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Top 10 Amazing Facts about Michael Moore

Michael Francis Moore is an activist, author and American documentary filmmaker. Born on 23 April, 1954 in Michigan, Moore produced other limited release films and three television series including the comedy Canadian Bacon. Released in 1995, Canadian Bacon was about a U.S. president who wanted to boost his ratings by starting a cold war with Canada.

While not all his films were successful, Moore achieved success with some. The films which have received wide acclaim include Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11. Moore is best known for Fahrenheit 9/11. This is the highest grossing documentary worldwide having made about USD 200 million worldwide.

A successful filmmaker, Moore diversified his work to include books and TV shows. Using his voice to defend the poor, Moore uses his dramatic narrative and sense of humour to engage his audience.

Having always been strong willed, during his teenage years, Moore attended a seminary for a year but left because he wasn’t allowed to watch the Detroit Tigers. That year the Detroit Tigers made it to the World Series. In college, Moore dropped out because he wasn’t able to find a parking space and went back home.

Below are 10 incredible facts about Michael Moore.

1. Moore is the youngest person to hold public office

Michael Moore at the 66th Venice International Film Festival. Photo by Nicolas Genin. Flickr/

Aged 18 years, Moore was the youngest person to hold public office. He was elected to the Davidson High School Board on the platform of removing the high school principal and assistant principal. The principal and assistant principal both left the school.

2. Moore started his own Magazine in Michigan-Flint

While at the University of Michigan-Flint, Moore worked for the institution’s newspaper. He later created The Flint Voice which was later renamed to the Michigan Voice. This was followed by a job as editor of Mother Jones, a political magazine. Moore was later fired from this job after a brief four month period due to professional clashes. He accepted an out of court settlement for the wrongful dismissal.

3. Moore created very successful documentaries based on social and political issues

Michael Moore at the Women’s March in Washington DC in 2017. Photo by S Pakhrin/

Moore created his first documentary in 1989. Basing his often controversial documentaries on issues in the United States, the documentaries were a big success. His first documentary titled Roger & Me was based on the effects of unemployment. After the success of Roger & Me, Moore established Dog Eat Dog Films as well as an organization to help finance filmmakers and social-action groups.

His greatest documentary however, is Fahrenheit 9/11 which he made in 2004. Fahrenheit 9/11 criticized the Bush administration’s handling of the September 11 attacks.

4. Awards and recognitions for Moore’s documentaries

Moore has received a number of awards for his documentaries. His most notable awards include the 2004 Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or for Fahrenheit 9/11 and the 2002 Oscar award for Bowling for Columbine. This is in addition to the 1995 Primetime Emmy Award for TV Nation.

5. Moore’s moment of fame from Bowling for Columbine

Michael Moore parodies George Bush. Photo by Brave New Films. Flickr/

Moore was pushed to the limelight in 1989 when he made Roger & Me which was his first documentary. This documentary illustrated the effect GM had when it shut down a number of auto plants in Flint. Roger & Me was so successful that by the time it was released, GM had lost 8 percent of its market share. Moore’s moment of fame however came when he created Bowling for Columbine. Moore aims to use this documentary to change America’s gun control policies.

6. Moore’s net worth is from his successful documentaries

Michael Moore at the march against Trump in New York City. Photo by Mathias Wasik/

Moore’s net worth is estimated at about USD 55 million as at March 2022. His revenue is from the successful documentaries made over the years. By funding and producing the documentaries himself, Moore managed to amass a considerable income stream. Roger & Me which Moore produced at a cost of USD 140,000 generated USD 7.7 million. Fahrenheit 9/11 grossed about USD 222.4 million from a production budget of about USD 6 million.

7. Moore’s documentary Planet of the humans angers environmentalists

Despite having a lot of success with his earlier documentaries, Moore seems to have angered a lot of people with Planet of the Humans. Moore states that he wanted to warn the people about corporate America’s involvement in the environmental cause. Climate experts however, say the film is full of misinformation. The climate experts want the documentary removed from public viewing as it argues that renewable energy is unreliable. The experts state that it’s pessimistic on the ability of renewable energy to address the climate situation globally. The documentary also says that solar equipment and electronic cars still depend on fossil fuels.

8. Moore’s books have a wide popularity in Germany

Michael Moore greeting people at Royce Hall, UCLA in 2011. Photo by Ryota Nakanishi/

Apart from being a filmmaker, Moore has authored a number of best-selling books. The books include Will They Ever Trust us Again, Here Comes Trouble, Mike’s Election Guide, Dude Where’s my Country, Downsize This and Stupid White Men. Downsize This and Stupid White Men have each sold more than a million copies in Germany.

9. Moore’s film making debut was interviewing Ku Klux Klan members

Moore began his film making career when he was hired by Kevin Rafferty who is a documentary director. Rafferty, who is former President Bush’s cousin, hired Moore to interview Ku Klux Klan members.

10. Harry Chapin was Moore’s early benefactor

Sicko at the Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2007. Photo by Tangi Bertin/

Harry Chapin, an American singer, songwriter and philanthropist was one of Moore’s early benefactors. Chapin held concerts to assist with the financing of a youth hot line in the Flint area.

For almost three decades, Moore has transformed himself into a cultural icon. Rising from a filmmaker to the unofficial spokesperson for the oppressed and the liberals, Moore has a large fan base in the United States. Although Moore’s earlier documentaries seemed to be more popular, he still continues to work and create more films. It is said that Moore’s films no longer connect with his audience due to his execution. A title flip on the award winning Fahrenheit 9/11, Moore created Fahrenheit 11/9. Fahrenheit 11/9 which drew similarities between Trump and Hitler did not do well.