Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story

2008 | Biography, Documentary, Politics

Synopsis

The Murrow, Polk, and IDA Award-winning documentary Boogie Man is about Lee Atwater, a blues-playing rogue whose rise from the South to Chairman of the GOP made him a political rock star. He mentored George W. Bush and Karl Rove while leading the Republican party to historic victories, helping make liberal a dirty word, and transforming the way America elects our Presidents. In interviews with Republicans and friends of Atwater, Boogie Man examines his role in America's shift to the right. To Democrats offended by the 1988 Willie Horton controversy, Atwater was a remorseless political assassin dubbed by one Congresswoman "the most evil man in America." The film examines his irreverent sense of humor, his understanding of the American heartland, and his unapologetic vision of politics as war. It ends with a portrait of a cynic's deathbed search for meaning.

Scores

Overall Score
32.4
Popularity Percentile (Year)
17.7%
Box Office Percentile (Year)
21.8%
Review Aggregate
83.8

Critic Consensus

92.9% Fresh • 28 critic reviews

Critic reception is largely positive, with 93% of 28 logged reviews marked Fresh. Across reviews, critics repeatedly emphasize political, character-driven, stylized. Most critics frame the film as an effective delivery of its core style and intent.

politicalcharacter-drivenstylizedgrittyemotionalvisually striking

Cast

CastYearReported SalaryInflation AdjustedNotes
Eric Alterman2008$2,000$3,000(est)

Aggregated Reviews

Rotten Tomatoes critic score93.0
RT critic review count30
Rotten Tomatoes audience score79.0
RT audience rating count250
IMDb rating7.6
IMDb votes856

Box Office ?

CategoryYearReportedInflation Adjusted
Domestic2008$60,332$87,906
International2008N/AN/A
Worldwide2008$60,332$87,906

Earnings / Profitability

Estimated net revenues and net expenses for films based on reported and estimated numbers. This income statement should be considered most viable for the first 24 months after the inital movie's release (ie after most lucrative pay windows).
CategoryYearReportedInflation Adjusted
Revenues
Theatrical Net Revenue2008$30,166$43,953
Digital Rentals ?2008$357,000$520,162
Digital Purchases ?2008$127,000$185,044
Physical Rentals ?2008$2,956,000$4,307,001
Physical Purchases ?2008$6,124,000$8,922,893
TV & Streaming Revenue2008$75,000$109,278
Total Revenues2008$9,669,166$14,088,330
Expenses
Budget ?2008$250,000 (est)$364,259 (est)
Print & Advertising (P&A) ?2008$80,000 (est)$116,563 (est)
Participations2008$387,000$563,873
Residuals ?2008$685,000$998,070
Interest & Overhead2008$50,000$72,852
Total Expenses2008$1,452,000$2,115,617
Movie Net Profit or Loss2008$8,217,166$11,972,713

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