July 20, 2004 Majority of Adults Expect to See Fahrenheit 9/11 Democrats, Republicans express sharply divided views
by David W. Moore
GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
PRINCETON, NJ -- According to the most recent Gallup survey, more than half of all American adults (56%) either have seen or expect, at some time, to see Michael Moore's controversial movie, Fahrenheit 9/11, a highly critical look at the Bush administration's decision to fight a war in Iraq. The poll was conducted July 8-11. At the time, 8% of Americans said they have already seen the movie, 18% expected to see it in the theater, and 30% expected to watch the video. Among all Americans, more people have an unfavorable than favorable impression of the movie, but those who have seen it are overwhelmingly favorable.
Intentions to see the film are highly related to people's political party orientation, but the survey shows that even a significant number of Republicans -- 38% -- have seen or plan to see the documentary despite its critical stance toward Bush. More than 7 in 10 Democrats (71%) and 6 in 10 independents (60%) also have seen or expect to see the film, with about half of each of these groups planning to see it in a theater and the other half on video.
In addition to partisan orientation, age is highly related to intentions to see the movie. Three-quarters of people under 30 (75%) have seen or plan to see it, compared with 60% of the 30 to 49 age group, 52% of the 50 to 64 age group, and 32% of the oldest age group (65 and older).
Typically, younger people are more likely to see films than are older people, especially in movie theaters.
Rating of Fahrenheit 9/11 Related to Intentions to See Film, Party Affiliation, and Age
Among people who have already seen the movie, 85% express a favorable opinion of it, including 42% who say "very" favorable. Another 13% have an unfavorable view. Among people who plan to see the movie, 55% have a favorable impression of it based on what they have heard or read. Another 24% of future viewers have a negative opinion (but plan to see it anyway) and 21% do not currently have an opinion.
Among the people who plan not to see the movie, most (68%) say their impression of the movie is unfavorable, while only 10% say they have a favorable view and 22% express no view.
The movie's rating is also related to party affiliation and age. Republicans are overwhelmingly negative toward the film, with only 12% giving it a favorable rating and 72% an unfavorable rating.
Independents tend to be slightly more positive than negative (39% favorable to 36% unfavorable), while Democrats are highly positive (63% favorable to 15% unfavorable).
Apart from partisanship, older people give less favorable ratings than do younger people. Among the under-30 age group, the favorable ratings outnumber the unfavorable 57% to 27%. That ratio declines with each age group. People 65 and older are more likely to give an unfavorable rating than a favorable one, 47% to 26%.
This relationship between age and the movie's rating is found even among the partisan groups. Going from the youngest to the oldest among Democrats, the favorable rating goes from 78% to 43%. Among independents, the rating declines from 62% among the youngest to 24% among the oldest. And among Republicans, 23% of the youngest group and just 4% of the two oldest groups (ages 50 to 64 and 65 and older), give the movie a favorable rating.
Survey Methods
Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,005 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted July 8-11, 2004. For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.
Thinking now about Fahrenheit 9/11, the documentary film made by Michael Moore,
49. Based on what you have heard or read, what would you say your impression of the movie is? Is it -- very favorable, favorable, unfavorable, or very unfavorable?
Very favorable 9% Favorable 29 Unfavorable 18 Very unfavorable 23 No opinion 21
50. Which of the following applies to you -- you have seen this movie, you have not seen it yet, but you plan to see it in a movie theater, you have not seen it yet, but you plan to see it when it comes out on DVD or VHS, or you do not plan to see this movie?
Seen movie 8% Plan to see in movie theater 18 Plan to see it on DVD/ VHS 30 Do not plan to see it 42 No opinion 2