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Crumb

Crumb

1994
Documentary
1h 59m
A cinematic portrait of the controversial comic book writer/artist and his traumatized family. (imdb)

Directed by:

Terry Zwigoff

Starring:

Robert Crumb, Aline Kominsky, Charles Crumb, Maxon Crumb, Martin Muller, Robert Hughes

Genre:

Documentary

Country:

USA

Language:

English
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Crumb

1994
Documentary
1h 59m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 72.97% from 1320 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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boobjuiceBoobjuice
Rated 12 Jul 2007
90
92nd
I would call this my "pet documentary", and it's one of my favorite films of all time. I like to recommend "Crumb" to people and then watch as they gradually distance themselves from me after seeing it. I like to think of Terry Zwigoff as a Gatekeeper of sorts, and his friendship with R. Crumb has granted us precious access into this celluloid world of creeps, cretins, iconoclasts, perverts, art rebels, and good old-fashioned freaky weirdos. Thank god for that.
Rated 12 Jul 2007
tonytheponyTonythePony
Rated 15 Feb 2009
88
90th
Fascinating/engrossing, disturbing/creepy. Does an amazing job of eking out explanations and justifications from its subject, contrasting nicely with some sensible critics. Parallels with his brother Charles are of even greater interest, his own drawings failing as a release valve, and whose participation makes this feel profound. Really does show the fine thread between a bottled, self-destructive intellect and an inspired artist. "Brain in a jar" says it all really.
Rated 15 Feb 2009
jimmynmujimmynmu
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
91st
Crumb is an interesting character, he is an ugly, gross, perverted and largely unlikable man. Yet towards the end it's hard not to both pity and admire his life. Perhaps even more interesting than Robert, is his brother Charles. Looking at his living condition (and learning what happens after the film was shot), is quite heartbreaking. Crumb is quite rewarding, eccentric and constantly interesting.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
pompousasspompousass
Rated 26 May 2009
60
85th
It provides, in spite of itself, a conspectus of Crumb's work as well as a colloquium on it; and it achieves a common goal in creative endeavors, that of delineating a set of characters, a central character, a particular world, milieu, lifestyle, sensibility. If there's not a lot of cinematic interest in it, there's never a shortage of other sorts of interests to keep you occupied: artistic, psychological, familial, social, sexual.
Rated 26 May 2009
bownBown
Rated 03 Jan 2011
86
79th
I think the best thing to come from the movie is the mixture of admiration and sympathy you feel for Crumb by the end. His brother provides a heartbreaking counter-point as we realise that all Crumb's misogynistic, offensive work was (and perhaps still is) the only thing preventing his terrible upbringing from taking over his life. An extraordinary success.
Rated 03 Jan 2011
picklemanPickle_Man
Rated 25 Jun 2019
90
78th
This is peak incel.
Rated 25 Jun 2019
joojooJooJoo
Rated 26 Nov 2008
6
95th
When I was young - among my parents 'stuff they hid from the kid' - my fathers Crumb collection was top on the list [of course, that never works]. I was ten years old, on the floor, and stayed there for hours absorbing this material. I love this sickness. It affects me in a way a mini-review couldn't touch upon.
Rated 26 Nov 2008
haileyHailey
Rated 28 Sep 2008
100
99th
an aspiring artist of this kind, I found this film a joy to watch!
Rated 28 Sep 2008
glumpy99glumpy_99
Rated 17 Oct 2021
98
95th
Utterly fascinating and compelling portrait of Crumb is an absorbing and insightful journey, even if (like me) you only have a glancing knowledge of Crumb himself - Zwigoff does not come to praise or bury Caesar, but produces one of the most detailed and incisive documentary portraits of an artistic mind - ugly and festering warts and all. Full of fascinating side portraits of family members and friends, this is quite a remarkable and challenging film.
Rated 17 Oct 2021
vandelay1Vandelay1
Rated 10 Aug 2019
72
81st
good
Rated 10 Aug 2019
kasperlKasperL
