American Movie
A funny, intimate portrait of a Milwaukee dreamer battling debt, doubt, and personal chaos to finish his homemade horror film.
Overview
A struggling filmmaker's quest for the American dream becomes a humorous and poignant journey of self-discovery.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- irreverent
- warm
- lazy sunday
- filmmaker inspiration
What critics said
Critics broadly praised its sharply observed, funny, and emotionally resonant portrait of obsessive DIY filmmaking and American aspiration.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The camera tracks Mark Borchardt over three years as he recruits collaborators, raises money, and struggles to complete Coven.
Mark relies on relatives, local theater talent, slacker friends, borrowed effort, and personal credit to produce his film.
Mark frames his small Milwaukee production as an American dream while confronting unfinished work, debt, family dysfunction, and self-doubt.
The film situates Mark's filmmaking struggle in northwest Milwaukee and presents his ambition as a distinctly American aspiration.
Films like American Movie, and why
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters
shares documentary realism, eccentric creative ambition, and affectionate humor about people pursuing improbable artistic goals
Crumb
shares intimate documentary observation, outsider obsession, and bittersweet comic treatment of American aspiration
American Splendor
shares DIY filmmaking, self-reflexive documentary form, and chaotic artistic persistence
Hands on a Hardbody
shares warm, funny nonfiction portraiture centered on determined outsiders and unconventional ambition
Movie Details
- Director
- Chris Smith
- Release Date
- 1999-11-05
- Runtime
- 104 min
- Rating
- 7.6 / 10 (291)
Cast
- Mark Borchardt
- Mike Schank
- Tom Schimmels
- Monica Borchardt
- Alex Borchardt
- Chris Borchardt
- Ken Keen
- Matt Weisman
- Bill Borchardt
- Cliff Borchardt
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 American Movie about?
- A funny, intimate portrait of a Milwaukee dreamer battling debt, doubt, and personal chaos to finish his homemade horror film.
- What is American Movie like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of American Movie as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is American Movie violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in American Movie as mild.
- What did critics think of American Movie?
- Critics broadly praised its sharply observed, funny, and emotionally resonant portrait of obsessive DIY filmmaking and American aspiration.
- Which films are like American Movie?
- Films with a similar feel include The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters, Crumb, American Splendor, and Hands on a Hardbody.
- How long is American Movie?
- American Movie runs 104 minutes.
- Where can I watch American Movie?
- In United States, American Movie is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
