The People vs. Larry Flynt
A flamboyant pornographer becomes an unlikely champion of free expression when his vulgar empire collides with American censorship and the courts.
Overview
A provocative journey through the battle for free speech and personal expression.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- irreverent
- witty
- provocative
- adult movie night
- political drama night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the biopic entertaining, well constructed, visually striking, and unexpectedly respectful toward its deeply flawed subject.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Larry Flynt's rise as a pornographic publisher and public free-speech combatant structures the film.
Flynt's crude self-expression evolves into a legal and philosophical defense of broad free speech protections.
The film embraces Flynt's hedonism and offensiveness while building reluctant respect for his persistence and principles.
Critics specifically praised the cinematography, while the film moves through Flynt's flamboyant career and courtroom battles with visual force.
Films like The People vs. Larry Flynt, and why
Ed Wood
shared biographical drama, provocative antihero, and conflict over free expression
The Insider
shared courtroom drama, civil liberties themes, and charismatic outsider protagonist
Man on the Moon
shared true-life drama, political controversy, and morally complicated central figure
The Aviator
shared biographical filmmaking, rebellious celebrity subject, and irreverent comic tone
Movie Details
- Director
- Miloš Forman
- Release Date
- 1996-12-25
- Runtime
- 130 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (1308)
Cast
- Woody Harrelson
- Courtney Love
- Edward Norton
- Brett Harrelson
- Donna Hanover
- James Cromwell
- Crispin Glover
- Vincent Schiavelli
- Miles Chapin
- James Carville
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The People vs. Larry Flynt about?
- A flamboyant pornographer becomes an unlikely champion of free expression when his vulgar empire collides with American censorship and the courts.
- What is The People vs. Larry Flynt like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The People vs. Larry Flynt as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The People vs. Larry Flynt violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The People vs. Larry Flynt as mild.
- What did critics think of The People vs. Larry Flynt?
- Critics broadly found the biopic entertaining, well constructed, visually striking, and unexpectedly respectful toward its deeply flawed subject.
- Which films are like The People vs. Larry Flynt?
- Films with a similar feel include Ed Wood, The Insider, Man on the Moon, and The Aviator.
- How long is The People vs. Larry Flynt?
- The People vs. Larry Flynt runs 130 minutes.
- Where can I watch The People vs. Larry Flynt?
- In United States, The People vs. Larry Flynt is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