Rated 21 Dec 2018
80
86th
Robert Crumb is a pretty darn weird dude, and yet somehow, against all odds, the white sheep in the family.
Rated 21 Dec 2018
hellboy76hellboy76
Rated 02 Dec 2018
75
92nd
Its kind of a sad look at this odd man-child and his influential grossness.
Rated 02 Dec 2018
syntheseizurSyntheseizur
Rated 13 Jan 2018
71
31st
As talented an artist and satirist he can undoubtedly be, Crumb's worldview is exposed as the product of the same kind of irritating, obnoxious self-absorption that intellectually-leaning dilettantes convince themselves can be excused because of their "genius." But because he allows us to see that, it opens up questions about how we tend to repress that darkness in ourselves and how art can expose it and inspire empathy. Crumb is kind of fearlessly flawed; most of us are simply the latter.
Rated 13 Jan 2018
omgfridgeomgfridge
Rated 12 Sep 2017
9
91st
The most gangster film not about a drug lord or a rapper. 1994 was legit!
Rated 12 Sep 2017
yiannosYiannos
Rated 08 Jul 2014
80
92nd
Zwigoff has captured something rather extraordinary here: a complex portrait of a divisive artist. It's neither celebration or condemnation, but instead chooses to revel in the tensions and contradictions that define Crumb the man along with his work. Supposedly Crumb wasn't a huge fan of this movie after he saw it, but perhaps he didn't care for the mirror image reflecting back at him. Who could blame him? The portrait isn't pretty, but it was never meant to be.
Rated 08 Jul 2014
lexlex
Rated 08 Feb 2014
90
80th
One of the most originally conceived and engaging documentaries I've ever seen. Even if you know nothing about Robert Crumb it's well worth a watch and you will gain interest. That, I believe, is the sign of a truly well made documentary.
Rated 08 Feb 2014
icarusIcarus
Rated 29 Aug 2012
60
26th
An interesting portrait of this artist and his family, the film reveals something not just of the underground world of comics, but more importantly of an underground world inhabited by human beings. And if the content of the comics isn't enough, the revelations about Crumb and his family (some of which was apparently kept out of the film) ensure that the comics exhibit an overwhelming air of sadness. Art seems to have saved him from one end, but to something so broken that the sadness remains.
Rated 29 Aug 2012
barthalenBarthalen
Rated 29 Nov 2010
82
87th
Odd, slightly depressing, but always fascinating. A great balance of talking heads, watching Crumb go through his days, and looks at his amazing and disturbing work. Becomes a truly interesting character study as more and more things about Robert are revealed. And if you thought your family was weird, well...
Rated 29 Nov 2010
fredericg54frederic_g54
Rated 08 Aug 2010
10
97th
A captivating glimpse into the life of a man who's as unique and outlandish as his comic books. His illustrations suggest an tempestuous extension of his misunderstood childhood, in other words, an artistic outing which parallels his own life. What a great film, what a great persona. Presenting it as a family portrait only enhances the experience, hats off to Zwigoff. This is what documentary filmmaking is all about.
Rated 08 Aug 2010
pickpocketPickpocket
Rated 05 Mar 2009
9
93rd
One of the most entertaining and engrossing documentaries ever filmed. Crumb is so interesting and represents a type of person that just isn't prevalent enough in society.
Rated 05 Mar 2009
ayavaronAyavaron
Rated 25 Jul 2008
80
83rd
Robert Crumb was an absolutely fascinating and the imagery from this film remains with me to this day. A lot of it is bizarre and shockingly disturbing. The combination of high praise for the subject and candor about his perversions does the film service.
Rated 25 Jul 2008
stainStain
Rated 03 Apr 2007
100
95th
Great documentary about a great artist. Rumor has it R. Crumb has grown a beard so that he won't be recognized due to this film getting so much attention; I personally want to shake his hand
Rated 03 Apr 2007
montycircusMontyCircus
Rated 11 Mar 2023
20
12th
Weirdo pervert artist and his mentally ill brothers. Worst scene was when Crumb laughs loud and long as his brother recounts his molesting women in public and sexually assaulting a woman in a drug store. Yuck.
Rated 11 Mar 2023
ericamblerericambler
