Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)

84% of critics liked it
(225 reviews)
69% of users liked it
(187,224 ratings)

Directed by Michael Moore, whose aura of controversy only grew after his Oscar acceptance speech at the 2003 Academy Awards, Fahrenheit 9/11, like Moore's Bowling For Columbine and Roger & Me, promises to expose the corporate wrongdoings and big-money scandals perpetrated by America's financial… More Directed by Michael Moore, whose aura of controversy only grew after his Oscar acceptance speech at the 2003 Academy Awards, Fahrenheit 9/11, like Moore's Bowling For Columbine and Roger & Me, promises to expose the corporate wrongdoings and big-money scandals perpetrated by America's financial elite. This movie, however, looks beyond the inner echelons of General Motors and Lockheed Martin in hopes of outing the evildoers in the White House, particularly in regards to the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. In addition to criticizing the administration's handling of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center, Moore digs deep into the surprising relationship with the Bin Laden family held by both Bush administrations, and questions whether or not potential Saudi involvement with the attacks has been ignored. As Fahrenheit 9/11's Cannes Film Festival debut approached, marking only the second time in 48 years that a documentary has been included among the festival's main competition, Miramax's parent company Disney announced it would not be distributing the film due to its partisan nature, and, according to Moore, out of trepidation that the Florida-based Goliath's multi-million-dollar tax breaks might be negatively affected by Florida Governor Jeb Bush, whose review within Fahrenheit 9/11 is less than favorable. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 2 min.
Directed By: Michael Moore
Written By: Michael Moore
Genres: Documentary, Special Interest

In Theaters: Jun 25, 2004 Wide
On DVD: Oct 5, 2004
Studio: Lions Gate

Critic Reviews

Peter Rainer, New York Magazine
This is the most comprehensive diatribe ever filmed against Bush and his cronies (even though, by necessity, it is focused primarily on Iraq).
David Denby, New Yorker
This is Moore's most powerful movie -- the largest in scope, the most resourceful and skillful in means -- and the best things in it have little to do with his usual ideological take on American power and George Bush.
Stanley Kauffmann, New Republic
Sometimes slipshod in its making and juvenile in its travesty, and of course it has no interest in overall fairness to Bush. But it vents an anger about this presidency that, as the film's ardent reception shows, seethes in very many of us.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Little of this information is new, but Moore packages what's already known about George W. Bush and his presidency into a piece of rhetoric so persuasive that the Bush reelection campaign could spend the next five months trying to refute it.
Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com
An enormous film, an angry film, a flawed film and often a very, very funny film.
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
Potent and infuriating.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Controversial documentary best for older teens.
Thomas Peyser, Style Weekly (Richmond, VA)
Michael Moore's fierce and funny Fahrenheit 9/11 is not so much a documentary as a mythology, reducing geopolitical complexities to a neat, tawdry narrative.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Populist documentarian Michael Moore raises crucial questions about the ersatz presidency of George Bush in an air of simplicity and honest curiosity.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
Isn't quite the bullseye Moore's supporters are hoping for and Bush's supporters are dreading.
Prairie Miller, Long Island Press
If all the world is truly a stage, then leftie bad boy Michael Moore is chief scavenger of the behind-the-scenes skeletons in the storage closet.
Prairie Miller, Long Island Press
If all the world is truly a stage, then leftie bad boy Michael Moore is chief scavenger of the behind-the-scenes skeletons in the storage closet.
Peter T. Chattaway, Christianity Today
The problem with Fahrenheit 9/11 is not that it is one-sided, per se; it is that Moore barely acknowledges there even is another side.
Jay Antani, Cinema Writer
Fahrenheit is, by turns, entertaining, incisive, infuriating, heartbreaking and (this being Moore) slickly populist
Gina Carbone, Seacoast Newspapers (NH/Maine)
I want to hug Michael Moore. Then slap him.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Michael Moore proves in his scathing yet facile anti-Bush documentary that more than a good filmmaker he is first and foremost indefatigably populist comedian for whom timing is everything.

