User Score
8.3 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 76 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 73 out of 76
  2. Negative: 1 out of 76

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  1. Jan 25, 2011
    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
  2. tor
    Sep 10, 2010
    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
  3. Sep 28, 2010
    8
    At times when watching a monotonous documentary, there are feelings as though I was placed in a relatively interesting history class. In other words, while many documentaries have some appeal to them, a lot of them lean towards the lets lecture the audience motive instead of actually creating an entertaining experience. Exit Through The Gift Shop breaks this mold and instead creates a documentary that creates a narrative filled with comedy and artistry that depending on the person, one would hardly disregard. There has been wide speculation that Guettas story is another of Banskys pranks to fool its audience, hence the Brainwash. The artistry that is induced within Guettas works are of ridicule and it causes the audience to question the factuality of the film overall. While that may be called to question, there is no doubt that the film is entertaining. There are some stunning pieces of street art and present is an insight of this sub-mainstream movement. Banksy displays how street art is slowly being sold-out and that it is slowly become more prevalent in society than ever before. Overall, this film is insightful as well as engaging; it is crafted in a manner that it displays a fully played out story, with many elements contributing to the films overall success. It never seizes to be fascinating, and there is a sense of completeness that is absent in many movies of its genre. Anyone with interest in the world of street art or art as a whole will find Banksys film to be both compelling and intuitive. Expand
  4. Catherine
    Apr 19, 2010
    9
    Banksy, a street artist of whom I was wholly ignorant, emerges as a fascinating thinker and he-who-gets-the-last-laugh in this often hilarious film on the fatuousness of art worshippers.
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  5. Lyn
    Mar 12, 2011
    9
    I did not see this as being quite as profound as some reviewers did -- but that's what I loved about it. Who says a documentary has to be wall-to-wall profundity about politics, war, assisted suicide, etc., to provide an enlightening experience? The peek into the art world, and the laughs, made this a real delight.
  6. Nov 27, 2011
    9
    Sorry, translation Italian / English mechanical. Thierry Guetta aka Mr. Brainwash Like it or not, Thierry Guetta aka Mr. Brainwash, has achieved success. Deserved success for the immense hard work, always alive to the desire to capture the unusual. Many are "no!" receiving the work of the French, who knows maybe in a few years ....,. There are, then, "they may think" people who want to enjoy instant, to understand his works. On June 18, 2008 in Los Angeles, the big event "Life is Beautiful." A few hours before Guetta is a chubby little Frenchman and unknown, a few hours later, the little Frenchman is a little more famous and more rich. They are the "bucks" the real purpose of the work of Thierry? No. I do not think so. Of money with his old job he already has so many, why risk it? For what? The whiskers on the other hand wants to from the video easier to find himself, to make a change to his life. So I understand. Thousands of hours of shooting, thousands of trays kept in cages, several drawers and containers finally find the right location "mental" and here is the artist that consolidates the success of the year 2008, making the album cover of Madonna Celebration /. And the next year, we are in 2010, we find for the second solo "Cons" in New York and then back to work for major artists. Exit Through The Gift Shop by Banksy, gave us the possibility to enter and experience a magical night world, fair and beautiful. The street artist is a tightrope walker. It 'the only one who is able to blend its colors with the magic of the night. And then ...? And then nothing, everything is left to the imagination of the observer "morning after". E. .. Banksy, Space Invader, Shepard Fairey? Well, these are just some of the many angels who inhabit the metropolitan nights. Good Click! Expand
  7. Jan 8, 2011
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. On a superficial level, this movie is an interesting documentary about the international street art scene (something most people probably expect when they go and see it) and its shining icon Banksy. However, early in the movie it becomes obvious that the main theme is the radical activism and persistency of a person when it comes to reaching his goals. Expand
  8. Feb 24, 2011
    6
    Feels like Thierry Guetta's unpublished film "Life Remote Control" would have been a more interesting one to watch. But also feels MBW is just another front for Banksy to go commercial and sell his artwork... whatever it is the artwork alone is worth the watch.
  9. Dec 26, 2010
    9
    Equally hilarious and fascinating, Banksy's documentary on street art is a very interesting exploration into the modern art world and what exactly "art" is. By far, one of the best docs of 2010. Hopefully the Academy will recognize it, despite not being about orphans or the Holocaust.
  10. Dec 11, 2010
    9
    The film established this new idea of Banksy creating the street graffiti art, but that is a little misguided. But misguided or not, Exit Through the Gift Shop gives an entertaining look on modern art. We used to think that art is boring and perhaps useless, but the film proposes the idea of anyone can be an artist and succeed. The subject, Thierry, was originally a film maker turned into creating art. Most of the art is just photoshop work and Thierry just gave the idea, he did not make the art. Even though Thierry didn't make the art, he still is the famous one after the show. And throughout the film, you see that there's something wrong with this guy! But by the end of the day, he is the one with the money. And that brings up a very interesting question. How the hell did that happen? Exit Through The Gift Shop is entertaining, engrossing, and phenomenonly executed. The movie turns art into a very interesting subject to debate about. OscarBuzz: Best Documentary (Good chance) Expand
  11. Aug 29, 2011
    8
    I really liked the movie. It had humour and the story was very interesting. This movie has proved to me that graffiti is a type of art. Should have won the Oscar it was nominated for.
  12. Jan 13, 2011
    10
    There is a very very high chance that this is my favorite movie of the year 2010. The characters are so off the wall odd and unpredictable that you almost have to think it's a hoax (after all it's not like there wasn't another documentary hoax this year with crazy characters). Rhys Ifans is a great narrator, his calm voice makes for a great delivery. Even if you don't give a damn about street art, see it Expand
  13. Feb 26, 2011
    9
    The unintentional comedy of the film makes it very enjoyable. I think this film is very revealing about our perception of art and the amount of money people are willing to pay for it if it is labeled as "visionary". Even though to me it seems like MBW is a crazy guy with photo shop, I was really able to appreciate everything that goes into making street art. This movie is a lot better than any synopsis you may read about it, and gets my vote for documentary of the year. Expand
  14. Sep 13, 2011
    10
    This is the best documentary i've ever seen. but that is probably cause i just love street art.
  15. Mar 22, 2012
    10
    Fantastic even if taken at face value. If elements are false or even if the personality of the main protagonist is a fabrication of Banksy, this would add rather than detract from the experience. Hugely entertaining.
Metascore

Universal acclaim - based on 27 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 27
  2. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. Narrated by Rhys Ifans with the dryness of a dessicated toad, Exit Through the Gift Shop is both an exhilarating testament to serendipity and an appalling testament to art-world inanity.
  2. Reviewed by: Justin Lowe
    90
    Hugely entertaining documentary challenges conventional concepts of legitimate art and the creative process.
  3. Reviewed by: Peter Debruge
    80
    A raucously entertaining postmodern survey of guerrilla street art that appears to be one thing, only to fold back on itself and examine would-be filmmaker Thierry Guetta instead.