[14] Roger Ebert called it, “A remarkably natural and unaffected film about friendship between two high-spirited graffiti artists” and Peter Travers of Rolling Stone in his 3.5 star review said the movie is, “A fresh, funky jolt of filmmaking joy.”[15][16] A.O.

Scott of The New York Times wrote that, “Adam Leon’s loose and rambunctious debut… has a lot to say about the contradictions of a place that is defined by both abundant opportunity and ferocious inequality.

But the film makes its points in a lighthearted, street-smart vernacular, treating its protagonists not as embodiments of a social condition but rather as self-aware individuals who are, like teenagers everywhere, both smart and dumb.

Their friendship — which is based above all on shared artistic ambitions — is a perfect comic pairing.”[17] Other notable positive reviews included the Los Angeles Times, Christian Science Monitor, NPR, Entertainment Weekly, Chicago Tribune, The Wall Street Journal, and Chicago Sun-Times, whose Sheila O'Malley wrote, “Adam Leon has created something unique and current, with affectionate nods to New York films of the past.”[13] Released on March 22, 2013, in the United States, Gimme the Loot opened to the highest per screen average in the country.

[19] Adam Leon received a Gotham Award nomination for Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director in 2013.