Directed by:
Julian SchnabelScreenplay:
Julian SchnabelCinematography:
Ron FortunatoCast:
Jeffrey Wright, Michael Wincott, Benicio Del Toro, Claire Forlani, David Bowie, Dennis Hopper, Gary Oldman, Christopher Walken, Willem Dafoe (more)Plots(1)
In 1981, Jean-Michel Basquiat catapulted from being an unknown nineteen-year-old graffiti writer to becoming one of the most successful, controversial, glamorous artists in the world. His shows were anticipated as the big events of the New York season, and his paintings were bought by the most powerful collectors and museums. Every aspect of his life became a subject for the media. By 1988, he was dead at the age of 27. Basquiat was described by The New York Times as the art world's closest equivalent to James Dean. In spite of his success, this turbulent and talented young painter was also plagued by loneliness, self-destruction and the belief that people really did not accept him for who he was. As the first black contemporary artist to really succeed in the powerful white art world, his early death shows that he was a casualty as well as a phenomenal success. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
![Jeffrey Wright](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/166/141/166141522_a5d79f.jpg)
Jeffrey Wright
USA
Best movies:
Casino Royale (2006)
Source Code (2011)
The Batman (2022)
![Michael Wincott](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/267/267619_4b749f.jpg)
Michael Wincott
Canada
Best movies:
The Doors (1991)
Dead Man (1995)
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007)
![Benicio Del Toro](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/166/421/166421278_054d63.jpg)
Benicio Del Toro
Puerto Rico
Best movies:
The Usual Suspects (1995)
Snatch (2000)
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
![Claire Forlani](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/269/269063_980bf1.jpg)
Claire Forlani
UK
Best movies:
The Rock (1996)
Hooligans (2005)
Meet Joe Black (1998)
![David Bowie](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/267/267486_00e930.jpg)
David Bowie
UK
Best movies:
The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert (1992) (concert)
The Prestige (2006)
The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
![Dennis Hopper](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/823/162823463_b47c53.jpg)
Dennis Hopper
USA
Best movies:
Cool Hand Luke (1967)
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Blue Velvet (1986)
![Gary Oldman](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/163/766/163766155_638cf5.jpg)
Gary Oldman
UK
Best movies:
The Dark Knight (2008)
Léon: The Professional (1994)
Batman Begins (2005)
![Christopher Walken](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/020/164020349_c4e5a7.jpg)
Christopher Walken
USA
Best movies:
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Dune: Part Two (2024)
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
![Willem Dafoe](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/163/748/163748110_fd1416.jpg)
Willem Dafoe
USA
Best movies:
Platoon (1986)
The Kingdom (1994) (series)
Finding Nemo (2003)
Jean-Claude La Marre
Best movies:
Basquiat (1996)
Denise Calls Up (1995)
Malcolm X (1992)
![Parker Posey](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/166/212/166212025_9adac7.jpg)
Parker Posey
USA
Best movies:
Basquiat (1996)
Henry Fool (1997)
You've Got Mail (1998)
![Elina Löwensohn](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/126/162126839_003314.png)
Elina Löwensohn
Romania
Best movies:
Schindler's List (1993)
The Girl Without Hands (2016)
Basquiat (1996)
![Paul Bartel](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/218/162218731_6ee349.jpg)
Paul Bartel
USA
Best movies:
The Usual Suspects (1995)
Basquiat (1996)
Rock 'n' Roll High School (1979)
![Courtney Love](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/969/162969105_ee6cd9.png)
Courtney Love
USA
Best movies:
Man on the Moon (1999)
The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996)
Basquiat (1996)
![Tatum O'Neal](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/390/164390350_76fb21.png)
Tatum O'Neal
USA
Best movies:
Paper Moon (1973)
Basquiat (1996)
Circle of Two (1981)
![Michael Badalucco](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/158/572/158572107_9dc9b6.jpg)
Michael Badalucco
USA
Best movies:
Léon: The Professional (1994)
Raging Bull (1980)
The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)
Leonard Jackson
USA
Best movies:
The Color Purple (1985)
Basquiat (1996)
Conspiracy Theory (1997)
![Frederick Weller](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/345/161345367_3c2bf9.jpg)
Frederick Weller
USA
Best movies:
Basquiat (1996)
The Fundamentals of Caring (2016)
BlacKkKlansman (2018)
![Sam Rockwell](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/296/164296966_600f17.jpg)
Sam Rockwell
USA
Best movies:
The Green Mile (1999)
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
Box of Moon Light (1996)
![Benjamín Benítez](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/274/274965_16d1a6.jpg)
Benjamín Benítez
USA
Best movies:
Frida (2002)
Basquiat (1996)
Before Night Falls (2000)