Bukowski: Born Into This
Director John Dullaghan’s biographical documentary about infamous poet Charles Bukowski, Bukowski: Born Into This, is as much a touching portrait of the author as it is an exposé of his sordid lifestyle. Interspersed between ample vintage footage of Bukowski’s poetry readings are interviews with the poet’s fans including such legendary figures such as Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Joyce Fante (wife of John), Bono, and Harry Dean Stanton. Filmed in grainy black and white by Bukowski’s friend, Taylor Hackford, due to lack of funding, the old films edited into this movie paint Bukowski’s life of boozing and brawling romantically, securing Bukowski’s legendary status.
Where to watch Bukowski: Born Into This in United States
Amazon VideoAmazon VideoClick a service to open Bukowski: Born Into This there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
About Bukowski: Born Into This
Bukowski: Born Into This is a 2003 English-language documentary film directed by John Dullaghan. The cast is led by Charles Bukowski, Harry Dean Stanton, Sean Penn. It has a runtime of 1h 55m. Viewers rate it 6.8/10 across 100 ratings. In United States, it is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video.
Bukowski: Born Into This was produced in United States of America. It was released on January 18, 2003, and carries a R certification.
- Director
- John Dullaghan
- Release date
- January 18, 2003
- Original language
- English
- Age rating
- R
- Status
- Released
- Country
- United States of America
Bukowski: Born Into This cast & crew
Bukowski: Born Into This was directed by John Dullaghan.
The cast features Charles Bukowski as Self, Harry Dean Stanton as Self, Sean Penn as Self, Bono as Self, Linda Bukowski as Self, and Pam Miller as Self.
Is Bukowski: Born Into This worth watching?
Bukowski: Born Into This holds an audience score of 6.8/10 from 53 ratings, a solidly received documentary films.
At 1h 55m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy documentary, Bukowski: Born Into This is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch Bukowski: Born Into This
Bukowski: Born Into This isn't on a subscription service in United States right now, but you can rent or buy it on Amazon Video.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
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Cast of Bukowski: Born Into This
Charles Bukowski
Self
Harry Dean Stanton
Self
Sean Penn
Self
Bono
Self
Linda Bukowski
Self
Pam Miller
Self
Taylor Hackford
Self
Barbet Schroeder
Self
Tom Waits
Self
Michael D. Meloan
Self
Marina Bukowski
daughter of Charles and Frances Smith
Neeli Cherkovski
Self
Bukowski: Born Into This — FAQs
▸Where can I watch Bukowski: Born Into This in United States?
Bukowski: Born Into This is not on subscription streaming in United States right now, but you can rent or buy it on Amazon Video.
▸What language is Bukowski: Born Into This in?
Bukowski: Born Into This is originally in English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is Bukowski: Born Into This?
Bukowski: Born Into This runs 1 hours 55 minutes (115 minutes).
▸What is Bukowski: Born Into This rated?
Bukowski: Born Into This is rated R. It holds a 6.8/10 audience score from 53 ratings.
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