Andy Warhol: A Documentary Film

Ric Burns assembles a portrait of Andy Warhol by weaving together rarely seen film, photos, and interviews to reveal how Warhol altered art and popular culture. The film presents Warhol as both artist and cultural phenomenon, someone who treated images and objects as raw material and redefined what could be art. Viewers see the Factory's energy, how silk screening and repetition shaped a distinctive aesthetic, and how Warhol navigated a world of patrons, critics, and celebrities. The narrative emphasizes curiosity over sensationalism, showing how Warhol used media to extend his influence far beyond the studio. Made for PBS's American Masters, this documentary invites reflection on the interplay between creativity, commerce, and fame.

Released in 2006 as part of PBS's American Masters, the film is directed by Ric Burns with James Sanders as creator. It blends Warhol's archival footage and the voices of artists and curators to frame his story.

Warhol's cultural footprint comes through in the film's conversations with contemporary artists and collectors who lived in his orbit. Jeff Koons, Irving Blum, and Dave Hickey weigh in, while Laurie Anderson narrates. The documentary shows how Warhol fused art, publicity, and commerce to redefine fame.

Audience and critics respond to a measured portrait that treats Warhol as both artist and brand builder, not just as a pop icon. The film explores themes of mass production, originality, and the tension between surface style and deeper cultural critique.

As a PBS program, it has no theatrical box office and aired on television instead, so there are no global gross figures to report.