The film was released on August 26 , 1994 in the United States , and also screened at the Venice Film Festival on August 29 , 1994 . It was a box office success , grossing over $ 50 million against a production budget of $ 34 million . Critics praised the cast 's performances , the humor , plot and combination of action and romance ; some found the film too violent and graphic . Notorious for its violent content and inspiring " copycat " crimes , the film was named the eighth most controversial film in history by '' Entertainment Weekly '' in 2006
Venice Film Festival
51st Venice International Film Festival
Natural Born Killers