The Rum Diary

The Rum Diary (2011)

  • 50% of critics liked it
    (159 reviews)

  • 37% of users liked it
    (42,115 ratings)

Based on the debut novel by Hunter S. Thompson. Tiring of the noise and madness of New York and the crushing conventions of late Eisenhower-era America, Paul Kemp (Johnny Depp) travels to the pristine island of Puerto Rico to write for a local newspaper, run by downtrodden editor Lotterman (Richard… More

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In Theaters
Oct 28, 2011 Wide
The Film District

Critic Reviews

  • Cath Clarke, Time Out

    It's funny as hell in places and touchingly warm.

  • Peter Howell, Toronto Star

    Writer/director Robinson is anything but disciplined... and he's more inclined to just turn the camera on and let Depp do his thing. Which Depp does very well, but as talented and watchable as he is, even he can't completely save the picture.

  • David Edelstein, New York Magazine

    The Rum Diary has no mighty gonzo wind. Even with a push from its Thompson-worshipping star, Johnny Depp, it leaves our freak flag limp.

  • Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor

    Maybe Depp just doesn't want to upstage his hero.

  • Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

    The supporting cast of journalistic riffraff is uniformly excellent.

Read all 21 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Melvin W


    Paul Kemp: Why did she have to happen? Just when I was doing so good without her.  "One part outrage. One part justice. Three parts rum. Mix well." One thing you have to know before going into any Hunter S. Thompson adaption is that he is very polarizing, as are his books,… More

  • Tired of P


    Directed (and written) by Bruce Robinson, GK Films, 2011. Starring Johnny Depp, Giovanni Ribisi, Richard Jenkins, Amber Heard, Michael Rispoli and Aaron Eckhart. Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller Question: What would your reaction be if you were hired to work for a failing… More

  • Chris W


    Based on Hunter S. Thompson's long lost novel, this is not only a return for Johhny Depp to the world of his colleague Thompson, but also a return to the world of directing for Bruce Robinson, who had been in hiding for the last 19 years. The story follows American journalist… More

  • Lorenzo v


    <i>"One part outrage. One part justice. Three parts rum. Mix well."</i> American journalist Paul Kemp takes on a freelance job in Puerto Rico for a local newspaper during the 1950s and struggles to find a balance between island culture and the expatriates who… More

  • Bruce B


    .Finally a movie that Johnny Depp does a half way decent job of acting in. About a newspaper reporter that is in P.Rico working for a newspaper whose publication is in English early 1960's. Shows his life and times which are very comical most times. During his travels he meets a… More

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

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