Rated 03 Jun 2022
90
95th
The story of American cultural and social rot as told through grotesque, horny, self-loathing, and nakedly therapeutic cartoons.
Rated 03 Jun 2022
kayimbokayimbo
Rated 01 Jun 2022
70
24th
its okay, he's a weird guy
Rated 01 Jun 2022
sealsseals
Rated 14 Jun 2021
5
40th
this just in: pervy-looking guy who makes pervy drawings is pervy. they're good drawings, though.
Rated 14 Jun 2021
akatemossfanAKateMossFan
Rated 27 Nov 2020
1
8th
matthagenmatthagen
Rated 22 Apr 2020
60
73rd
Seen: 2.
Rated 22 Apr 2020
ceekay19Ceekay19
Rated 25 Jan 2020
90
95th
Charles Crumb: "How perfectly goddamned delightful it all is, to be sure."
Rated 25 Jan 2020
tryertryer
Rated 25 Jun 2018
79
52nd
oedipus rex
Rated 25 Jun 2018
oskarhuoskarhu
Rated 29 Oct 2017
82
83rd
Wonderful simplicity: the Crumb brothers talk in front of the camera, and there's nearly two hours of corruptive entertainment.
Rated 29 Oct 2017
adam_p_dAdam P-D
Rated 29 Apr 2017
70
85th
Everything will be better in France!
Rated 29 Apr 2017
deaddillydeaddilly
Rated 10 Aug 2016
85
84th
Maybe the most explicit insight into disturbed talent ever recorded.
Rated 10 Aug 2016
redactedredacted
Rated 25 Apr 2016
80
70th
A product of his environment, that's for sure. Surrounded by amphetamine driven arguments by his mother, 50's rigidity in a father figure & the fading sanity of his brothers, each with their own destructive reactions to sexual experiences. That household childhood life, coupled with what appeared to be a form of poverty, maturing during the 60's, & Crumb's own neurosis all led to the discombobulated artwork that spilled forth. Charles was quite a character too, in fact both the brothers were.
Rated 25 Apr 2016
caimancaiman
Rated 08 Jan 2015
92
95th
Some docs like to focus on larger-than-life characters. Here we get something closer to lower-than-life characters. And the result is just as compelling, if not more so. Watching the two brothers chat with their mother in the dirty little cramped living room is utterly fascinating. The brothers' nonchalant attitudes about their own sexual deviance is chilling. If you ever wanted to better understand the mind of that crazy man on the news who raped and murdered someone, watch this documentary.
Rated 08 Jan 2015
woodoowoodoo
Rated 15 Aug 2014
90
82nd
Portrait of a loveable creep and legendary illustrator. It's since colored how I see all semi-reclusive creators of art. A good sister movie is Todd Phillips' Hated.
Rated 15 Aug 2014
alienindieAlienIndie
Rated 12 Nov 2013
46
15th
Whoever said this was like the Welcome to the NHK of documentary films... I'm speechless. They have nothing in common! This is just disgusting without any kind of societal or artistic relevance. I stopped watching at 00:59 when they started talking about their sexual fetishes for the fifth or so time.
Rated 12 Nov 2013
entertainmeEntertainMe
Rated 30 Jun 2013
70
56th
An intimate and immaculately presented submersion into the life of a whimsical but fairly repulsive artist and his disturbed family. This documentary tries to be as even-handed as possible, holding back nothing as we dive deep into the psyche of an outsider artist trying to deal with his family and living in modern American society.
Rated 30 Jun 2013
cat9mancat9man
Rated 20 Jun 2013
65
26th
more than I needed to know
Rated 20 Jun 2013
anomalyAnomaly
Rated 15 Jan 2013
91
96th
Crumb's complete honesty with himself and his work is at once kind of admirable and also kind of disturbing. But it gives this documentary such a candid and immersive quality, showing the world of misfits Crumb came from and still inhabits, and how (via a psyche-shattering acid trip) that influences his childlike yet grotesque comics. Gives me the urge to pick up the pencil again.
Rated 15 Jan 2013
burmashaveburmashave
Rated 15 Dec 2012
100
99th
this is my favorite film. I don't have anything to say about it.
Rated 15 Dec 2012
gnalkhereGnalkhere
Rated 21 Oct 2012
90
91st
Crumb's outlet saved him.
Rated 21 Oct 2012
aceysaid10AceySaid10%
Rated 09 May 2012
88
95th
Weird!
Rated 09 May 2012
wetwillieswetwillies
Rated 13 Apr 2012
95
93rd
Simultaneously laugh-out-loud funny, disturbing and very sad, Crumb is a great film with a fascinating man at the center of it all. Zwigoff breaks down Crumb, delving into all of his intricacies to paint a portrait of such a strange man, who lived such a strange life. You also learn a lot about Crumb's family, which helps you understand just how he became the man he is today.