Read all 16 critic reviews

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Directors C

A documentary movie shouldn't usually be completely biased and one-sided like this, but Michael Moore has obviously done his homework and researched the subject matter deep enough and with enough attention to detail to make up for it's narrow mindedness. Or is it really? I… More
A documentary movie shouldn't usually be completely biased and one-sided like this, but Michael Moore has obviously done his homework and researched the subject matter deep enough and with enough attention to detail to make up for it's narrow mindedness. Or is it really? I never knew a documentary about one of the most horrific terrorist attacks in history and politics in general, could be unboring, informant, funny, and entertaining at the same time. That was until I saw Fahrenheit 9/11. It's a real eye opener and a funny one too.
Jeff "

Fahrenheit 9/11 is the best documentary that Michael Moore has made. The film takes a look at the Government's handling of September 11, 2001 and the aftermath. Say what you want about Michael Moore, and believe me, I sometimes don't agree with him on everything he says but… More
Fahrenheit 9/11 is the best documentary that Michael Moore has made. The film takes a look at the Government's handling of September 11, 2001 and the aftermath. Say what you want about Michael Moore, and believe me, I sometimes don't agree with him on everything he says but his points in this film are very hard to ignore. This film brings to light some important issues and shows how inept the Bush administration was in dealing with 9/11. Fahrenheit 9/11 also deals with the Iraq War, a war that was very controversial The only real flaw the film possesses is the fact that it doesn't different points of view, it only shows Moore's point of view. Despite this, Fahrenheit 9/11 succeeds at being a very watchable film, one that will make the viewer ask questions and sometimes question certain decisions of their government. Despite the flaws, this is one good documentary, near perfect, but only biased towards Moore's opinion. However, this is a solid, well crafted documentary that showcases Michael Moore at his peak. Despite your opinion on Michael Moore or the decisions that Bush has made during his presidency, you can't deny that this film will spark debate, and make you aware of surprising facts. A flawed, but almost perfect documentary, Fahrenheit 9/11 is an intelligent, smartly crafted film that is simply put Michael Moore's best film.
familiar s

An over-hyped controversial documentary which reveals some startling facts, but fails to impress on the whole. It's effective in parts; but the sum of its parts isn't effective enough. But the movie has left its impression in another way. If someone in my country starts… More
An over-hyped controversial documentary which reveals some startling facts, but fails to impress on the whole. It's effective in parts; but the sum of its parts isn't effective enough. But the movie has left its impression in another way. If someone in my country starts making such a movie about some high-profile minister, let alone the President, he'll be finished before his movie. And even if someone manages to complete it, its chances of getting released are almost negligible. Such kind of film-makers won't be around for long in our country. They simply cannot afford to dare and wander fearlessly, taking statements, opinions, etc. like Michael Moore; they'd always have a sword hanging over their heads, which is bound to fall sooner than later if the person doesn't shut the fuck up. Americans are lucky to have such kind of freedom for its media.
Chris W

Well, it's Michael Moore, so that very fact right there will determine (for a lot of people) whether they will like this or not. My memory on this movie is fuzzy, and I think I dozed off for a bit while watching it, but that doesn't detract that this film brings some… More
Well, it's Michael Moore, so that very fact right there will determine (for a lot of people) whether they will like this or not. My memory on this movie is fuzzy, and I think I dozed off for a bit while watching it, but that doesn't detract that this film brings some important stuff to the table and has some merits going for it. As I generally say with all of my reviews for Moore's films, even though he has a major bias that he has no qualms about presenting, and even though he slants thigns to fit his agenda, you have to give him credit for doing his homework. His films are well researched, thought out, and made with ltos of care. He's not a reckless expose artist. If anyhting, this will get people talking, thinking, and maybe inspired in some way (still).
Thomas J

