • (as a different name)
    Kohl Sudduth
    Kohl Sudduth
    • Slater
    Terence Stamp
    Terence Stamp
    • Terry Stricter
    Robert Downey Jr.
    Robert Downey Jr.
    • Jerry Renfro
    Alejandro Patiño
    Alejandro Patiño
    • Sanchez
    • (as Alejandro Patino)
    Alfred De Contreras
    • Martinez
    Ramiro Fabian
    • Hector
    Johnny Sanchez
    Johnny Sanchez
    • Luis
    Claude Brooks
    Claude Brooks
    • Freddy
    Kevin Scannell
    Kevin Scannell
    • LA Cop
    John Prosky
    John Prosky
    • MindHead Executive
    Michael Dempsey
    Michael Dempsey
    • Camera Security Guard
    • Director
      • Frank Oz
    • Writer
      • Steve Martin
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Eddie Murphy Through the Years

    Eddie Murphy Through the Years

    From Reggie Hammond in 48 Hrs. to Chris Carver in Candy Cane Lane, take a look back at the iconic career of Eddie Murphy.
    See the gallery
    Production art
    Photos

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Eddie Murphy ad-libbed the line "You're doing great! You're going to be a star." in the scene where Daisy is topless.
    • Goofs
      When reviewing a script with his agent at the beginning of the movie, Kit says that the letter K appears 1,456 times in the script, which is perfectly divisible by 3, meaning that KKK appears 486 times. 1,456 is not exactly divisible by 3. 1,458, however, is, and gives the stated division result of 486. This could be an intentional error to jokingly suggest that Kit has poor math skills.
    • Quotes

      Kit: White boys always get the Oscar. It's a known fact. Did I ever get a nomination? No! You know why? Cause I hadn't played any of them slave roles, and get my ass whipped. That's how you get the nomination. A black dude who plays a slave that gets his ass whipped gets the nomination, a white guy who plays an idiot gets the Oscar. That's what I need, I need to play a retarded slave, then I'll get the Oscar.

    • Crazy credits
      After the last credits roll, Kit's line, "I saved the world! I saved it," can be heard.
    • Alternate versions
      The "Deleted Scenes" on the Blu-ray/DVD releases contain:
      • A much longer version of the "this script, this masterpiece" scene, in which a Martin monologue explains why an accountant would write a sci-fi script. His first script, about the exciting world of accounting, was rejected in favor of something that at least has aliens in it. The title is "Star Wars", but that will have to be changed.
      • Another scene features the most advent-grade dry-cleaning place you'll ever see, explaining better the "Kit's dry cleaning" material later on.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: The Sixth Sense/Mystery Men/The Thomas Crown Affair/Bowfinger/Dick (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      There Is Always One More Time
      Written by Kenneth W. Hirsh, Doc Pomus

      Performed by Johnny Adams

      Courtesy of Rounder Records

      By Arrangement with Ocean Park Music Group

    User reviews413

    Featured review
    8/10

    great Hollywood satire

    Bobby Bowfinger (Steve Martin) is a Z-list producer who lies, steals and schemes to make a movie out of a script written by his accountant. He gets A-list Hollywood producer Jerry Renfro to greenlight the script if he could get superstar Kit Ramsey (Eddie Murphy) to do the movie. Kit kicks Bobby out of his car but Bobby promises his crew that Kit agrees to do the movie. His idea is to shoot the movie without telling Kit. Soon his actors are approaching Kit on the street with strange dialog. He hires hungry newcomer Daisy (Heather Graham), actress Carol (Christine Baranski), Kit lookalike Jiff (Eddie Murphy) who turns out to be Kit's brother and the cheapest crew possible. Kit is a crazed narcissist who finds counsel from Mindhead leader Terry Stricter (Terence Stamp). When actors keep approaching him with weird dialog, he starts to suspect that aliens are really after him.

    This is simply a brilliant satire. Bowfinger is sleazy but with a heart. He just wants so badly to make a movie. Steve Martin is such a charming lead. I love Daisy sleeping her way up the Hollywood ladder. This is two of Eddie Murphy's best performances. The movie is hilarious. Every other scene hits it with big laughs.
    • SnoopyStyle
    • Sep 26, 2015
    • Permalink

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    FAQ19

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 13, 1999 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Bowfinger, el director chiflado
    • Filming locations
      • Pacific Design Center - 8687 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, California, USA(Mind Head HQ)
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Imagine Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $55,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $66,384,775
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $18,062,550
      • Aug 15, 1999
    • Gross worldwide
      • $98,625,775
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 37 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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