The Rum Diary

Play trailer

The Rum Diary

R

Released Oct 28, 2011

1h 59m

Comedy

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

51%

Tomatometer

167 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

Buy 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)

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.

Rated: 3.5/5

Mar 20, 2012

Full Review

Derek Malcolm

London Evening Standard

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

Rated: 3/5

Nov 11, 2011

Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

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.

Rated: 2/5

Nov 10, 2011

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

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.

Rated: 2/4

Mar 7, 2023

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

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

Rated: 4/10

Nov 30, 2020

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

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

Rated: 3.0/4.0

Sep 21, 2020

Full Review

Read all reviews

Tom S

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.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/25/24

Full Review

scott f

Just got around to watching this, terrible terrible movie,no plot line,just literally a party movie for Depp

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

08/25/23

Full Review

Georgan G

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.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

12/12/22

Full Review

rebecca b

It was a very good movie. Wish one actress wasn't in it but at least her scenes was small

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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

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