Cowboy Bebop the Movie: Knockin' on Heaven's Door

Name: Cowboy Bebop the Movie: Knockin' on Heaven's Door
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Comedy, Crime
Released: April 4, 2003
Duration: 116 min
Rating: 61
Cast: Beau Billingslea, Melissa Fahn

2003

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 23 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 121 Ratings

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8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 121 Ratings

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Cowboy Bebop the Movie: Knockin' on Heaven's Door

Movie Details & Credits

Destination Films | Release Date: April 4, 2003 | R

Starring: Beau Billingslea, Melissa Fahn

Summary: Set on Mars in the year 2071, this film, based on the wildly popular Japanese Anime TV series "Cowboy Bebop," pits Spike and his gang of gypsy vigilantes against their deadliest adversary ever.

Director: Hiroyuki Okiura and Shinichirô Watanabe

Genre(s): Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Comedy, Crime, Animation

Rating: R

Runtime: 116 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Stephanie Zacharek

There's something to be said for watching an animated movie not with the eyes of a child, but with those of a turned-on grownup. Read full review

Empire Staff (Not credited)

Has something for everyone. Read full review

Patrick Z. McGavin

Magnetic, beautiful stuff. Read full review

Elizabeth Weitzman

Despite the spectacularly cool opening credits and some first-rate animation, the story starts to flag about halfway through. Read full review

Dallas Observer Luke Y. Thompson

When the action sequences work, they work well; the climax cribs heavily from 1989's "Batman," but improves on Tim Burton's finale. Read full review

Robert Koehler

Though it isn't the entirely original creation "Metropolis" was, Bebop is more satisfying. Read full review

Eric Campos

Good news is that most of the marvelous English dialogue cast from the Cowboy Bebop series has returned for the film. The bad news is that the heart and soul of the series hasn’t. Read full review

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User Reviews

EDOG123

Oct 10, 2017

Cowboy bebop is by far one of the best anime ever created. Even today, this anime looks graphically appealing as well as hooking. I watched this movie years ago and it left me curious and reflective about the meaning . Watching this series as a kid leaves nostalgia for me . Please if you'reCowboy bebop is by far one of the best anime ever created. Even today, this anime looks graphically appealing as well as hooking. I watched this movie years ago and it left me curious and reflective about the meaning . Watching this series as a kid leaves nostalgia for me . Please if you're looking for a nice anime to watch this will be more than you're looking for.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

mikasa_

Aug 3, 2022

Культовая классика аниме, которая дополняет оригинальный сериал и глубже раскрывает характеры персонажей. Смотрится еще приятнее, ведь теперь полностью снято как настоящее кино, со всеми вытекающими киллер-фичамиКультовая классика аниме, которая дополняет оригинальный сериал и глубже раскрывает характеры персонажей. Смотрится еще приятнее, ведь теперь полностью снято как настоящее кино, со всеми вытекающими киллер-фичами

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

BernardoBenv

Dec 30, 2017

Cowboy Bebop The Movie: Knockin' on Heaven's Door is a good movie even for someone who has never watched the series. It's story is good, with moments that can make the viewer stand on the edge of their seats. The characters are well-made aswell, although the antagonist's goals might be aCowboy Bebop The Movie: Knockin' on Heaven's Door is a good movie even for someone who has never watched the series. It's story is good, with moments that can make the viewer stand on the edge of their seats. The characters are well-made aswell, although the antagonist's goals might be a little weak, even the side characters can be captivating. The soundtrack for the movie, just like the series, is a masterpiece, the "americanization" of the setting is crafted meticulously by Watanabe and Nobumoto, which makes the songs even more fitting. The animation itself is quite good (considering it was made in 2001) having detail filled backgrounds in most scenes. One thing that really stands out in Cowboy Bebop are the fight scenes, because they actually make sense, being carefully choreographed making them feel like real fights, especially the last fight of the movie.
Since it's Cowboy Bebop, we also have to take a look into the meaning behind the movie, it's "philosophical" meaning is quite a cliché one, but that doesn't make it bad.
If there's a downside to this movie it would be the same as the series, where the pacing sometimes feels a bit odd and also some minor plot holes that can make you scratch your head, but none of these are enough to take you out of this futuristic bounty-hunting masterpiece.
See you space cowboy.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Kostas101

Oct 30, 2021

Essentially, an amazing Cowboy Bebop episode. As a stand-alone movie itself, it's great, but it doesn't add anything new to the story of Cowboy Bebop, it mostly feels like a top tier Cowboy Bebop episode, with awesome fight scenes, a lot of action, new characters and fantastic music.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Kostas_Spirou

Dec 29, 2021

Essentially, an amazing Cowboy Bebop episode. As a stand-alone movie itself, it's great, but it doesn't add anything new to the story of Cowboy Bebop, it mostly feels like a top tier episode from the anime series, with awesome fight scenes, a lot of action, new characters and fantastic music.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

YannySp101

Nov 20, 2021

I already did a review on Cowboy Bebop before, I absolutely loved it, but I didn't watch the movie.
Today I found a way to watch it and it was worth it!
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie is like an episode of Cowboy Bebop, but longer than the rest. How does it compare to Cowboy Bebop's other episodes?I already did a review on Cowboy Bebop before, I absolutely loved it, but I didn't watch the movie.
Today I found a way to watch it and it was worth it!
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie is like an episode of Cowboy Bebop, but longer than the rest.
How does it compare to Cowboy Bebop's other episodes? It's probably one of the best.
How does it compare to Cowboy Bebop as a whole? Well... It doesn't really reach Cowboy Bebop's brilliance, but it gets quite close in some aspects, and even surpasses most of Cowboy Bebop's action sequences.
The plot is very interesting and it's definitely better than the plot in most of Cowboy Bebop's episodes.
The characters are the same old characters from Cowboy Bebop - albeit not as fleshed out as in Cowboy Bebop - but with 2 new, nice additional characters and a really good antagonist.
Music is like Cowboy Bebop's, but more upbeat.
All in all, it's a strong package overall.
My only complaint about the movie is that it isn't deep enough; it has it's moments, but it really does feel like watching an episode of Cowboy Bebop instead of something... bigger.

Pros:
+ Engaging story
+ Same old cast
+ Great music

Cons:
- Doesn't stand on its own perfectly

Narrative: 8/10
Characters: 8/10
Score: 8/10

Final Rating: 8/10
- Great -
For those who are looking for more Cowboy Bebop, Cowboy Bebop: The Movie - Knocking on Heaven's Door is definitely worth to watch, but it's also a decent movie on it's own.

Do I recommend it?:
Yes, especially to the fans of the anime.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Tubie

Nov 2, 2010

If you like the series you probably already watched this movie. If you haven't then go and find a way to get this movie. It has all the elements that make Cowboy Bebop what it is. This movie is much better than many real life action crap we get today.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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84	#84 Most Discussed Movie of 2003
81	#81 Most Shared Movie of 2003