American Movie (1999)

Last updated:
January 23, 2026

American Movie is one of the most honest, tragicomic, and unexpectedly emotional documentaries ever made about filmmaking. Released in 1999 and directed by Chris Smith, the film follows an aspiring independent filmmaker whose dreams are far bigger than his budget, talent, or circumstances. What begins as a behind-the-scenes documentary slowly transforms into a deeply human portrait of obsession, friendship, addiction, and artistic stubbornness.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

The Dream of Becoming a Filmmaker

The documentary centers on Mark Borchardt, a filmmaker from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who has dreamed of becoming a famous director since childhood. His ultimate goal is to make a low-budget horror feature titled Northwestern, which he believes will launch his career.

Mark lives with his elderly uncle Bill, works sporadic minimum-wage jobs, struggles with alcoholism, and has virtually no financial support. Despite this, his belief in his own destiny as a filmmaker is unshakable.

From the very beginning, the film establishes its central tension:
an unstoppable dream colliding with very real life problems.

The Broken Production of Northwestern

Mark has already started shooting Northwestern years earlier, but the project is in chaos. Actors have quit, footage has been lost, money has vanished, and production has stalled repeatedly.

He realizes that without completing a shorter film first, he will never secure funding. His solution is to make a 30-minute black-and-white horror short called Coven (pronounced “COH-ven,” not “CUH-ven,” a running joke throughout the movie).

This smaller film becomes the immediate focus of the documentary.

Enter Mike Schank

One of the most unforgettable elements of American Movie is Mike Schank, Mark’s best friend and longtime collaborator.

Mike is soft-spoken, socially anxious, recovering from substance abuse, and deeply loyal to Mark. While Mark is explosive, argumentative, and often manipulative, Mike quietly supports him emotionally and financially.

Their relationship becomes the emotional backbone of the film.
Mike believes in Mark long after logic says he shouldn’t.

Funding Problems and Desperation

Mark scrambles for money in increasingly desperate ways:

He borrows from friends and family
He works briefly as a gravedigger
He sells personal belongings
He pressures his uncle Bill into investing

Every attempt leads to conflict.

Mark frequently alienates the very people trying to help him. His temper, perfectionism, and drinking habits repeatedly derail progress. Scenes of screaming matches are followed immediately by heartfelt apologies and renewed optimism.

The documentary never mocks Mark, but it never hides his flaws either.

Filmmaking Chaos

As Coven enters production, nearly everything goes wrong:

Actors forget lines
Equipment fails
Sound recording is unusable
Locations fall through
Money runs out mid-shoot

Yet Mark pushes forward, convinced that greatness is just one more sacrifice away.

Some scenes are unintentionally hilarious. Others are painfully uncomfortable. Together they show how filmmaking can be both magical and brutally unforgiving.

The Emotional Core Emerges

Halfway through the documentary, American Movie shifts from being about making a horror film to being about why people cling to dreams.

Mark speaks openly about:

Feeling like a failure
Being afraid of becoming “nothing”
Believing filmmaking is the only thing that gives his life meaning

This vulnerability reframes everything that came before it. What once seemed delusional now feels tragic and deeply human.

Movie Ending

The film’s final act focuses on whether Mark will finally finish Coven.

After years of delays, arguments, and near-collapse, the short film is completed. It premieres at a local screening attended by friends, family, and supporters.

The moment is small. There is no Hollywood producer in the audience. No distribution deal. No sudden fame.

But the screening happens.

Mark watches his movie play in front of an audience, hearing laughter, applause, and reactions for the first time. For him, this is a victory.

The documentary closes by revealing what happened afterward:

Coven is accepted into the Sundance Film Festival
Mark attends Sundance, fulfilling a lifelong dream
Despite this achievement, his career does not immediately take off

The final scenes make it clear that success does not magically fix Mark’s life. He remains financially unstable, still chasing Northwestern, still struggling personally.

Yet the ending refuses cynicism.

The film concludes with the idea that finishing something, against impossible odds, may itself be success.

The audience is left asking an uncomfortable question:
Is the dream foolish—or is giving up the real tragedy?

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, American Movie does not include any post-credits or mid-credits scenes. The documentary ends traditionally, allowing the emotional weight of the story to settle without additional footage.

Type of Movie

American Movie is a documentary that blends biography, dark comedy, and slice-of-life realism. While often funny, it is ultimately a deeply personal character study rather than a comedy film.

Cast

Mark Borchardt – Himself
Mike Schank – Himself
Uncle Bill Borchardt – Himself
Joan Borchardt – Herself
Chris Smith – Director (off-camera)

Film Music and Composer

The film’s music was composed by Mike Schank, who also performs several original songs featured throughout the documentary. His acoustic tracks add emotional warmth and melancholy, becoming inseparable from the film’s tone.

Filming Locations

The documentary was shot almost entirely in:

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Surrounding rural Wisconsin towns
Local homes, bars, basements, and abandoned buildings

These locations are essential to the film’s authenticity. The modest Midwestern settings emphasize how far Mark’s dreams extend beyond his environment, reinforcing the film’s central conflict between ambition and reality.