Music played in the film mostly reflects Pekar 's affection for avant-garde jazz and American music from the 1920s and 1930s . A couple of songs by '' American Splendor '' illustrator Robert Crumb and his band are also featured . The '' American Splendor ( Original Motion Picture Soundtrack ) '' was released by New Line Records in 2003 , and featured the following songs : The following songs are also played — in whole , or in part — during the film : < ! -- On Rotten Tomatoes , the film has a 94 % approval rating , based on 186 reviews , with an average rating of 8.29 / 10 . The website 's critical consensus reads , " Exhilarating both stylistically and for its entertaining , moving portrayal of an everyman , '' American Splendor '' is a portrait of a true underground original . " On Metacritic , the film has a score of 90 out of 100 , based on 42 reviews , indicating " universal acclaim . " '' American Splendor '' won the Grand Jury Prize for Dramatic Film at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival , in addition to the award for Best Adapted Screenplay from the Writers Guild of America . At the 2003 Cannes Film Festival , the film received the FIPRESCI critics award . It was also nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 2003 Academy Awards
2003 Sundance Film Festival
2003 Sundance Film Festival
American Splendor (film)