Did Anyone See This Movie?

Bottle Shock (2008) - and yes I saw it in a theater first run. Was I the only one?
By Steve in Manhattan — April 20, 2026

Bottle Shock (2008) grossed $4,629,770 worldwide on a roughly $5M budget (if you believe IMDb, and why wouldn’t you?)

This movie lost money with the following cast:

  • Alan Rickman
  • Bill Pullman
  • Dennis Farina (yes that Dennis Farina)
  • Chris Pine
  • Eliza Dushku
  • Freddy Rodríguez
  • Rachael Taylor

It is about the soon-to-explode California wine industry in the 1970s. It is utterly charming. Mostly taking place in the Napa Valley, the film also recreates The Judgment of Paris for those of you unfamiliar with the blind tasting where California was pitted against France. And how can you miss Hans Gruber breaking down in an AMC Gremlin?

It still makes me crazy that it didn’t do better with that cast and that level of storytelling, but who am I? Ebert? Siskel? Pauline Kael?

It’s 109 minutes and you can watch it for free with ads. Do not disappoint me.

Can you help us out?

For over 20 years we have been exposing Washington lies and untangling media deceit, but social media is limiting our ability to attract new readers. Please give a one-time or recurring donation, or buy a year's subscription for an ad-free experience. Thank you.

Become a subscriber:
 
Make a donation:

If you don't mind the ads and would rather donate, please select one of the options below:

Kindest
Donate via PayPal
Via Snail Mail
payable to: Crooksandliars
2708 Wilshire Blvd. #148
Santa Monica, CA 90403

Discussion

We welcome relevant, respectful comments. Any comments that are sexist or in any other way deemed hateful by our staff will be deleted and constitute grounds for a ban from posting on the site. Please refer to our Terms of Service for information on our posting policy.
Mastodon