Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
77%RT Audience Score: 89%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 3 nominations
Visually creative, but also aimless, repetitive, and devoid of character development
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a wild ride that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about the American Dream. While some critics found the film to be a bit too over-the-top, I personally loved the psychedelic visuals and Johnny Depp’s portrayal of Hunter S. Thompson. It’s not a movie for everyone, but if you’re looking for something bizarre, unpredictable, and strangely alluring, then this is the film for you. Just be prepared to have your mind blown.
Production Company(ies)
Pathé Consortium Cinéma Indusfilms Société Nouvelle Pathé Cinéma
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Stardust Hotel & Casino – 3000 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for pervasive extreme drug use and related bizarre behavior, strong language, and brief nudity
Year of Release
1998
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:1h 59m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): May 22, 1998 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 18, 2003
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Johnny Depp, Benicio Del Toro, Craig Bierko, Ellen Barkin, Gary Busey, Cameron Diaz, directed by Terry Gilliam, written by Hunter S Thompson, Tony Grisoni, Tod Davies, Alex Cox, produced by Patrick Cassavetti, Laila Nabulsi, Stephen Nemeth, genre Comedy, box office performance $10.6M, budget unknown, reviewed by Duane Byrge, Xan Brooks, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Owen Gleiberman, Todd McCarthy, Geoff Andrew, Robin Holabird, Leigh Paatsch, Glenn Dunks, Emanuel Levy, Maitland McDonagh, MPAA rating R, drugs, Las Vegas, motorcycle race, drug binge, American Dream, Hunter S Thompson, Terry Gilliam, Tony Grisoni, Tod Davies, Alex Cox
Worldwide gross: $10,680,275
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $19,599,811
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,722
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,137,384
US/Canada gross: $10,680,275
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $19,599,811
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,422
US/Canada opening weekend: $3,338,590
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $6,126,783
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,064
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $18,500,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $33,950,109
Production budget ranking: 1,080
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $18,282,133
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$32,632,431
ROI to date (est.): -62%
ROI ranking: 1,762
Benicio Del Toro – Oscar Zeta Acosta (“Dr. Gonzo”)
Craig Bierko – Lacerda
Ellen Barkin – Waitress at North Star Cafe
Gary Busey – Highway Patrolman
Cameron Diaz – Blonde TV Reporter
Director(s)
Terry Gilliam
Writer(s)
Hunter S. Thompson, Terry Gilliam, Tony Grisoni, Tod Davies, Alex Cox
Producer(s)
Patrick Cassavetti, Laila Nabulsi, Stephen Nemeth
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 3 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (69) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (34) | Rotten (35)
The flaccid film is a goon-show version of Thompson’s commentary on the craziness of the American Dream.
May 22, 2019
Duane Byrge
Hollywood Reporter
TOP CRITIC
The one stand-out is Johnny Depp, who brings Hunter S Thompson to bald-headed, pigeon-toed life.
March 29, 2019
Xan Brooks
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
It’s certainly distinctive, looking at times like Richard Lester put through a postmodernist blender.
May 2, 2012
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
(Gilliam’s) vision is too reflexively comic to evoke the shadows of dread in Thompson’s writing.
September 7, 2011 | Rating: D+
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
Pic serves up a sensory overload without any compensatory reflection on the outlandish and irresponsible behavior on view.
March 26, 2009
Todd McCarthy
Variety
TOP CRITIC
A film of brilliant moments, but sadly less coherent – and, on senses, rather less personal – than most of Gilliam’s work.
January 26, 2006
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
…catapulted by Depp and co-star Benecio del Toro along with an impressive mix of players in bit parts-including the voice of Debbie Reynolds…
August 11, 2021
Robin Holabird
Robin Holabird
All you will learn is that the irksome excesses of early 1970s living were left behind for a very good reason. They just weren’t that much fun at all.
September 11, 2020 | Rating: 2/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)
Unless viewed through the prism of psychedelic habituates, it is unlikely audiences will find much to savour in Gilliam’s picture.
November 24, 2014 | Rating: D+
Glenn Dunks
Quickflix
One of Terry Gilliam’s worst films (almost unwatchable)
July 26, 2012 | Rating: C
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
A peculiar and oddly haunting achievement.
May 2, 2012 | Rating: 2.5/4
Maitland McDonagh
TV Guide
Bizarre, unpredictable yet strangely alluring.
May 2, 2012 | Rating: 2.5/5
Film4 Staff
Film4…
Plot
The big-screen version of Hunter S. Thompson’s seminal psychedelic classic about his road trip across Western America as he and his large Samoan lawyer searched desperately for the “American dream”… they were helped in large part by the huge amount of drugs and alcohol kept in their convertible, The Red Shark.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro give “really interesting performances” in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, according to an audience review on Fresh Kernels.
Terry-Gilliam.jpg
