Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- dreamy
- pensive
- stylish
- art house movie night
- new york cinema night
What critics said
Critics generally found the film stylish and artistically vivid, with Jeffrey Wright's performance providing its strongest emotional and dramatic force despite concerns about facile biopic conventions and limited depth.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Julian Schnabel, himself a prominent painter, filters Jean-Michel Basquiat's life through an art-world perspective and expressionist imagery.
Basquiat moves from homelessness and graffiti into Andy Warhol's circle, while success costs him friendships, love, and stability.
The story follows Basquiat from street art and Thompkins Square Park into New York galleries, vernissages, and Warhol's social circle.
Critics describe the film as an expressionist portrait, and Schnabel uses a stylish, attention-getting approach to depict Basquiat's artistic identity.
Films like Basquiat, and why
Pollock
shared biographical drama, artistic ambition, urban bohemian milieu, and troubled genius themes
Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon
shared artist biopic structure, volatile creative personality, and psychologically intense independent filmmaking
The Doors
shared rise-and-fall artist narrative, drug addiction, fame, and abrasive art-world atmosphere
Downtown 81
shared downtown new york setting, outsider identity, creative subculture, and independent drama tone
Movie Details
- Director
- Julian Schnabel
- Release Date
- 1996-08-09
- Runtime
- 107 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (327)
Cast
- Jeffrey Wright
- Michael Wincott
- Benicio del Toro
- Claire Forlani
- David Bowie
- Dennis Hopper
- Gary Oldman
- Christopher Walken
- Willem Dafoe
- Jean-Claude La Marre
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, HBO Max
- 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 Basquiat about?
- A gifted homeless graffiti artist enters New York’s elite art world, discovering that fame can consume the friendships and identity that made his work vital.
- What is Basquiat like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Basquiat as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Basquiat violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Basquiat as mild.
- What did critics think of Basquiat?
- Critics generally found the film stylish and artistically vivid, with Jeffrey Wright's performance providing its strongest emotional and dramatic force despite concerns about facile biopic conventions and limited depth.
- Which films are like Basquiat?
- Films with a similar feel include Pollock, Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon, The Doors, and Downtown 81.
- How long is Basquiat?
- Basquiat runs 107 minutes.
- Where can I watch Basquiat?
- In United States, Basquiat streams on fuboTV, HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, HBO Max.
