Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)

Kernel Score: 80% · 4,945 ratings · Rated R

Genres: Adventure, Drama, Comedy

Released: 1998-05-22

Runtime: 118 minutes

Is Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas worth watching?

Depends on your taste. Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro drive to Las Vegas on a haze of drugs in a chaotic, hallucinatory trip. It's visually inventive and darkly funny, but it's also messy and not for everyone.

Watch it if you

  • like surreal, anarchic comedy
  • enjoy Terry Gilliam's wild visual style
  • want a film with no interest in being tidy

Skip it if you

  • dislike drug-heavy films
  • want a clear story or characters to root for

Best for: Late-night cult viewing

Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.

Where to watch Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

  • Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
  • Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube

US availability, updated 2026-10-23.

Overview

Raoul Duke and his attorney Dr. Gonzo drive a red convertible across the Mojave desert to Las Vegas with a suitcase full of drugs to cover a motorcycle race. As their consumption of drugs increases at an alarming rate, the stoned duo trash their hotel room and fear legal repercussions. Duke begins to drive back to L.A., but after an odd run-in with a cop, he returns to Sin City and continues his wild drug binge.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas parents' guide: ages 15+

Parents need to know that Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is an R-rated film centered on a heavy, sustained drug binge across Las Vegas.

  • Drinking, drugs & smoking: Intense — Depicts near-constant heavy drug use including LSD and cocaine as the film's central subject.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Movies like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

If you liked Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, these are the movies we'd watch next.

  • Brazil (1985) — 84%: Gilliam's other dark, surreal comedy about a broken system.
  • Twelve Monkeys (1995) — 87%: Gilliam's mind-bending sci-fi with a similarly strange tone.
  • The Fisher King (1991) — 83%: Gilliam film about a broken man and a wild companion.
  • Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) — 89%: Anarchic British comedy by Gilliam's Monty Python circle.
  • Casino (1995) — 89%: Excess and chaos in Las Vegas, in a more serious register.
  • The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988) — 76%: Gilliam fantasy, wild and strange throughout.

Director

Terry Gilliam

Cast

  • Johnny Depp as Raoul Duke
  • Benicio del Toro as Dr. Gonzo
  • Tobey Maguire as Hitchhiker
  • Michael Lee Gogin as Uniformed Dwarf
  • Larry Cedar as Car Rental Agent - Los Angeles
  • Brian Le Baron as Parking Attendant
  • Katherine Helmond as Desk Clerk at Mint Hotel
  • Michael Warwick as Bell Boy
  • Craig Bierko as Lacerda
  • Tyde Kierney as Reporter

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas FAQ

Is Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas worth watching?

Depends on your taste. Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro drive to Las Vegas on a haze of drugs in a chaotic, hallucinatory trip. It's visually inventive and darkly funny, but it's also messy and not for everyone.

Where can I watch Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas?

In the US you can rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.

Is Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas OK for kids?

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is an R-rated film centered on a heavy, sustained drug binge across Las Vegas.

What movies are like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas?

If you liked Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, try Brazil, Twelve Monkeys, The Fisher King and Monty Python and the Holy Grail.