Bottle Rocket

Play trailer

2:43

Bottle Rocket

R

1996

1h 31m

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

73 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

In Wes Anderson's first feature film, Anthony has just been released from a mental hospital, only to find his wacky friend Dignan determined to begin an outrageous crime spree. After recruiting their neighbor, Bob, the team embarks on a road trip in search of Dignan's previous boss, Mr. Henry. But the more they learn, the more they realize that they do not know the first thing about crime.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Bottle Rocket is Reservoir Dogs meets Breathless with a West Texas sensibility.

Read Critics Reviews

David Hunter

The Hollywood Reporter

02/21/2018

The performers look like they're having a lot of fun, but there is a great deal of skill on display.

Go to Full Review

Kenneth Turan

Los Angeles Times

03/04/2014

A confident, eccentric debut about a trio of shambling and guileless friends who become the Candides of crime, Rocket feels particularly refreshing because it never compromises on its delicate deadpan sensibility.

Go to Full Review

Bruce Diones

The New Yorker

03/04/2014

[Bottle Rocket] meanders pleasantly, like a road movie, with a seventies-style, anything-goes offhandedness that whisks the audience through the rough spots.

Go to Full Review

Sarah Ward

Concrete Playground

Oct 16

Establishes many of the filmmaker's trademarks from the outset — including his penchant for witty interactions, as well as his love of dressing his characters in coordinated outfits.

Go to Full Review

Joe Leydon

The Moving Picture Show

11/09/2023

In tone, style and content, this quirky little movie recalls the low-key comedies of Bill Forsythe ("Local Hero," "Housekeeping"), the poet laureate of melancholy whimsy.

Go to Full Review

Farah Cheded

A Good Movie To Watch

09/29/2023

Wes Anderson’s debut might lack the meticulous visual style he's synonymous with, but it's full of the charm and understated emotion we love him for.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Sponge B

@RT02640473 3d

pretty good movie, interesting, only funny at the end. interesting characters. interesting concept.

See more

Erik B

@Atma-X Mar 30

A charming, meandering film about a trio of listless young men who are yearning for adventure. Very much indicative of Wes Anderson's style, but maybe one of his most "normal" movies. What the hell kinda name is Dignan?

See more

Tyler P.

@TylerPhoenixMD Dec 20

I don’t care what anyone says this movie is a classic. It’s the beginnings of some of the best movies! You can tell all the inspiration that comes from it.

See more

Woodruff F

@Woodrufffoley Dec 2

The best and only good Wes Anderson film ha ha

See more

Jack F

@MovieFan111 Nov 24

It wasn’t my favorite. Was it supposed to be funny? I feel like it could have been funnier, and maybe could have turned it into a full on comedy.

See more

Russell B

@ThomH Oct 8

A confident, eccentric debut about a trio of shambling and guileless friends who become the Candides of crime, Rocket feels particularly refreshing because it never compromises on its delicate deadpan sensibility.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Wes Anderson

Director

Owen Wilson

Dignan

Luke Wilson

Anthony Adams

Robert Musgrave

Bob Mapplethorpe

Andrew Wilson

John Mapplethorpe (Future Man)

Lumi Cavazos

Inez

Bottle Rocket: Official Clip - The Job Falls Apart

2:06

Bottle Rocket: Official Clip - They'll Never Catch Me

2:10

Bottle Rocket: Official Clip - Little Banana

2:05

Bottle Rocket: Official Clip - Dignan Blows Up

2:04

Bottle Rocket: Official Clip - Keep the Gun on the Table!

2:06

Bottle Rocket: Official Clip - Future Man and Stacy

2:13

Bottle Rocket: Official Clip - Bob Mapplethorpe, Potential Getaway Driver

2:12

Bottle Rocket: Official Clip - It Was for Exhaustion

1:37

View more videos

Booty Call

31%

59%

Booty Call

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Booty Call

Mo' Money

16%

51%

Mo' Money

Watchlist

Big Trouble

14%

24%

Big Trouble

Watchlist

Neighbors

57%

50%

Neighbors

Watchlist

Stripes

67%

79%

Stripes

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Stripes

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Wes Anderson’s Bottle Rocket Features Owen Wilson’s Funniest Performance

Rotten Tomatoes’ Ridiculously Early Oscar Predictions: Best Actor

Rank All of Wes Anderson’s Movies

Top 5 Freshest Wes Anderson Movies

1:33

Bottle Rocket: Trailer 1

2:43

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

In Wes Anderson's first feature film, Anthony has just been released from a mental hospital, only to find his wacky friend Dignan determined to begin an outrageous crime spree. After recruiting their neighbor, Bob, the team embarks on a road trip in search of Dignan's previous boss, Mr. Henry. But the more they learn, the more they realize that they do not know the first thing about crime.

Director: Wes Anderson
Producer: Cynthia Hargrave, Polly Platt
Screenwriter: Owen Wilson, Wes Anderson
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Gracie Films, Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 21, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 18, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $488.6K
Runtime: 1h 31m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SR