A boy named George Jung grows up in a struggling family in the 1950's. His mother nags at her husband as he is trying to make a living for the family. It is finally revealed that George's father cannot make a living and the family goes bankrupt. George does not want the same thing to happen to him, and his friend Tuna, in the 1960's, suggests that he deal marijuana. He is a big hit in California in the 1960's, yet he goes to jail, where he finds out about the wonders of cocaine. As a result, when released, he gets rich by bringing cocaine to America. However, he soon pays the price.
Ratings
Curator score: 4.2/10
IMDb: 7.5/10
Letterboxd: 3.53/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 56%
Metacritic: 52
TMDB: 7.4/10
Director
Ted Demme
Production
New Line Cinema, Spanky Pictures, Apostle
Cast
Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz, Franka Potente, Rachel Griffiths, Ray Liotta, Jordi Mollà, Cliff Curtis, Paul Reubens, Miguel Sandoval, Max Perlich, Ethan Suplee, Kevin Gage, Tony Amendola, Jesse James, Emma Roberts, Dan Ferro, Bobcat Goldthwait, Miguel Pérez, Michael Tucci, Monet Mazur
Curator Review
Verdict
A slick, fast-moving rise-and-fall crime biopic with strong star power, vivid period detail, and an easy watchability that keeps it engaging even when it feels compressed. It works best as a glossy cautionary tale about ambition, excess, and self-destruction, though it can feel rushed and emotionally thin compared with the genre’s best entries.
Best for
fans of crime biopics and outlaw success stories
viewers who like stylish 1970s/1980s period crime drama
people in the mood for a polished, accessible cautionary tale
audiences who enjoy charismatic lead performances and montage-driven storytelling
Skip if
you want a deeply nuanced or psychologically layered biopic
you are looking for a hard-edged, realistic drug-crime film
you dislike fast pacing and episodic storytelling
you prefer crime films with more moral complexity and formal rigor
Overview
Blow is built like a greatest-hits version of a drug-world rise-and-fall story: quick ascent, glamorous excess, then the inevitable collapse. The movie has an easy momentum, strong period texture, and a lead performance that sells George Jung’s mix of charm, desperation, and self-delusion. It’s the kind of film that moves so briskly you can forgive some of its shortcuts while you’re watching it.
Worth noting
What keeps it watchable is the combination of glossy style and emotional decay. The soundtrack, the costumes, and the California-to-cocaine pipeline give it a vivid, almost pop-myth feel, while the ending lands with a more somber aftertaste than the movie’s early swagger suggests. It’s not the deepest crime biopic, but it is an effective one if you’re in the mood for a polished cautionary tale.
Bottom line
Its main weakness is that it often sketches major relationships and turning points rather than fully dramatizing them. That can make the film feel like it’s racing through a life story instead of inhabiting it. Still, as an accessible, well-acted crime drama about the cost of chasing the high life, it does enough to satisfy.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Brandon Claus (4.5★) · 1352 likes
i dont remember most of this movie. i was doing lines every time the characters did.
Austin Shermer (3.5★) · 900 likes
Johnny Depp's hair gives the best performance of its illustrious career.
amaya (2★) · 788 likes
this guy really watched goodfellas and thought yeah i'll do that but less good and with blonde johnny depp. ray liotta can stay but he's too old so have him play the dad or something
Andre de Nervaux (3.5★) · 575 likes
"hows my lipstick, i wana make sure i look good when i GET FUCKED"
lari (3★) · 534 likes
the creepy ass picture at the end, my heart almost came out of my mouth
johnny depp and penelope cruz are hot
2013 · Crime, Drama, Comedy · 3h · R · Curator 7.9/10 (5.7M ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, AMC+, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
A manic portrait of excess, appetite, and the seductive momentum of criminal success.