Rated 13 Apr 2012
purgatospurgatos
Rated 05 Apr 2012
86
84th
Crumb makes a perfect subject for a documentary with his bizarre personality, shocking artwork, strange life and eccentric family. Everything about him and his relationships feels very much off. The film gives us his own opinions on his art(usually a laugh and denial that it means anything) as well as those of his supporters and detractors in delicate balance. This ends up secondary, however, to his devastating family portrait. A well made and extremely interesting documentary.
Rated 05 Apr 2012
ceruleanblueceruleanblue
Rated 25 Jul 2011
8
37th
Here it is-- welcome to bizarro world. Fascinating and really really sad.
Rated 25 Jul 2011
johnsandwichJohnSandwich
Rated 05 Jan 2011
85
90th
perfectly goddamned delightful, to be sure
Rated 05 Jan 2011
by_devolby Devol
Rated 05 Jan 2011
89
95th
I've seen this four or five times, and the one, telling, little detail that speaks volumes with me is the photo of RC's dad. He's smiling, but you can see he has the eyes of one scary, mean asshole. Neat archival footage from Rolling Stone magazine's young heydays. Never been a Ruebenesque fan but Aline really grew on me. I found RC's pompous yet juvenile mindset wearisome - acting too cool for school in the comic store, or repeatedly going off about his cock. Ultimately - kinda sad.
Rated 05 Jan 2011
peaceanarchyPeaceAnarchy
Rated 16 Oct 2010
83
72nd
Crumb is a strange fascinating character, and everyone around him is as well. At times endearing and at others disturbing it's a unique portrait that satisfies a morbid curiosity.
Rated 16 Oct 2010
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 11 Sep 2010
73
80th
A bold, almost lewd documentary, which is only fitting. Crumb and his two maladjusted brothers bare all, repressing only their emotional crippling by a loveless father. Women in Crumb's life are also abundantly candid, revealing his fetishes, masturbation habits and penis size. Both positive and negative reactions to his art are recorded, and accusations of misogyny and racism are contrasted with a sympathetic Crumb's musings about how much of his art was subconsciously drawn during LSD trips.
Rated 11 Sep 2010
cinemaasiaCinema_Asia
Rated 14 Mar 2010
85
92nd
An in depth documentary that looks into the strange sexually neurotic and twisted world of Crumb. It goes even so far as to trace his bizarre family members and the inspiration for his different characters. Crumb's talent as a cartoonist is odd but intriguing.
Rated 14 Mar 2010
zealot185Zealot185
Rated 28 Oct 2009
68
50th
This movie kind of left me in a daze. Robert Crumb's art, which is extensively displayed throughout the film, turns out to be a surreal mirror image of all of the real-life footage shown. Crumb and his family are ugly and eccentric, and the actual women shown in the film are - for the most part - voluptuous. It's a very odd documentary, and I was actually more interested in Crumb's philosophies and the analysis/criticism of his art more than his screwed-up family. Recommended for art/comic fans.
Rated 28 Oct 2009
oldgoatoldgoat
Rated 10 Oct 2009
71
54th
I expected more. But was still interesting enough I suppose.
Rated 10 Oct 2009
okkervilOkkervil
Rated 19 Sep 2009
80
84th
A perculiar and interesting movie. Very good.
Rated 19 Sep 2009
irvinejumpirvinejump
Rated 02 Sep 2009
80
84th
Love the comics, love the movie... "Nuff said
Rated 02 Sep 2009
dorkovskyDorkovsky
Rated 27 Jul 2009
9
97th
Both non-intrusive and penetrating at the same time, thanks to great testimony from his family, plenty of shots of his artwork, and lots of footage of the man himself, and almost no interference from the filmmakers (emotionally I mean, the physical presence is acknowledged). Even the dimiest of dime store psychologists would have a field day with this film. I did think Crumb's juvenile misanthropy got very irritating most of the time though, despite being extremely telling of his personality.
Rated 27 Jul 2009
sorksork
Rated 16 May 2009
74
75th
The subject matter is interesting.
Rated 16 May 2009
seryxaSeryxa
Rated 10 Apr 2009
75
82nd
