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On the Road

Play trailer Poster for On the Road R 2012 2h 19m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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47% Tomatometer 152 Reviews 34% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
An aspiring writer (Sam Riley), his new friend (Garrett Hedlund) and his friend's seductive wife (Kristen Stewart) heed the call of the open road.
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On the Road

On the Road

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Critics Consensus

Beautiful to look at but a bit too respectfully crafted, On the Road doesn't capture the energy and inspiration of Jack Kerouac's novel.

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Critics Reviews

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Sophie Mayer Sight & Sound More an extended Urban Outfitters advertisement than an essay on, or into, the exciting experiments of Beat Cinema. Jul 31, 2018 Full Review Tom Long Detroit News It's not a wreck of a movie; it's not a sleek race car either. But there's heat to be felt here. Rated: B Mar 22, 2013 Full Review Ann Hornaday Washington Post Walter Salles's warm but strangely staid adaptation of a piece of literature that was never meant to be tamed as cinema. Rated: 2/4 Mar 22, 2013 Full Review Lucía Agosta EscribiendoCine ...the repetition of sexual scenes...and the creation of a dense atmosphere generate an inevitable feeling of Déja vu in the viewer, but it's all part of the portrait of two men on an eternal journey that...must end at some point. [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 6/10 Sep 9, 2025 Full Review James Croot The Post NZ ... A solid, atmospheric and evocative take on what is a seminal slice of 20th Century literature. Rated: 3.5/5 Sep 5, 2023 Full Review Joanne Laurier World Socialist Web Site Brazilian director Walter Salles (born 1956) has attempted to make a movie that retains the feel of the Kerouac literary classic. Feb 28, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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thiago s Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 07/23/25 Full Review N P "On The Road" is a years long 'on the road' journey with our protagonist writer and Dean Moriarty, his wild and compelling friend, all across America, as Dean deals with relationships and his unpredictable lifestyle. There are some interesting moving parts, whether that be each character's dilemma or the long over-arching story. It is a long watch though, so you'll have to be patient. But, it is an interesting walk-through of a friendship that was as spontaneous as two simple misfits might imagine. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 12/14/24 Full Review Ian E Pretty bad - only redeeming features are it saves reading the book - if you haven't already read it. And introduces Kirstin's Stewart & Dunst and Elizabeth Moss in what must have been pretty early roles. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 08/08/24 Full Review Sarah G Too bad, what could have been from an amazing book. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 06/13/24 Full Review Jerod S Hard to capture Kerouac in a movie and this one gets a little character-frantic. Overall it's an interesting journey of Sal and his crazy friend Dean. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 12/25/23 Full Review Audience Member I really enjoyed the book from my favourite nostalgia era. I don't agree with the rotten tomatoes. I feel the movie exposed the hedoism and the escapism of conservative family suburban drudgery. Personally I loved the book and the movie. I am a bit of a natural writer myself. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Read all reviews
On the Road

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Cast & Crew

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Walter Salles

Director

Garrett Hedlund

Dean Moriarty

Sam Riley

Sal Paradise

Kristen Stewart

Marylou

Amy Adams

Jane

Tom Sturridge

Carlo Marx

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On the Road

(L-R) Sam Riley as Sal Paradise and Garrett Hedlund as Dean Moriarty in "On the Road." Garrett Hedlund as Dean Moriarty in "On the Road." Garrett Hedlund as Dean Moriarty in "On the Road." Kristen Stewart as Marylou in "On the Road." Sam Riley as Sal Paradise and Alice Braga as Terry in "On the Road." (L-R) Sam Riley as Sal Paradise and Garrett Hedlund as Dean Moriarty in "On the Road." (L-R) Sam Riley as Sal Paradise, Kristen Stewart as Marylou and Garrett Hedlund as Dean Moriarty in "On the Road." Sam Riley as Sal Paradise in "On the Road." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis An aspiring writer (Sam Riley), his new friend (Garrett Hedlund) and his friend's seductive wife (Kristen Stewart) heed the call of the open road.
Director
Walter Salles
Producer
Nathanaël Karmitz, Charles Gillibert, Rebecca Yeldham, Roman Coppola
Screenwriter
Jose Rivera
Distributor
IFC Films
Production Co
VideoFilmes, MK2 Films, Jerry Leider Company
Rating
R (Language|Drug Use|Strong Sexual Content)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 21, 2012, Limited
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Mar 22, 2013
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 4, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$717.8K
Runtime
2h 19m
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