Synopsis
Director Tamra Davis pays homage to her friend in this definitive documentary but also delves into Basquiat as an iconoclast. His dense, bebop-influenced neoexpressionist work emerged while minimalist, conceptual art was the fad; as a successful black artist, he was constantly confronted by racism and misconceptions. Much can be gleaned from insider interviews and archival footage, but it is Basquiat's own words and work that powerfully convey the mystique and allure of both the artist and the man.
Scores
Overall Score
43.3
Popularity Percentile (Year)
29.0%
Box Office Percentile (Year)
38.6%
Review Aggregate
83.8
Critic Consensus
Critic reception is largely positive, with 86% of 36 logged reviews marked Fresh. Across reviews, critics repeatedly emphasize historical, stylized, emotional. Most critics frame the film as an effective delivery of its core style and intent.
historicalstylizedemotionalromanticvisually strikingcharacter-driven
Cast
| Cast | Year | Reported Salary | Inflation Adjusted | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jean-Michel Basquiat | 2010 | $9,000 | $13,000 | (est) |
Aggregated Reviews
Rotten Tomatoes critic score86.0
RT critic review count36
Rotten Tomatoes audience score86.0
RT audience rating count500
IMDb rating7.7
IMDb votes2,568
Box Office ?
| Category | Year | Reported | Inflation Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic | 2010 | $256,242 | $368,561 |
| International | 2010 | N/A | N/A |
| Worldwide | 2010 | $256,242 | $368,561 |
Earnings / Profitability
| Category | Year | Reported | Inflation Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenues | |||
| Theatrical Net Revenue | 2010 | $128,121 | $184,280 |
| Digital Rentals ? | 2010 | $1,919,000 | $2,760,157 |
| Digital Purchases ? | 2010 | $559,000 | $804,027 |
| Physical Rentals ? | 2010 | $4,504,000 | $6,478,243 |
| Physical Purchases ? | 2010 | $10,088,000 | $14,509,883 |
| TV & Streaming Revenue | 2010 | $115,309 | $165,852 |
| Total Revenues | 2010 | $17,313,430 | $24,902,442 |
| Expenses | |||
| Budget ? | 2010 | $261,000 (est) | $375,404 (est) |
| Print & Advertising (P&A) ? | 2010 | $179,000 (est) | $257,461 (est) |
| Participations | 2010 | $693,000 | $996,763 |
| Residuals ? | 2010 | $1,177,000 | $1,692,916 |
| Interest & Overhead | 2010 | $52,200 | $75,081 |
| Total Expenses | 2010 | $2,362,200 | $3,397,625 |
| Movie Net Profit or Loss | 2010 | $14,951,230 | $21,504,817 |
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