The Paperboy

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The Paperboy

R

Released Oct 5, 2012

1h 47m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

46%

Tomatometer

145 Reviews

33%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

In 1969 Florida, reporter Ward Jansen (Matthew McConaughey) returns to his hometown to write a story about death-row inmate Hillary Van Wetter (John Cusack), who was convicted of murdering a racist lawman. Ward hires his younger brother, Jack (Zac Efron), as a driver and, together with his partner, Yardley (David Oyelowo), gets to work. Though the possibility exists that Van Wetter is innocent, Ward and Yardley unwisely trust a vixen (Nicole Kidman) who will do anything to set the convict free.

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Critics Consensus

Trashy and melodramatic, The Paperboy is enlivened by a strong cast and a steamy, sordid plot, but it's uneven and often veers into camp.

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Larushka Ivan-Zadeh

metro.co.uk

Fetid, scuzzy, revolting, funny, erotic, perplexing and provocative, it's like the bastard child of Cape Fear, Written On The Wind and Killer Joe.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 5, 2017

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Judi Jordan

Shadow and Act

If you like that freaky, perverted feeling of spying on an even bigger freak show, you will find this film both fascinating and horrible to watch.

Aug 14, 2017

Full Review

Ryan Gilbey

New Statesman

Daniels turns out to be the ideal director for a film about the tendency of desire to turn sane minds to guacamole.

Nov 9, 2016

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Brian T. Carney

Washington Blade

The Paperboy fails to gel despite its strong cast.

May 18, 2022

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David Reddish

Queerty

Call it Tennessee Williams by way of Jerry Springer.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 20, 2022

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Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

Set in the late 1960s, the movie is tactless, shameless and almost proudly seedy. Nevertheless, it is always highly watchable, prone to truly fascinate an audience as it also genuinely appalls them.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 19, 2018

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Kim S

Sordid. Extreme stupidity of Nicole’s character. Extreme violence through out. I can never watch John Cusack again in any of his films. Remember how Robert Downey Jr. told Ben Stiller’s character in the film Tropic Thunder that you never go full #### (word formerly used for mentally disabled people). Well John went Full Psycho “un-alive” and it turned me off entirely to see him again.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

11/26/24

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Jamie D

It as shocking all the way through. It left me with a bad feeling. Old movie but I had never heard of it. Strong cast.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/11/24

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Audience Member

It does kind of plod, and it’s definitely off the rails, but there are only so many people who can truly pull off this kind of story. I don’t think that without this cast, this movie would’ve had a shot in hell. And the South can be Hell.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/19/24

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Madison A

I loved the story telling/narration. I probably would have given this a crap rating had the ending not completely shocked me to my core. It's not the best movie I have ever seen but I didn't want to stop watching till it was over

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/11/23

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Wendy V

Such an all star cast for such a bad movie.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

07/30/23

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Fred N

It's hard to like this movie. Great cast and performances, you can clearly see the novel it was based on. Atmospheric, bleak, and violent, it's a book I would never read. No Hollywood ending here.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/07/23

Full Review

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Lee Daniels

Director

Matthew McConaughey

Ward Jansen

Zac Efron

Jack Jansen

David Oyelowo

Yardley Acheman

Macy Gray

Anita Chester

John Cusack

Hillary Van Wetter

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The Paperboy: Official Clip - Sexy Daydream

1:42

The Paperboy: Official Clip - The N Word

2:00

The Paperboy: Official Clip - I'm Getting Horny

2:13

The Paperboy: Official Clip - Oversexed Barbie Doll

2:02

The Paperboy: Official Clip - The Most Natural Thing in the World

1:38

The Paperboy: Official Clip - Harrowing Justice

1:40

The Paperboy: Official Clip - Nightmarish Torture

1:54

The Paperboy: Official Clip - It's Not the Truth

1:52

The Paperboy: Official Clip - Laundry Room Lust

2:08

The Paperboy: Official Clip - Gator Gutting

1:50

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Synopsis

In 1969 Florida, reporter Ward Jansen (Matthew McConaughey) returns to his hometown to write a story about death-row inmate Hillary Van Wetter (John Cusack), who was convicted of murdering a racist lawman. Ward hires his younger brother, Jack (Zac Efron), as a driver and, together with his partner, Yardley (David Oyelowo), gets to work. Though the possibility exists that Van Wetter is innocent, Ward and Yardley unwisely trust a vixen (Nicole Kidman) who will do anything to set the convict free.

Director: Lee Daniels
Producer: Hilary Shor, Lee Daniels, Avi Lerner, Ed Cathell III, Cassian Elwes
Screenwriter: Peter Dexter, Lee Daniels
Distributor: Millennium Films
Production Co: Nu Image, E1 Entertainment, Lee Daniels Entertainment
Rating: R (Strong Sexual Content|Language|Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 5, 2012, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 22, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $628.2K
Runtime: 1h 47m

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