Directed By:Harmony Korine
Written By:Harmony Korine
Gummo
Metascore
Overwhelming Dislike
19
User score
Generally Favorable
7.1
My Score
Drag or tap to give a rating
Hover and click to give a rating
Top Cast
Metascore
Overwhelming Dislike
19
7% Positive
1 Review
1 Review
27% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
67% Negative
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
75
Gummo isn't so much a movie as it is an experiment, and, taken on those terms, it is a fascinating piece of work. Repellent, disgusting and ugly, yes -- but still fascinating. [23 Jan. 1998, p.5G]
50
Different viewers might find different portions worthy of anything from zero to four stars, but anyone with a faint heart or weak stomach should stay miles away from it. [24 Oct. 1997, p.13]
User score
Generally Favorable
7.1
64% Positive
47 Ratings
47 Ratings
21% Mixed
15 Ratings
15 Ratings
15% Negative
11 Ratings
11 Ratings
Oct 22, 2018
10
Love it or hate it, I guarantee you've never seen anything like this before. The negative reviews of this film misunderstand its purpose, but also prove its success. It's not meant to have a story and it's not meant to show a realistic portrayal of poor people. It's an art film and you should think about every character and scene critically. Although it has a minor narrative, treat each scene as unrelated vignettes. As director Harmony Korine stated, it's supposed to be more like looking through an old photo album; there's no cohesive story, just moments, but when you look at your own photos as a collection you can create your own narrative from it. With very little written dialogue and only 5 actors with previous acting experience, this is simultaneously one of the most surreal and most genuine movies you will ever see.
30
Gummo is personal, honest and raw, but it's also erratic, self-indulgent and full of ideas that are not fully explored. [8 Sept. 1997, p.80]
25
Gummo is one of the most repellent cinematic efforts in recent memory. Whatever small audiences it attracts -- and they will be drawn mostly by the prospect of watching something "shocking" -- will wind up leaving the theater in a state of disgust. [21 Nov. 1997, p.5E]
20
Virtually plotless, the movie does its best to be offensive, but not in the service of any particular theme. The use of mentally impaired youngsters as actors is cheap and exploitative. You can only wonder about the emperor's new clothes, and how much Hollywood paid for them. [17 Oct. 1997, p.52]
0
There's no artistic or thematic point — except maybe to demonstrate that a young filmmaker is as much in need of someone to say no as the characters in this disingenuous exercise.
0
Now I realize my confessed appreciation for Kids will thoroughly bugger my credibility in describing Gummo with phrases like “appalling,” “gratuitously cruel,” and “exploitative,” but the unmitigated repulsiveness of this film pretty much rules out all subtler options.
Sep 26, 2017
10
probably my favorite movie ever. brilliant depiction of bleakness. Harmony Korine is such a visionary in what he decides to piece together. the scene with Solomon working out to Like a Prayer is still one of my favorite scenes in any movie, it's just all very real and special. the entire movie is just natural and shows dark moments in small town America. just superbly unique in every moment.
Jun 25, 2024
6
It's a very unique, old movie. After watching the trailer of the movie, it seemed like a movie that depicts an ordinary life, but also an unusual phenomenon, with unexpected events. It seems to be a movie that many people know.
Feb 14, 2014
5
Good and Bad I believe. Maybe. I'm still not sure. Maybe I'm not the only one to think so, but this film sickens me. I'm still trying to figure out why, and trying to figure out what the heck I just watched.
Apr 28, 2026
0
Ew that was just a gross movie. I felt like throwing up at times because of gummo: the movie
Production Company:
- Fine Line Features
- Independent Pictures (II)
Release Date:Oct 17, 1997
Duration:1 h 29 m
Rating:R
Tagline:Prepare to visit a town you'd never want to call home.
Awards
Gotham Awards
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
Gijón International Film Festival
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
Venice Film Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
