← ← Back
Movie poster: American Movie (1999)
🎬 Movie

American Movie

1999 · 107 min Documentary Comedy
7.6 / 10 · TMDB

Mark Borchardt, a driven filmmaker from Milwaukee, pours every ounce of his being into completing his low-budget horror movie, 'Coven'. Juggling a dead-end job at a cemetery, familial pressures, and an unshakable belief in his own vision, Mark recruits his perpetually stoned friend Mike and secures funding from his elderly uncle Bill. Over two chaotic years, the camera captures a raw, unvarnished portrait of DIY artistry, financial desperation, and the sheer, stubborn will required to chase a dream against all odds.

Trailer: American Movie
▶ Watch Trailer

📋 Film Details

Year 1999
Country United States of America
Genre Documentary, Comedy
Director Chris Smith
Runtime 107 min.
Rating TMDB: 7.6/10 (270 votes)

📺 Where to Watch

Checking availability...

🎬 MovieFinder's Take

Chris Smith crafts more than a making-of documentary; it's a profound and hilarious study of obsession, friendship, and the ragged edges of the American Dream. The film finds perfect tension between comedy and pathos, making you root for Mark even as his plans spectacularly unravel.

What lingers after the credits is a deep affection for these flawed, striving characters and a renewed belief in the power of pure, undiluted passion. It’s a testament to the art that happens not in Hollywood, but in suburban garages. — MovieFinder Editorial

Director: Chris Smith

🕯️

Best Watched

Grainy footage, Midwestern winters, and the clatter of a vintage film editor.

🎭 Cast

Mark Borchardt

Mark Borchardt

Filmmaker

Mike Schank

Mike Schank

Friend / Musician

👤

Tom Schimmels

Actor in 'Coven'

👤

Monica Borchardt

Mark's Mom

👤

Alex Borchardt

Mark's Brother

👤

Chris Borchardt

Mark's Brother

👤

Ken Keen

Friend / Associate Producer

👤

Matt Weisman

Casting Director

👤

Bill Borchardt

Mark's Uncle / Executive Producer

👤

Cliff Borchardt

Mark's Dad

🎬 Similar Movies

💬 Audience Reviews

Write a Review

Quick rating — tap to vote:

Or write a full review:

0/2000