The Adderall Diaries

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The Adderall Diaries

R

Released Apr 15, 2016

1h 27m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

26%

Tomatometer

35 Reviews

25%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Suffering from writer's block, author Stephen Elliott (James Franco) reconnects with his estranged father (Ed Harris) while investigating the murder case of computer entrepreneur Hans Reiser (Christian Slater).

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Critics Consensus

Stylistically overwrought and tedious, The Adderal Diaries aspires for profundity but instead feels like a shambolic class project thrown together right before it was due.

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Rex Reed

Observer

Mr. Elliott's story is not helped by James Franco, who plays him with his usual smug catatonia.

Rated: 1/4

Apr 21, 2016

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Gary Goldstein

Los Angeles Times

"The Adderall Diaries" is a complex, absorbing, at times profound look at how we choose to remember our past.

Apr 14, 2016

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Jeannette Catsoulis

New York Times

All affect and no personality.

Apr 14, 2016

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

The Adderall Diaries is possessing of a unique, challenging vision.

Rated: 3.0/4.0

Sep 1, 2020

Full Review

Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

[James Franco] shines, mesmerizing us... Smoldering with a questioning intensity...[he] excels with the raw edginess.

Nov 5, 2019

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Allison Rose

FlickDirect

With terrific source material, The Adderall Diaries should have been a deeply moving introspective look at various views of the same memories, but, sadly, falls short.

Rated: 2/5

Oct 8, 2019

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Garrett P.

Some interesting/well-made scenes, but a slog of misery with ultimately no point.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

07/16/25

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Kim W

Love Stephen Elliott <3 two PrObLeMaTiC actors as leads but great film

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/28/23

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Audience Member

Two words: Amber Heard

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The Adderall Diaries si presenta come un dramma giudiziario nei primi minuti; salvo poi soffermarsi fin da subito sul personaggio di James Franco che diventa il centro della pellicola. Una volta compresi i disagi del protagonista, il film non si sviluppa, si limita a mostrare infiniti problemi senza nessuno scopo. Funziona davvero poco, compreso un finale sbrigativo.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

hardy c

Coulda been, shoulda been. There is the makings of a good movie about memory, rationalization of bad decisions and alternate realities here, but the script, director and lead actor were not up to the task. You just kept wanting to know more about the protagonists, the father and son, but instead got hazy flashbacks and bitter recriminations. Amber Heard and her naked scenes were enough of reason to watch the screen for awhile but aside from her beauty, this sort of withered on the vine.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

I couldn't even finish it, incredibly boring.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

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Pamela Romanowsky

Director

James Franco

Stephen Elliott

Ed Harris

Neil Elliott

Amber Heard

Lana Edmond

Cynthia Nixon

Jen Davis

Christian Slater

Hans Reiser

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The Adderall Diaries: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Suffering from writer's block, author Stephen Elliott (James Franco) reconnects with his estranged father (Ed Harris) while investigating the murder case of computer entrepreneur Hans Reiser (Christian Slater).

Director: Pamela Romanowsky
Producer: Vince Jolivette, James Franco, James Reach, Joseph McKelheer, Marni Zelnick
Screenwriter: Pamela Romanowsky
Distributor: A24
Production Co: Rabbit Bandini Productions, Windowseat Entertainment
Rating: R (Language Throughout|Drug Use|Sexuality|Some Aberrant Content|Some Disturbing Content)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 15, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 15, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $11.3K
Runtime: 1h 27m

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