The People vs. Larry Flynt

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The People vs. Larry Flynt

R

Released Dec 25, 1996

2h 10m

Drama

Biography

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

58 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Pursued by opponents who say his "Hustler" magazine breaks decency laws, pornographer Larry Flynt (Woody Harrelson) hires lawyer Alan Isaacman (Edward Norton) to help fight his legal battles. A zealot shoots the men near a Georgia courthouse, and though Flynt discovers he'll never walk again, his fighting spirit -- like his love for stripper Althea Leasure (Courtney Love) -- stays strong. Ultimately, the unlikely free speech warrior takes his biggest case to a showdown at the Supreme Court.

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Critics Consensus

The People Vs. Larry Flynt pays entertaining tribute to an irascible iconoclast with a well-constructed biopic that openly acknowledges his troublesome flaws.

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Joe Morgenstern

Wall Street Journal

It's been a long, dumb spell, but The People vs. Larry Flynt makes it OK to take your brain to the movies again.

Oct 18, 2008

Full Review

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

An exultant comedy of American repression and revolt.

Rated: A

Jun 30, 2008

Full Review

David Ansen

Newsweek

A brave, spectacularly entertaining -- and unexpectedly stirring -- account of Flynt's life that asks us to regard the publisher of Hustler magazine as an invaluable champion of our First Amendment freedoms.

Jun 30, 2008

Full Review

Michael Atkinson

Spin

The People vs. Larry Flynt fairly levitates, but when Love's around it takes off.

Dec 27, 2022

Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

It’s funny and absorbing. And also slippery and superficial. It has moments of greatness and power, and moments of shameless preaching-to-the-converted.

Rated: B-

Sep 1, 2022

Full Review

Jimmy Cage

Jimmy Cage Movie Reviews (YouTube)

Woody Harrelson is great as the eccentric, rebellious porn mogul Larry Flynt and 25 years later Milos Formans film is still relevant and just damn entertaining.

Rated: 8/10

Apr 25, 2022

Full Review

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Destah O

Amazing movie. Courtney Love was an AMAZING ACTRESS!!!! I cried at the ending. It's a true story in which I also love that of watching adaptations of real events. Woody Harrleson did an amazing performance as well. MUST WATCH!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/23/24

Full Review

Shioka O

Based on a real people and story. Now it looks a bit retro, it's a decent biopic and court drama. Well-acted casts.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/27/24

Full Review

Margaret M

A cinematic masterpiece.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/14/24

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Kliff H

Times are changing, boundaries are moving. Pushing for the limit, of liberal dumbness vs conservative dumbness. Drugging dull to be so extreme.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/13/23

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Gareth v

A clever and original biopic about an eccentric man who peddles in porn yet this movie never ventures down that path. While some may question Flynt's morals (unfairly in my opinion) one can't question him for his lack of principles.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/19/23

Full Review

Lance U

THE PEOPLE VS LARRY FLYNT is an absolute masterpiece! Stars, Woody Harrelson, Edward Norton & Courtney Love, are all in top form and each give career making performances! This is director Milos Foreman's best picture and was even produced by filmmaker Oliver Stone! A-

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/11/23

Full Review

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Milos Forman

Director

Woody Harrelson

Larry Flynt

Courtney Love

Althea Leasure

Edward Norton

Alan Isaacman

James Cromwell

Charles Keating

Crispin Glover

Arlo

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The People vs. Larry Flynt: Official Clip - The Supreme Court

2:13

The People vs. Larry Flynt: Official Clip - We Won, Baby

2:10

The People vs. Larry Flynt: Official Clip - Meet Calamity Jane

1:39

The People vs. Larry Flynt: Official Clip - God Created Woman

1:50

The People vs. Larry Flynt: Official Clip - A Dream Client

2:11

The People vs. Larry Flynt: Official Clip - The Price of Freedom

2:12

The People vs. Larry Flynt: Official Clip - The Pervert is Back!

2:12

The People vs. Larry Flynt: Official Clip - Jackie O Nude

2:04

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Synopsis

Pursued by opponents who say his "Hustler" magazine breaks decency laws, pornographer Larry Flynt (Woody Harrelson) hires lawyer Alan Isaacman (Edward Norton) to help fight his legal battles. A zealot shoots the men near a Georgia courthouse, and though Flynt discovers he'll never walk again, his fighting spirit -- like his love for stripper Althea Leasure (Courtney Love) -- stays strong. Ultimately, the unlikely free speech warrior takes his biggest case to a showdown at the Supreme Court.

Director: Milos Forman
Producer: Michael Hausman, Oliver Stone, Janet Yang
Screenwriter: Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski
Distributor: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia Tristar
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation, Ixtlan Corporation, Phoenix Pictures, Illusion Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 1996, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $20.2M
Runtime: 2h 10m
Sound Mix: Surround

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