Tim Robbins says he’s trying to solve ‘mystery’ of why his cult 90s movie isn’t on streaming
Tim Robbins says he’s trying to solve ‘mystery’ of why his cult 90s movie isn’t on streaming
Kevin E G PerryThu, November 12, 2026 at 12:20 AM UTC
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Tim Robbins says it’s a “mystery” who owns the rights to his 1992 cult political satire Bob Roberts.
The film is not currently available on streaming services, and the 68-year-old Shawshank Redemption star says he hopes to change that.
Robbins wrote, directed and starred in Bob Roberts, a mockumentary that followed the titular conservative politician and folk singer.
The film heavily referenced the Bob Dylan documentary Dont Look Back, and featured a starry cast including Susan Sarandon, John Cusack, Alan Rickman and, in his film debut, Jack Black.
On X, Robbins wrote: “Very excited to find out who controls the rights to Bob Roberts as it has been a mystery for quite a few years.”
Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins were a couple during the making of ‘Bob Roberts’, before splitting decades later in 2009 (AP)
He continued: “Yesterday we posted a clip from the end of the film, and a restriction was placed on it from the owner. We pulled the clip and the film from the website with apologies and with the hope that the owner will engage with us on how to get the film distributed on a platform.”
Robbins said he posted a clip showing the character of Terry Manchester (Brian Murray), who is supposedly the director making the mockumentary.
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He explained: “For those who did not see it, the clip follows the film’s documentarian into the Jefferson Memorial as we hear a news report about how opinion polls of Americans who opposed the first Iraq war have shifted from opposition to support. The final frames of the film pan across Jefferson’s words etched in the stone of the memorial. ‘I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.’”
In 2024, Robbins spoke out against conspiracy theories drawing parallels between Bob Roberts and the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.
In the film, Roberts stages a failed attempt on his life to increase his public support in order to win the election.
When Trump was injured in a shooting incident at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, some conspiracy theorists on social media claimed it was similarly staged.
Writing on X at the time, Robbins spoke out against the speculation, saying: “To anyone drawing a parallel between my film Bob Roberts and the attempted assassination of Trump, let’s be clear. What happened yesterday was a real attempt on a presidential candidate’s life.”
He continued: “Those that are denying the assassination attempt was real are truly in a deranged mindset. A human being was shot yesterday. Another killed. They may not be human beings that you agree with politically but for shame folks.”
“Get over your blind hatred of these people,” he added. “They are fellow Americans. This collective hatred is killing our souls and consuming whatever is left of our humanity.”
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
