Blow (2001)
Kernel Score: 81% · 4,539 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Crime, Drama
Released: 2001-04-04
Runtime: 124 minutes
Is Blow worth watching?
Worth watching. A slick, entertaining rise-and-fall story of a cocaine smuggler, with a strong Johnny Depp. It's familiar but well done.
Watch it if you
- like drug-trade true stories
- enjoy 70s settings
- like crime biopics
Skip it if you
- want something new
- dislike drug-world films
Best for: Crime movie night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Blow
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
A boy named George Jung grows up in a struggling family in the 1950's. His mother nags at her husband as he is trying to make a living for the family. It is finally revealed that George's father cannot make a living and the family goes bankrupt. George does not want the same thing to happen to him, and his friend Tuna, in the 1960's, suggests that he deal marijuana. He is a big hit in California in the 1960's, yet he goes to jail, where he finds out about the wonders of cocaine. As a result, when released, he gets rich by bringing cocaine to America. However, he soon pays the price.
Blow parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that Blow is an R-rated biographical crime drama about a real-life cocaine trafficker's rise and fall, including heavy drug use and its consequences.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Crime drama elements around a drug empire suggest moderate violence typical of the R rating.
- Language: Moderate — R rating for a gritty crime biopic implies frequent strong language.
- Drinking, drugs & smoking: Intense — The film centers on drug smuggling, addiction, and a cocaine empire, per keywords and overview.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Blow
If you liked Blow, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Scarface (1983) — 88%: Classic rise-and-fall of a drug lord
- GoodFellas (1990) — 92%: Benchmark crime biography
- American Gangster (2007) — 86%: Another true crime rise-and-fall
- Lord of War (2005) — 85%: Another rise-and-fall story
- Requiem for a Dream (2000) — 89%: The harrowing cost of drugs
- The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) — 95%: Excess and fall
Director
Ted Demme
Cast
- Johnny Depp as George Jung
- Penélope Cruz as Mirtha Jung
- Franka Potente as Barbara Buckley
- Rachel Griffiths as Ermine Jung
- Ray Liotta as Fred Jung
- Jordi Mollà as Diego Delgado
- Cliff Curtis as Pablo Escobar
- Paul Reubens as Derek Foreal
- Miguel Sandoval as Augusto Oliveras
- Max Perlich as Kevin Dulli
Blow FAQ
Is Blow worth watching?
Worth watching. A slick, entertaining rise-and-fall story of a cocaine smuggler, with a strong Johnny Depp. It's familiar but well done.
Where can I watch Blow?
In the US you can rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Blow OK for kids?
Blow is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Blow is an R-rated biographical crime drama about a real-life cocaine trafficker's rise and fall, including heavy drug use and its consequences.
What movies are like Blow?
If you liked Blow, try Scarface, GoodFellas, American Gangster and Lord of War.