Fascinating documentary on an artist called 'the Breughel of the 20th century' by one interviewee, critic Robert Hughes, seen in context with his somewhat dysfunctional brothers who, also talented, have failed to come to terms with society in the way that he has.
Rated 10 Apr 2009
senseisensei
Rated 17 Feb 2009
95
97th
There's a fine line between genius and insanity, and I'm not really sure if Crumb's passed the line... but I am sure his brothers haven't. I was more interested in his bizarre family than his comics, although the two are very closely connected. One of the most honest documentaries I've ever seen - fucked up.
Rated 17 Feb 2009
janusjanus
Rated 14 Dec 2008
95
97th
Rewatch. A humanizing but unflattering portrait of Crumb; he seems arrested, impossible to please, a creep and a crank, however skilled an artist. But he has a sense of humor and as healthy an attitude as possible about his dysfunctions. Unlike his brothers, who are brutally depressing to watch as they wallow in permanent failure. The specter of the Crumb brothers' abusive father looms large, and their sisters' outright refusal to appear is even more darkly suggestive.
Rated 14 Dec 2008
muutanetmuutanet
Rated 06 Dec 2008
89
95th
Excellent biopic of the masterful Grand Old U Comix Man. Focuses greatly on his past and present. Crumb was born a pen in his hand and you can see it from his art.
Rated 06 Dec 2008
cussotcussot
Rated 25 Nov 2008
80
51st
Now I know why I instinctively hated R. Crumb's comics. This is a worthwhile and peculiar film about art transforming experience.
Rated 25 Nov 2008
cestmoicestmoi
Rated 18 May 2008
85
72nd
A true individual. Kind of a creepy guy.
Rated 18 May 2008
jarmannJarmann
Rated 10 Nov 2007
85
84th
The weirdness and neurotics of Crumb is painfully close on display here...wonderful
Rated 10 Nov 2007
porporcoroporporcoro
Rated 14 Aug 2007
88
32nd
A great documentary about the life and development of R. Crumb and his art style, sexual obsessions, and his dysfunctional family life.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
svicciarellisvicciarelli
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
82nd
An unsettling biography of a strange man and his fascinating life and legacy.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
djfntstquedjfntstque
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
95th
Benefits greatly from the testy friendship of its subject and director. Crumb's demeanor is about half "why am I doing this?" and half "what are they going to think of me?"
Rated 14 Aug 2007
gleebgleeb
Rated 14 Aug 2007
76
71st
Robert is the normal one.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
nancysidnancysid
Rated 14 Aug 2007
70
25th
keep on keeping on!
Rated 14 Aug 2007
citysqwirlcitysqwirl
Rated 14 Aug 2007
78
62nd
Fascinating, but grotty. Shows the redemptive power of creative endeavor, but gets depressing about the people (Crumb's family) who haven't the talent, skill, or luck to transcend their problems through art.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
djrossdjross
Rated 14 Aug 2007
78
90th
Fascinating portrait of the Crumb family, with Robert being an interesting character if not necessarily the most sympathetic of the brothers.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
super988manSuper988man
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
67th
Crumb's brother is totally a goon.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
shmendrekShmendrek
Rated 10 Jul 2007
4
83rd
An adorable documentary about one of my favorite artists. Everyone in this film is an honest-to-god eccentric. Definitely an interesting watch.
Rated 10 Jul 2007
thedicemanTheDiceman
Rated 24 Mar 2007
80
95th
Fascinating look at the world surrounding Robert Crumb who is a famous comic book artist and writer.I have to say this is one of the most interesting documentaries I have ever seen.
Rated 24 Mar 2007
thedenizenTheDenizen
Rated 08 Feb 2007
40
17th
I don't understand the high praise for this film. Sure, Robert Crumb is a fantastic and important American artist, but this documentary is boring and depressing. It reveals Crumb as a weird pervert and his family as total losers. The only interesting parts were when they showed montages of Crumb's work.
Rated 08 Feb 2007

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