Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Tom Brady directs. Michael Barrett behind the camera. Waddy Wachtel scores. Jason Gourson cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 1Earned back only 25% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
• 2Released 15 years ago.
• 3Directed by Tom Brady, shot by Michael Barrett. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 4Original score by Waddy Wachtel. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
• 5Editor Jason Gourson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 6Nick Swardson and Christina Ricci and Don Johnson carry the top of the cast.
• 7Marketing tagline: "There are no small actors. Just small parts.".
• 8IMDB entry: tt1411664 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography

Michael Barrett

Original score

Waddy Wachtel

Editing

Jason Gourson

Production design

Dina Lipton

Costume design

Mary Jane Fort

Makeup / hair

Kelvin R. Trahan

Runtime

97 min · 1h 37m

Aspect ratio (typical)

1.37:1 (Academy)

Status

Released

Budget

$10,000,000

Box office

$2,500,000

Return

25% of budget

Original language

EN

Certification (US)

R

IMDB

Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star (2011) ↗

Also by

Tom Brady

• 
  The Hot Chick

  2002 · ★ 6.4
• 
  The Comebacks

  2007 · ★ 4.8

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

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

Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

• 

  ▶
  BUCKY LARSON: BORN TO BE A STAR - Official Trailer - In Theaters 9/9!

  Trailer · Official

Production companies

Who made it

• 

  Columbia Pictures

  US

• MI

  Miles Deep Producitons

• 

  Happy Madison Productions

  US

Key crew

• StuntsCasey O'Neill
• Production DesignDina Lipton
• Executive ProducerJudit Maull
• Hair Department HeadKelvin R. Trahan
• CastingLisa London
• CastingCatherine Stroud
• Key Makeup ArtistJamie Leigh DeVilla
• ProducerDavid Dorfman
• Co-ProducerBetsy Danbury
• EditorJason Gourson
• Costume DesignMary Jane Fort
• Special Effects Makeup ArtistSamantha Ashcraft
• ProducerAllen Covert
• ProducerJack Giarraputo
• Makeup Department HeadTina Roesler Kerwin
• ProducerAdam Sandler
• Set DecorationHalina Siwolop
• Key Hair StylistCatherine Marcotte
• ProducerNick Swardson
• Sound MixerWillie D. Burton

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

• porn star
• hollywood
• ridiculous

Release history · US

When it landed

• Theatrical2011-09-09R

Also known as

International titles

• Born to Be a StarDK
• Bucky Larson Nacido Para ser una EstrellaSV
• Born to Be a StarNL