Exit Through the Gift Shop Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic

Exit Through the Gift Shop

Studio: Producers Distribution Agency (PDA)
Release Date: Apr 16, 2010

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Metascore

85 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 27 Critics What's this?

User Score

8.2 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 70 Ratings

Your Score

10 out of 10

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Starring: Banksy, Space Invader, Thierry Guetta
Summary: Exit Through the Gift Shop, the first film by renowned graffiti artist Banksy, became the hottest ticket at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival where it made its world debut. Banksy is a graffiti artist with a global reputation whose work can be seen on walls from post—hurricane New Orleans to the separation barrier on the Palestinian West Bank. Fiercely guarding his anonymity to avoid prosecution, Banksy has so far resisted all attempts to be captured on film. Exit Through the Gift Shop tells the incredible true story of how an eccentric French shop keeper turned documentary maker attempted to locate and befriend Banksy, only to have the artist turn the camera back on its owner – with spectacular results. The film contains exclusive footage of Banksy, Shepard Fairey, Invader and many of the world's most infamous graffiti artists at work, on walls and in interview. As Banksy describes it, "It's basically the story of how one man set out to film the un—filmable. And failed." (Paranoid Pictures)… Expand

Director: Banksy
Genre(s): Comedy, Documentary
Rating: R
Runtime: 87 min
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:

Positive: 26 out of 27
Mixed: 1 out of 27
Negative: 0 out of 27

Boston Globe
Reviewed by: Ty Burr

100

One of the best, most karmically satisfying comedies of the year, much to the chagrin of the people who are in it.

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Time Out New York
Reviewed by: Joshua Rothkopf

100

That rarest of art documentaries, one that actually leaves viewers with a better sense of the gifted versus the phony.

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The New Yorker
Reviewed by: Anthony Lane

50

As a study in prankhood, this Banksy film can't touch "F for Fake," Orson Welles's 1974 movie about an art forger. Welles both conspired with his untrustworthy subject and held him at arm's length, like a conjurer with his rabbit, and you came out dazzled by the sleight, whereas Exit Through the Gift Shop feels dangerously close to the promotion of a cult--almost, dare one say it, of a brand.

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User Reviews

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Score distribution:

Positive: 14 out of 14
Mixed: 0 out of 14
Negative: 0 out of 14

VikingNieku

10

This is the best documentary i've ever seen. but that is probably cause i just love street art.

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tor

10

This movie is one for the ages. Absolutely brilliant at many levels. If you have any interest in art or culture or how these things are defined and critiqued, this movie will make your head spin. The characters are completely unique, and there are dramatic twists that rival anything fiction writers have come up with in the past few decades. It's really better the less you know about it. Just plan on having coffee afterward; you will desperately want to discuss it. What is real and what is hype? Who gets to decide what is good art? Who is an artist? These questions are confronted in a bizarre and ingenious "plot." You may also be aware of a sidebar about the movie itself: Is it real or is it staged? In my opinion, it hardly matters. Just let it unfold and have fun.… Expand

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2 of 2 users said yes
blok

10

If the "Academy" were truly looking for the Best Picture, they would have to include this. It was better by far than any 2010 film I've seen, and yes that includes "Black Swan," "Inception," "Winter's Bone," "Social Network," and the way overrated "True Grit." Banksy's movie transcends the genre of documentary and lands in virtually unknown territory: factual, farcical, thought-provoking, and really damn entertaining. Is it a hoax? Possibly, but doesn't that only increase Banksy's brilliance? And if you're turned off by the later turn into absurd narrative and biting satire against the art community and popular culture, you can't argue with the first half which focuses almost exclusively on amazing street art sequences. I consider this alongside "Waltz with Bashir" as a documentary that blows all other docs out of the water. It is a total movie experience. Before seeing this I didn't know who Banksy was. One day later he's a personal hero.… Expand

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3 of 3 users said yes

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Trailers

EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP
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