Rent

PG-13

Released Nov 23, 2005

2h 15m

Musical

Drama

Romance

LGBTQ+

List

47%

Tomatometer

175 Reviews

83%

Audience Score

250,000+ Ratings

In this musical, set at the dawn of the 1990s, a group of New Yorkers struggle with their careers, love lives and the effects of the AIDS epidemic on their community. Mark (Anthony Rapp), an aspiring filmmaker, and Roger (Adam Pascal), an HIV-positive musician, scramble for money to pay rent to their landlord and former roommate, Benny (Taye Diggs). Meanwhile, their friend Tom (Jesse L. Martin), a professor, has fallen for Angel (Wilson Jermaine Heredia), who is slowly dying of AIDS.

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Critics Consensus

Fans of the stage musical may forgive Rent its flaws, but weak direction, inescapable staginess and an irritating faux-boho pretension prevent the film from connecting on screen.

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Carmen Phillips

Autostraddle

Rent is best enjoyed singing it loudly at the top of your lungs, dancing until you break a sweat, and the collapsing exhausted against your couch with your best friends.

Mar 27, 2024

Full Review

David Germain

Associated Press

High hopes, flat results.

Jan 17, 2018

Full Review

Victoria Segal

New Statesman

Chris Columbus, who managed to suck the magic out of the first two Harry Potter films, does the same with this adaptation.

Sep 26, 2017

Full Review

Adam Manno

The Daily Beast

There’s plenty of sparklers, costumes, and catchy choruses to compensate for the ham-fisted, turn-of-the-century melancholia. What’s more comforting than spending Christmas and New Year’s with a group of old friends, even if they’re on TV?

Dec 5, 2022

Full Review

Chris McCoy

Memphis Flyer

With Columbus in the driver's seat, the film meanders for two and a half hours, occasionally hitting a high point but mostly just slogging through, leaving an audience who has not so much enjoyed as endured the experience.

Jan 8, 2020

Full Review

Micheal Compton

Bowling Green Daily News

Features a great deal of infectious energy and some wonderfully choreographed musical numbers

Rated: B

Nov 19, 2019

Full Review

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Christopher S

I hate that critics have slammed this film. I think it was a wonderful adaptation of an off-Broadway play that needed to be brought to the big screen. Chris Columbus brings usual amount of heart to this film. Appropriate given its source material. Rent will leave you gutted, but also full of warmth and love….SEASONS of love! I, cannot, in anyway, imagine why critics see differently. This is a perfect adaptation of a play brought to the silver screen. Bravo! 👏

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/06/24

Full Review

Joel H

Rent owes me for the time I wasted watching it. I did enjoy some of the music, I think Jonathan Larson was a talented songwriter, but this movie is pretty awful. Some of the characters are annoying, others I couldn't stand, and the rest are overacting. Rent is also a very manipulative movie. It's like it's constantly yelling at you, telling you how cool it is and explaining why you should be crying. I've never seen the musical, so perhaps it plays better on stage, but this adaptation didn't make me want to rush out and buy a ticket. Rent is just so full of itself that it can't see how obnoxious it is.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

11/03/23

Full Review

PridePosterStudios

Too much queer trauma

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/13/24

Full Review

Lexi Xander M

i know there are a lot of movie critics that rated this one poorly, and i can understand why but if you're simply watching the movie to watch it it's a great pick. it gives insight into poverty and the AIDS crisis in the 80s and can be very relatable to many artists. i believe it's a wonderful film and my favorite musical

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/15/23

Full Review

Patrick C

I would call myself the target audience for this movie. I'm queer and I love musicals. That being said, the first time I saw this movie I thought it was cringey and ridiculous. After a few watches though I grew to love the music and I decided to just take it for what it is and its become one of my favorite movies despite its flaws. Even my cynical husband was crying by the end.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/07/23

Full Review

Biker B

If there was ever a movie that deserves the worst made ever...Rent is it! Nothing in the movie makes sense. The only positive was watching Rodario Dawson.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/04/23

Full Review

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Chris Columbus

Director

Rosario Dawson

Mimi Marquez

Taye Diggs

Benjamin "Benny" Coffin III

Jesse L. Martin

Thomas B. "Tom" Collins

Idina Menzel

Maureen Johnson

Adam Pascal

Roger Davis

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Synopsis

In this musical, set at the dawn of the 1990s, a group of New Yorkers struggle with their careers, love lives and the effects of the AIDS epidemic on their community. Mark (Anthony Rapp), an aspiring filmmaker, and Roger (Adam Pascal), an HIV-positive musician, scramble for money to pay rent to their landlord and former roommate, Benny (Taye Diggs). Meanwhile, their friend Tom (Jesse L. Martin), a professor, has fallen for Angel (Wilson Jermaine Heredia), who is slowly dying of AIDS.

Director: Chris Columbus
Producer: Robert De Niro, Michael Barnathan, Jane Rosenthal
Screenwriter: Stephen Chbosky, Jonathan Larson
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: Revolution Studios, 1492 Pictures, Columbia Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Sexuality|Involving Drugs|Some Strong Language|Thematic Material)
Genre: Musical, Drama, Romance, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 23, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $29.0M
Runtime: 2h 15m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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