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Factotum

Factotum

What matters most is how well you walk through the fire

200594 minRMidcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
Director
Bent Hamer
Starring
Matt Dillon, Lili Taylor, Marisa Tomei, Fisher Stevens

This drama centers on Hank Chinaski, the fictional alter-ego of "Factotum" author Charles Bukowski, who wanders around Los Angeles, CA trying to live off jobs which don't interfere with his primary interest, which is writing. Along the way, he fends off the distractions offered by women, drinking and gambling.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Factotum?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Factotum streaming on The Roku Channel (free).

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Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Factotum?

Factotum earns 5 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Box Office Hit.

  • Reception
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Factotum worth watching?

Factotum's Midcredits score is the 67th percentile of all films, from 23K ratings across 6 sources. 59% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

67th percentile

Better received than 67% of films

76th percentile among Comedy65th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)67th
Approval (how many liked it)65th

66 /100

67th percentile of all films

76th percentile among Comedy66th percentile among 2000s

Critics 71 · Audience 66

Critics liked it more than audiences did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.7 — solid but not unanimous.

59% liked it

65th percentile of all films

72nd percentile among Comedy62nd percentile among 2000s
59% rated it 7–1041% rated it 1–6

Critics 74% · Audience 62%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 4 wins / 4 noms overall

80th percentile

23K ratings across platforms

77th percentile among Comedy72nd percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 17% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$1M
Opening weekend$59K
Domestic gross$808K
Worldwide gross$2.7M

Returned 2.7× its budget — 55th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree the film is a slow, episodic portrait of an alcoholic writer drifting through menial jobs and relationships.

Fans praised

  • Matt Dillon's understated performance capturing Bukowski's essence
  • Faithful adaptation of Bukowski's darkly humorous, cynical tone
  • Strong supporting performances from Lili Taylor and Marisa Tomei

Detractors panned

  • Too clean and tame, missing Bukowski's gritty, raw edge
  • Matt Dillon miscast as too handsome and not authentic to Bukowski
  • Plotless and monotonous with no narrative drive or character development

What stands out

AtmosphereDivisive75

Seedy bars, alcoholic haze, Bukowski's world

DialogueDivisive75

Witty, sardonic one-liners and Bukowski quotes

ActingDivisive70

Dillon's deadpan, Taylor's authenticity vs. miscast pretty-boy

HumorDivisive70

Dry, dark comedy; detractors found it unfunny

CharactersDivisive55

Compelling antihero vs. unlikable, shallow losers

Emotional impactDivisive55

Enriching meditation vs. boring detachment

PacingDivisive30

Slow, languid rhythm mirroring Chinaski's life

Plot and story20

Episodic, no conventional narrative arc

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 21 points higher than women.

US vs non-US

Preferred by Non-US Viewers

Non-US viewers scored it 14 points higher than US viewers.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Critics vs users 5 points apart

Watch experience

What is Factotum like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

No single mood: browse every movie of this kindNo one kind of watch fits it, so it is described by how heavy it is.

Watch this when you want something light and easy.

It is gentle, takes its time and leaves you bittersweet. Skip it when you want things to move fast.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Patience.

What it feels like

Moods
MelancholicAbsurdWarm
Heaviest: throughout
Dry humor
Register
Deadpan · 1% of films: Delivered flat and unsmiling, which is the joke.Wry · 7% of films: Amused and slightly dry about it.Sardonic · 1% of films: Mocking with a bitter edge.
Told as
Episodic · 13% of films: Loosely connected incidents rather than one driving plot.
ToneBent Hamer's direction maintains a dry, sardonic distance from Chinaski's misadventures, treating his absurd behavior with deadpan humor and little judgment.
The rideThe film maintains a consistent low-key melancholic and absurd mood, never rising to high drama or comedy.
StructureThe film is structured as a string of episodes from Henry's life—jobs, bar scenes, relationships—connected by his voiceover narration.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Bittersweet.

BittersweetWistful · 8% of films
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves a bittersweet sense of admiration for Chinaski's stubborn dedication to his writing, alongside a wistful recognition of the waste and squalor of his life.
How it ends · evidence
Cyclical ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22% (this title)

No archetype fits — true of 22% of films: ensemble pieces, satire, slice-of-life.

Why this archetypeThe film is an episodic character study of a shiftless writer, not driven by any central plot archetype; it follows his aimless drift through jobs and relationships.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfPurposeSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22% (this title): Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% (this title) · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% (this title) · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Self

Purpose · 9% of filmsAddiction · 1% of films
Observes its theme: Presents its theme neutrally, declining to judge.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores Henry Chinaski's unwavering commitment to writing as his sole purpose in life, contrasted with his self-destructive behaviors like alcoholism and gambling.
StanceThe film observes Henry Chinaski's life with detachment, neither celebrating nor condemning his choices.

The world

Mid 20th centuryUrbanRealistic
JazzFolkSupportive music · original score · Kristin Asbjørnsen
SettingLos Angeles of the 1950s and 1960s, seen through the seedy bars, factories, and cheap apartments of the working poor.

Content guide

Is Factotum okay for kids?

R

Factotum is rated R. As of October 2, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at mild (33/100), sexual content at moderate (52/100), language at severe (100/100), drug and alcohol content at intense (67/100) and frightening material at minimal (0/100). Its violence, language, drug and alcohol content and frightening material have too few votes to rank.

Ratings in 3 other countries
  • UK15
  • Ireland16
  • Norway15
Overall
Intense · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Mild
too few votes to rank (1 vote)
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 58%
Profanity
Severe
too few votes to rank (2 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Intense
too few votes to rank (5 votes)
Frightening / Intense
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (1 vote)

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Too few votes to rank this title overall (27 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Factotum have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Factotum?

Cast

Matt Dillon
as Hank Chinaski
Lili Taylor
as Jan
Marisa Tomei
as Laura
Fisher Stevens
as Manny
Didier Flamand
as Pierre
Adrienne Shelly
as Jerry
Karen Young
as Grace
Thomas Lyons
as Tony Endicott
James Cada
as Bald Man
Dee Noah
as Hank's Mother

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Factotum?

Movies like Factotum include Barfly (1987), Permanent Midnight (1998) and Modern Romance (1981). Of the 5 closest matches, two are stories about writers, and two are films about addiction.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

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What else shares a premise, people or place with Factotum?

742 other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: hangout movie. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.