Overview
A gripping tale of ambition and downfall in the world of drug trafficking.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- charismatic
- cautionary
- nostalgic
- crime movie night
- biographical drama viewing
What critics said
Critics found Johnny Depp's charismatic performance compelling, but generally viewed the familiar crime-biopic formula and sentimental ending as limitations.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
George Jung moves from small-time marijuana dealing to major cocaine trafficking before losing wealth, freedom, and family.
George's fear of his family's bankruptcy drives his pursuit of money, but his success reproduces the losses he sought to avoid.
The film emphasizes Jung's wealth, nightlife, and criminal status while showing the destructive consequences of his choices.
Jung's importing operation places his personal rise within the expanding American cocaine trade and drug culture.
Films like Blow, and why
Goodfellas
shared biographical crime drama, rise-and-fall structure, organized crime, and drug culture
Scarface
shared cocaine trafficking, excess, criminal ambition, and cautionary downfall
American Gangster
shared 1970s drug culture, charismatic criminal protagonists, and doomed ambition
The Wolf of Wall Street
shared flamboyant crime biopic form, drug trafficking, and morally compromised antihero
Movie Details
- Director
- Ted Demme
- Release Date
- 2001-04-04
- Runtime
- 124 min
- Rating
- 7.4 / 10 (4705)
Cast
- Johnny Depp
- Penélope Cruz
- Franka Potente
- Rachel Griffiths
- Ray Liotta
- Jordi Mollà
- Cliff Curtis
- Paul Reubens
- Miguel Sandoval
- Max Perlich
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Blow about?
- A charismatic American smuggler builds a cocaine empire to escape poverty, only to discover that wealth cannot protect the family he keeps sacrificing.
- What is Blow like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Blow as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Blow violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Blow as mild.
- What did critics think of Blow?
- Critics found Johnny Depp's charismatic performance compelling, but generally viewed the familiar crime-biopic formula and sentimental ending as limitations.
- Which films are like Blow?
- Films with a similar feel include Goodfellas, Scarface, American Gangster, and The Wolf of Wall Street.
- How long is Blow?
- Blow runs 124 minutes.
- Where can I watch Blow?
- In United States, Blow is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
