The Rum Diary

Play trailer

The Rum Diary

R

2011

1h 59m

Comedy

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

52%

Tomatometer

166 Reviews

36%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

As the Eisenhower era draws to a close, journalist Paul Kemp (Johnny Depp) decides he's had enough of New York and takes a job in Puerto Rico. There, he becomes obsessed with Chenault (Amber Heard), the fiancee of a shady businessman named Sanderson (Aaron Eckhart), who wants to turn the pristine island into a capitalist's paradise. Recruited by Sanderson to write an article that praises an unsavory deal, Paul must decide if he will use his talents to help Sanderson, or bring him down.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

It's colorful and amiable enough, and Depp's heart is clearly in the right place, but The Rum Diary fails to add sufficient focus to its rambling source material.

Read Critics Reviews

David Stratton

At the Movies (Australia)

03/20/2012

3.5/5

It's sort of chaotic. It swings around all over the place but it's nicely done. It's nicely acted and Johnny Depp's terrific.

Go to Full Review

Derek Malcolm

London Evening Standard

11/11/2011

3/5

The film looks good and Robinson gives his actors lines they can spit out with some relish.

Go to Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

11/10/2011

2/5

Depp, that purring Persian cat of an actor, never looks drunk or scared or angry in any way, and the final defiant journalistic call to arms against the "bastards" is just hot air.

Go to Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

03/07/2023

2/4

Robinson’s film proceeds on conventional terms and doesn’t pay off in conventional ways, and it doesn’t challenge us in the way Thompson’s writing does either.

Go to Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

11/30/2020

4/10

The debacles they wade through are often padded with drawn out escapades that end in depressing reality over riotous antics.

Go to Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

09/21/2020

3.0/4.0

Fans of Hunter S. Thompson or, for that matter, most anyone in this film, are likely to find quite a bit to enjoy here.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Stephen C

@bob25009 Jun 27

Unfunny in 1 hour and 59 minutes!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $13,100,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See more

edwin n

@Emmitt2215 May 30

I personally love the movie, there is something about the chaos that makes the movie good. I could see why people don't like it though it is definitely an acquired taste.

See more

Tom S

04/25/2024

Bought on Blu-Ray for cheap & expected a bad movie due to reviews. Excellent old school quality & not a hint of Hollywood tackiness. Some dialogue was jaw dropping & expect these quotes came from the book.

See more

Georgan G

02/12/2023

Good acting and script. Sadly, the main character was an addict. Despite being a talented writer, the movie focuses on the addiction. I imagine the book is much better, but am not interested in Hunter Thompson.

See more

Dave C

12/17/2022

Most definitely weird in the same way as Fear and Loathing, but this is funnier

See more

12/12/2022

Terrible movie. Slow, not great acting, no interest drawn

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Bruce Robinson

Director

Johnny Depp

Paul Kemp

Aaron Eckhart

Sanderson

Michael Rispoli

Sala

Amber Heard

Chenault

Richard Jenkins

Lotterman

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee

69%

50%

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee

Watchlist

Win Win

95%

85%

Win Win

Watchlist

Butter

35%

44%

Butter

Watchlist

Up in the Air

90%

79%

Up in the Air

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Up in the Air

Our Idiot Brother

70%

51%

Our Idiot Brother

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: The Rum Diary and Take Shelter

Five Favorite Films with Aaron Eckhart

Critics Consensus: Puss in Boots is the Cat’s Meow

View more photos

Synopsis

As the Eisenhower era draws to a close, journalist Paul Kemp (Johnny Depp) decides he's had enough of New York and takes a job in Puerto Rico. There, he becomes obsessed with Chenault (Amber Heard), the fiancee of a shady businessman named Sanderson (Aaron Eckhart), who wants to turn the pristine island into a capitalist's paradise. Recruited by Sanderson to write an article that praises an unsavory deal, Paul must decide if he will use his talents to help Sanderson, or bring him down.

Director: Bruce Robinson
Producer: Johnny Depp, Christi Dembrowski, Anthony Rhulen, Robert Kravis, Graham King, Tim Headington
Screenwriter: Bruce Robinson
Distributor: FilmDistrict
Production Co: GK Films, E1 Entertainment
Rating: R (Language|Brief Drug Use|Sexuality)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 28, 2011, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 7, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $13.1M
Runtime: 1h 59m

Most Popular at Home Now