I do not know the Bushes are as thick with the bin Laden family as the movie points out, but it something I think few Americans know about. Michael Moore is like Fox News.... you know which way his political beliefs fall and he does a better job of finding supporting evidence than… More
I do not know the Bushes are as thick with the bin Laden family as the movie points out, but it something I think few Americans know about. Michael Moore is like Fox News.... you know which way his political beliefs fall and he does a better job of finding supporting evidence than Fox does!! lol Take with a grain of salt and see what questions may need more insight!
Spencer S

Moore's best work got him an Oscar, and mirrored the majority of America's concerns.
xGary X

The United States Of America is surely one of the most frustrating and downright baffling societies in the world. An inept dimwit gains power through the nepotism of his fat cat cronies, perverts the democratic process and steals a PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. He then uses a cowardly and… More
The United States Of America is surely one of the most frustrating and downright baffling societies in the world. An inept dimwit gains power through the nepotism of his fat cat cronies, perverts the democratic process and steals a PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. He then uses a cowardly and barbaric attack on his country to provoke a climate of fear over his OWN VOTERS so he can take away their civil liberties and bomb two countries whose populations had NOTHING to do with it into the stone age in order to profit from the reconconstruction after the devastation HE caused. Not to mention the fact that many of the soldiers dying half a world away are the very disenfranchised poor who had their votes stolen from them. And what do the American people (with the exception of a few egg throwers on inauguration day) do? Nothing. Nada. Zip. And yet when an intelligent, forward thinking president is FINALLY elected a society, so brainwashed by its capitalist overlords that they believe any attempt at beneficial social reform is anti-American or even dangerous, is up in arms at the idea of a free healthcare system FOR THEMSELVES!! In any other country, Michael Moore would be considered a champion and hero. In a place as screwed up as "the land of the free" however, he didn't stand a chance...
EightThirty .

11/04/2010 (DVD) Very funny. I'm not really into this stuff but this dude did a pretty good job with his material. A courageous film! Great interviews and the DVD extras is a treat. This is the real 'Matrix' and Michael Moore is 'Neo'.
Conner R

Interesting and definitely revealing, but Michael Moore really needs to find a way to present information in a more sophisticated fashion. His documentaries seem to come off as incredibly corny to me. Now at times that works, but in a lot of ways it has brought down the credibility of… More
Interesting and definitely revealing, but Michael Moore really needs to find a way to present information in a more sophisticated fashion. His documentaries seem to come off as incredibly corny to me. Now at times that works, but in a lot of ways it has brought down the credibility of his argument. It felt like a roast here more than anything. Now coming from someone who's extremely liberal, this was just too obvious and biased.
Lorenzo v

"The temperature where freedom burns!" Michael Moore's view on what happened to the United States after September 11; and how the Bush Administration allegedly used the tragic event to push forward its agenda for unjust wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.… More
"The temperature where freedom burns!" Michael Moore's view on what happened to the United States after September 11; and how the Bush Administration allegedly used the tragic event to push forward its agenda for unjust wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. <center>REVIEW</center> Documentarian filmmaker and political gadfly Michael Moore strikes once again this time in his take on the dubious Bush Administration and the machinations since 9/11 involving the quagmire of the Iraq War with some eye-widening moments of jaw-dropping incredulity that never fails to wake the viewer up with some truly startling media footage and just how bamboozled USA has become with politics, glad-handing and general crookedness that will turn even the most jaded non-political person promptly to their senses as the chicanery unfolds in at-times brilliantly funny and smartly edited (kudos to co-producer/editor Kurt Engfehr, Chris Seward and Todd Woody Richman) depictions of just how far one can blindly accept how things have become. A must see.
Lenny M

I saw it in high school, didn't know nothin' bout politics. There was so much buzz around this movie, it was stupid. It was released when a lot of the country still supported Bush, so Michael Moore's Bush bashing was controversial. The way Bush was portrared in the… More
I saw it in high school, didn't know nothin' bout politics. There was so much buzz around this movie, it was stupid. It was released when a lot of the country still supported Bush, so Michael Moore's Bush bashing was controversial. The way Bush was portrared in the clips is now the commonplace opinion of him. The idiotic Bush clips are great, everybody likes those, but this documentary is all over the place. It's not focused on one thing, Moore's ranting about everything, especially gun control. I was lost for most of it but man the Bush clips are great.
Sarah G

