Rock the Kasbah

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2:03

Rock the Kasbah

R

2015

1h 46m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

7%

Tomatometer

123 Reviews

29%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

While visiting Kabul, Afghanistan, washed-up music manager Richie Lanz (Bill Murray) gets dumped by his last client. His luck changes when he meets Salima Khan (Leem Lubany), a Pashtun teenager with a beautiful voice who dreams of becoming the first female to compete on the television show "Afghan Star." With help from a savvy hooker (Kate Hudson), two war profiteers and a trigger-happy mercenary (Bruce Willis), Richie embarks on a mission to make sure his new protégée gets discovered.

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Critics Consensus

The Shareef don't like Rock the Kasbah, and neither will viewers hoping for a film that manages to make effective use of Bill Murray's knack for playing lovably anarchic losers.

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Nigel Andrews

Financial Times

12/28/2016

1/5

You don't want to see Rock the Kasbah. If you do, you're reading the wrong newspaper.

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Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

03/20/2016

1/5

A dog's dinner of a movie which not even the usually reliable Bill Murray can raise above the level of confused, cliched claptrap.

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Geoffrey Macnab

Independent (UK)

03/18/2016

2/5

Barry Levinson's film, loosely inspired by the true story of reality TV show Afghan Star, comes at its subject matter from entirely the wrong direction.

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Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

03/04/2021

1.5/5

Strapped with an improbable and occasionally insulting premise (although it is VERY loosely based on the true story of Setara Hussainzada) and a third act twist into misplaced social commentary Murray's charm falls flat.

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Josh Goller

Spectrum Culture

07/20/2019

2.25/5

If you want to watch Bill Murray romp around a foreign land, re-watch Lost in Translation.

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Phil W. Bayles

One Room With A View

04/06/2019

2/5

The best one can say of Rock the Kasbah is that its culturally insensitive moments feel ill-judged rather than malicious. It's not trying to punch down - it's just not funny.

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Tamara P

@TamaraP Mar 24

I was looking forward to an original plot and actors I like, but this movie so culturally insensitive it made me physically uncomfortable. Such a missed opportunity. Watch the documentary Afghan Star instead.

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George S.

@GPSPROUD1 Sep 9

I love Bill Murray, I am also a musician. I like the cinematography. I like Bill Murray’s improv. I’d like to support supporting cast. A lot of this film could’ve been chopped to make it shorter. But I am not saying things this is in his top five but Satisfying to me. Lots of music artist references, and Bill Murray singing smoke on the water with a sitar is of course priceless. I recommend this movie for musicians and fans of Bill Murray. I don’t think anyone else in my family would enjoy it anywhere near the amount that I did.

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alan g

@agenser Sep 1

A decent plot ruined by Bill Murrays adlibs and demeanor.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 07/10/2025

Funny in 1 hour and 46 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Andrew B

@AB1234 04/02/2023

Genuinely funny, and uplifting. American critics didn't like it because it shows Americans in Afghanistan (i.e. ANY not-USA place) as being self-interested (arrogant) a-holes. Full credit to Murray/Hudson/Levison for the courage to make/present such an insightful and entertaining movie.

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steve d

@RT35616104 12/11/2022

A complete and total mess despite the strong cast. Not one laugh to be had which is almost impressive given the cast's talent.

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Barry Levinson

Director

Bill Murray

Richie Lanz

Arian Moayed

Riza

Kate Hudson

Merci

Leem Lubany

Salima

Bruce Willis

Bombay Brian

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Rock the Kasbah: International Trailer 1

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Rock the Kasbah: Trailer 2

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Synopsis

While visiting Kabul, Afghanistan, washed-up music manager Richie Lanz (Bill Murray) gets dumped by his last client. His luck changes when he meets Salima Khan (Leem Lubany), a Pashtun teenager with a beautiful voice who dreams of becoming the first female to compete on the television show "Afghan Star." With help from a savvy hooker (Kate Hudson), two war profiteers and a trigger-happy mercenary (Bruce Willis), Richie embarks on a mission to make sure his new protégée gets discovered.

Director: Barry Levinson
Producer: Mitch Glazer, Ethan Smith, Bill Block, Steve Bing, Jacob Pechenik
Screenwriter: Mitch Glazer
Distributor: Open Road
Production Co: Shangri-La Entertainment
Rating: R (Language|Brief Violence|Sexual References|Some Drug Use)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 23, 2015, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 23, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.0M
Runtime: 1h 46m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)