American Splendor
2003 · Movie · R · 101 min · ★ 7.2 · 92% critics
Blending dramatization with documentary touches, this film follows an ordinary working man who turns everyday frustrations, relationships, and small moments into an underground comic series. As his work gains attention, the story explores how honesty, humor, and a gruff outlook can transform a seemingly mundane life into something unexpectedly compelling.
Based on American Splendor, Our Cancer Year
Where to watch
Streaming on HBO Max.
2 hours to watch.
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Details
- Years
- 2003
- Release date
- 2003-08-15
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 101 min
- Critic score
- 92/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.2/10 (538 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you like offbeat, character-driven true-life stories that find humor in the mundane, similar to Ghost World or The Savages; Not for you if you want escapism, a fast plot, or a consistently upbeat lead.
Pros: inventive fact-and-fiction blend; relatable everyday humor; strong lead performance | Cons: downbeat tone throughout; uneven pacing at times; protagonist can grate
Themes
- comic book
- biography
- based on comic
- v.a. hospital
- junk sale
- jellybean
- greeting card
- file clerk
- garage sale
- comic book art
- neurotic
- comic book artist
- +5 more
Awards & recognition
- Sundance Film Festival U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize Award · 2003
- Academy Award — Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay · 2004 · nominated
Cast & crew
Paul Giamatti
as Harvey Pekar
Hope Davis
as Joyce Brabner
Judah Friedlander
as Toby Radloff
James Urbaniak
as Robert Crumb
Earl Billings
as Mr. Boats
James McCaffrey
as Fred
Maggie Moore
as Alice Quinn
Vivienne Benesch
as Lana
Daniel Tay
as Young Harvey
Harvey Pekar
as Real Harvey
Directed by Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini