Where the Buffalo Roam
A chaotic gonzo comedy follows Hunter S. Thompson and his lawyer friend as intoxication, paranoia, and journalistic bravado derail attempts to cover major American events.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- irreverent
- sardonic
- surreal
- cult movie night
- counterculture film night
What critics said
Critics broadly found Bill Murray’s performance worthwhile but judged the film’s rambling episodic structure and weak treatment of Thompson’s addictions and friendship disappointing.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Bill Murray plays Hunter S. Thompson through drug-fueled episodes, paranoid energy, and exaggerated comic destruction.
The Super Bowl and 1972 presidential-election episodes are presented as bizarre, semi-independent adventures.
Thompson’s attempts to cover public events are inseparable from his persona, writing process, and intoxicated behavior.
The film refracts American elections, sports media, lawyers, and authority figures through a 1970s countercultural sensibility.
Films like Where the Buffalo Roam, and why
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
shared biographical comedy, countercultural journalism, drug-fueled absurdity, and a charismatic comic lead
The Rum Diary
shared gonzo sensibility, eccentric real-life subjects, irreverent comedy, and chaotic episodic storytelling
The Hudsucker Proxy
shared satirical journalism, political spectacle, paranoia, and unruly comic energy
The People vs. Larry Flynt
shared darkly comic portrait of an obsessive writer navigating drugs, media, and American political culture
Movie Details
- Director
- Art Linson
- Release Date
- 1980-04-25
- Runtime
- 99 min
- Rating
- 5.9 / 10 (192)
Cast
- Bill Murray
- Peter Boyle
- Bruno Kirby
- René Auberjonois
- R.G. Armstrong
- Craig T. Nelson
- Danny Goldman
- DeWayne Jessie
- Mark Metcalf
- Joseph Ragno
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 Where the Buffalo Roam about?
- A chaotic gonzo comedy follows Hunter S. Thompson and his lawyer friend as intoxication, paranoia, and journalistic bravado derail attempts to cover major American events.
- What is Where the Buffalo Roam like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Where the Buffalo Roam as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Where the Buffalo Roam violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Where the Buffalo Roam as mild.
- What did critics think of Where the Buffalo Roam?
- Critics broadly found Bill Murray’s performance worthwhile but judged the film’s rambling episodic structure and weak treatment of Thompson’s addictions and friendship disappointing.
- Which films are like Where the Buffalo Roam?
- Films with a similar feel include Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Rum Diary, The Hudsucker Proxy, and The People vs. Larry Flynt.
- How long is Where the Buffalo Roam?
- Where the Buffalo Roam runs 99 minutes.
- Where can I watch Where the Buffalo Roam?
- In United States, Where the Buffalo Roam is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
