Bullets Over Broadway

"A killer comedy!"

1994 1h 38m EN

👍

7.1

SOLID

🔥

95%

CERTIFIED FRESH

⭐

7.4

IMDB

★7.1TMDB · 691🍅95%Rotten Tomatoes★7.4IMDB · 44,173

ComedyCrime

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

After young playwright, David Shayne obtains funding for his play from gangster Nick Valenti, Nick's girlfriend Olive miraculously lands the role of a psychiatrist—but not only is she a bimbo who could never pass for a psychiatrist—she's a dreadful actress. David puts up with the leading man who is a compulsive eater, the grand dame who wants her part jazzed up, and Olive's interfering hitman/bodyguard—but, eventually he must decide whether art or life is more important.

“A killer comedy!”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

Amazon Prime VideoSubscription

Amazon Prime Video with AdsSubscription

Amazon VideoRent

Apple TV StoreRent

Google Play MoviesRent

Google Play MoviesBuy

YouTubeBuy

Fandango At HomeBuy

Cast

John Cusack
David Shayne
Chazz Palminteri
Cheech
Dianne Wiest
Helen Sinclair
Jennifer Tilly
Olive Neal
Mary-Louise Parker
Ellen
Tracey Ullman
Eden Brent
Jim Broadbent
Warner Purcell
Joe Viterelli
Nick Valenti

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Woody Allen
Writers: Douglas McGrath, Woody Allen
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 6

ERA

Did you know

32 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Woody Allen, shot by Carlo Di Palma. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Susan E. Morse shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 6

CAST

Did you know

John Cusack and Chazz Palminteri and Dianne Wiest carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 6

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "A killer comedy!".

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 6

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0109348 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Woody Allen directs. Carlo Di Palma behind the camera. Susan E. Morse cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Profitable at the box office. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

132 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Directed by Woody Allen, shot by Carlo Di Palma. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Editor Susan E. Morse shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
4John Cusack and Chazz Palminteri and Dianne Wiest carry the top of the cast.
5Marketing tagline: "A killer comedy!".
6IMDB entry: tt0109348 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Classified under 10 themes, including "new york city", "female lover", "talent", "mafia boss".

The technical file

Cinematography: Carlo Di Palma
Editing: Susan E. Morse
Production design: Santo Loquasto
Makeup / hair: Frances Kolar
Sound: Lee Dichter
Runtime: 98 min · 1h 38m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $20,000,000
Box office: $37,483,747
Return: 187% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
Rotten Tomatoes: 95% 🍅 Fresh
IMDB rating: 7.4/10 · 44,173 votes
MPAA: R

Awards

Won 1 Oscar. 22 wins & 29 nominations total

Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female
Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male
National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress
National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

Woody Allen

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2024-12-07
★ 7/10
Despite his obvious enthusiasm, "Shayne" (John Cusack) can't convince producer (Jack Warden) to raise the cash to put on his latest play. There's just no demand for it, especially as his first two efforts didn't exactly set the heather on fire. Then an opportunity presents itself. It's one with compromise, though. He can have the thing fully funded if he agrees to cast "Olive" (Jennfer Tilly). Snag? Well she couldn't act her way out of a paper bag and has one of those squeaky voices that killed so many a silent-film star! Her boyfriend, "Nick" (Joe Viterelli) is the local kingpin so it's a straight choice - cast her or no cash. Much to the chagrin of the uber-theatrical "Helen" (Dianne Wiest) he decides to sacrifice his honour for his art, and what now ensues sees this mix of thespians, crooks, amateurs and temper-tantrums try to get the play on the stage. Just to make sure she's OK, her boyfriend has sent his enforcer "Cheech" (Chazz Palminteri) as a bit of security for "Olive" and his no-nonsense approach to the production histrionics of the whole thing initially brings him into conflict with the director, but gradually "Shayne" begins to realise that "Cheech" has a bit of an aptitude for writing, and so a collaboration of sorts emerges that against all the odds might just give this thing a fighting chance. Wiest is at her best here delivering a sort of "Streisand" meets "Norma Desmond" character that epitomises that generation of film star who really did believe their own publicity machine. Cusack also does well, as does Palminteri and there's an engagingly (and annoyingly) lively effort from Tilly who plays the rather witless moll to a T. It's funny at times, especially if you've ever worked in the theatre and packs quite a lot of entertainment, and swipes at that very industry, into a ninety minutes that hits the ground running and rarely stops for breath. One of Woody Allen's more original concepts that takes him away from his routine man-with-neuroses comfort, is stylishly put together, and is well worth a watch.

Production companies