The Weird World of Blowfly

2011 | Biography, Documentary, Music

Synopsis

Clarence Reid is a musician who wrote and produced romantic and spiritual songs for some of the greatest Southern soul and R&B acts of the 1960s and '70s. He is also the gonzo performer Blowfly, Clarence's freaky alter ego and the original X-rated rapper. "The Weird World of Blowfly" explores both sides of this hilarious and controversial artist, providing a rare, inside peek at the infamous linguist's daily life. Now 69-years-old, with a gold-spangled superhero costume and a catalog of the world's raunchiest tunes, Blowfly tours the world, still struggling for success and recognition after 50 years of making music. The film highlights both Clarence's and Blowfly's unique contributions to music history, including Top-10 R&B hits and what might be the world's first rap song, recorded in 1965. Shot over the course of two years, the film follows Clarence at home and around the world, featuring dozens of classic Blowfly songs as well as new hits. A revealing portrait of an unheralded man, "The Weird World of Blowfly" celebrates his musical and cultural significance as a rapper and soul music legend.

Scores

Overall Score
14.0
Popularity Percentile (Year)
3.7%
Box Office Percentile (Year)
2.0%
Review Aggregate
58.2

Critic Consensus

62.5% Fresh • 16 critic reviews

Critic reception is mixed, with 62% of 16 logged reviews marked Fresh. Across reviews, critics repeatedly emphasize tragic, funny, character-driven. Common reservations focus on execution consistency, even when reviewers praise standout elements.

tragicfunnycharacter-drivenemotionalvisually strikingthought-provoking

Cast

CastYearReported SalaryInflation AdjustedNotes
N/A

Aggregated Reviews

Rotten Tomatoes critic score63.0
RT critic review count16
Rotten Tomatoes audience score48.0
RT audience rating count100
IMDb rating6.5
IMDb votes153

Box Office ?

CategoryYearReportedInflation Adjusted
Domestic2011$3,062$4,271
International2011N/AN/A
Worldwide2011$3,062$4,271

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 Revenue2011$1,531$2,136
Digital Rentals ?2011$58,000$80,901
Digital Purchases ?2011$19,000$26,502
Physical Rentals ?2011$106,000$147,853
Physical Purchases ?2011$253,000$352,895
TV & Streaming Revenue2011$67,500$94,152
Total Revenues2011$505,031$704,439
Expenses
Budget ?2011$225,000 (est)$313,839 (est)
Print & Advertising (P&A) ?2011$80,000 (est)$111,587 (est)
Participations2011$10,000$13,948
Residuals ?2011$30,000$41,845
Interest & Overhead2011$45,000$62,768
Total Expenses2011$390,000$543,988
Movie Net Profit or Loss2011$115,031$160,450

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