Moore may have some of the most biased documentaries that's ever been made but with this film, he shared the same opinion of the Bush administration with 95% of the world's population. It's because of that and the lengthy research that this guy does with every… More
Moore may have some of the most biased documentaries that's ever been made but with this film, he shared the same opinion of the Bush administration with 95% of the world's population. It's because of that and the lengthy research that this guy does with every documentry, that I give this 9/10. Perhaps I would like to see some of the Democrats being interviewed but apart from this it's very well made and no doubt depicts what what the idiots of the Bush administration were doing during that period of time. Definatly, worth watching, although if you're an avid Republican, probably best avoid. One of the better documentaries on the circumstances around the 9/11 attacks and Iraq. Recomendation: If you did enjoy this, check out Taxi To The Dark Side
Anthony L

I love some of the American reviews on this very page; "Michael Moore is an idiot. You might not like Bush, but you respect him because of the office he holds" That was written a couple of year ago now, when W was still in office but it goes to show the ridiculous and… More
I love some of the American reviews on this very page; "Michael Moore is an idiot. You might not like Bush, but you respect him because of the office he holds" That was written a couple of year ago now, when W was still in office but it goes to show the ridiculous and frightening 'Brainwashing' America undergoes all in the name of patriotism. My only concern with this film is the fact Moore holds back, I realise why he had/has to but it meant he focussed too much on one point and not on the whole story. Still, another great doc from Mr. Moore.
Jason S

Say what you want about the subject matter... it's a well made film. It's totally one sided but well made. This is the guy that brought the documentary feature into the main stream once again and made a splash doing it. I recommend you see it even if you don't agree… More
Say what you want about the subject matter... it's a well made film. It's totally one sided but well made. This is the guy that brought the documentary feature into the main stream once again and made a splash doing it. I recommend you see it even if you don't agree with the mans politics. He knows how to make a fluid flick.
Daniel P

In the end, if I recall correctly, there's just not enough meat on this bone for it to stand up to its many challengers. Though I haven't seen it since it was in theatres - now that the Bush "legacy" is completely established, I wouldn't mind re-evaluating… More
In the end, if I recall correctly, there's just not enough meat on this bone for it to stand up to its many challengers. Though I haven't seen it since it was in theatres - now that the Bush "legacy" is completely established, I wouldn't mind re-evaluating it - I remember thinking that he exploited too many loose connections and popular opnions (not to mention sentimentality). Unfortunately, to make a point like the one he was trying to make in this film - which I still don't think I've quite identified - he needs to back it up with a little more substance... though if his point was simply a combination of "Bush is an idiot" and "The Iraq War sucks", well, he succeeded there, but that's not exactly something most people couldn't construe from the newspaper most mornings... as entertaining as the rest of his work, but not as intellectually engaging, which makes it sort of ironic that this garnered him the Palme d'Or. Then again, generalities about America would be more likely to appeal to people who don't live there. I like Moore, but I always try to take him with a grain of salt... and for this over-emotional, even if reasonable - but not adequately substantiated in the film! - culmination of his anger with Bush, I had the sense that I might need a couple kilos.
Tim S

Moore is on the loose again, and this time he's taking on The Bush Administration. What a shocker! In all seriousness, this is a very relevant and very entertaining piece.
Curtis L

Michael Moore has some good points, but overall he is really annoying and ignores any facts that differ from his agenda.
Tsubaki S

Very weak effort from Moore, while "Bowling.." was sharp and direct to the point, this one goes the easy route with too much cheap sentimental exploits, among other stuff.
Candy R

Documentary exploring aftermath of 911.
Rachel F

Loved it. I absolutely love Michael Moore and how honest he is.