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hello@flickmovies.comDowntown '81 (2001) | Flick

Downtown '81 backdrop

Downtown '81

2001·Drama·1h 12m

6.9

★

The film is a day in the life of a young artist, Jean-Michel Basquiat, who needs to raise money to reclaim the apartment from which he has been evicted. He wanders the downtown streets carrying a painting he hopes to sell, encountering friends, whose lives (and performances) we peek into.

Directed by Edo Bertoglio

new york city

artist

art

anarchic comedy

Trailer

IMDB

N/A

Letterboxd

3.6 / 5

Where to Watch

Cast

Jean-Michel Basquiat

Jean-Michel Basquiat

Jean (archive footage)

Saul Williams

Saul Williams

Jean's Narration (voice)

Debbie Harry

Debbie Harry

Fairy Godmother

Coati Mundi

Coati Mundi

Self

Debi Mazar

Debi Mazar

Peppermint Lounge Dancer

Steven Brown

Steven Brown

Self - Vocals, Tuxedomoon

Eszter Balint

Eszter Balint

Self

Kid Creole

Kid Creole

Self - Vocals and Guitar, Kid Creole & The Coconuts

Fab 5 Freddy

Fab 5 Freddy

Graffiti Artist

Arto Lindsay

Arto Lindsay

Self

John Lurie

John Lurie

Self

Michael Holman

Michael Holman

Michael

Crew

Edo Bertoglio

Edo Bertoglio

Director

Vincent Gallo

Vincent Gallo

Original Music Composer

Maripol

Maripol

Producer

Vincent Gallo

Vincent Gallo

Thanks

Maripol

Maripol

Art Direction

Popular Reviews

65 reviews

Avery

3.0★ · 04/05/26

Debbie Harry is how I always pictured fairy princesses

Debbie Harry is how I always pictured fairy princesses

Will Marrone

10.0★ · 02/20/26

What is my medium

What is my medium

fartsmella

4.0★ · 11/21/25

Yeah ok I wanna live in New York just like every other freak

This movie was like pretty bad and it makes me sad because it had a lot of potential but Basquiat you seemed like a very cool guy thank you for making the album cover of one of The Strokes' best albums

Yeah ok I wanna live in New York just like every other freak

This movie was like pretty bad and it makes me sad because it had a lot of potential but Basquiat you seemed like a very cool guy thank you for making the album cover of one of The Strokes' best albums

ashton

9.0★ · 11/07/25

QUE VIAGEMKKKKKKKKKK queria passar um dia só papeando com o basquiat
MUSICA BOAZUDA gostei muito

QUE VIAGEMKKKKKKKKKK queria passar um dia só papeando com o basquiat
MUSICA BOAZUDA gostei muito

Rotten Takes

6.0★ · 09/07/25

Maybe I'll revisit this sometime, but this film is garbago for the puppet like acting and dub, but the mood and tone almost save it for me. A weird movie, but charming in a way

Maybe I'll revisit this sometime, but this film is garbago for the puppet like acting and dub, but the mood and tone almost save it for me. A weird movie, but charming in a way

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