The People vs. Larry Flynt

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The People vs. Larry Flynt

R

1996

2h 10m

Drama

Biography

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

61 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Pursued by opponents who say his "Hustler" magazine breaks decency laws, pornographer Larry Flynt hires lawyer Alan Isaacman to help fight his legal battles. A zealot shoots the men near a Georgia courthouse, and though Flynt discovers he'll never walk again, his fighting spirit -- like his love for stripper Althea Leasure -- stays strong. Ultimately, the unlikely free speech warrior takes his biggest case to a showdown at the Supreme Court.

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Critics Consensus

The People Vs. Larry Flynt pays entertaining tribute to an irascible iconoclast with a well-constructed biopic that openly acknowledges his troublesome flaws.

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Joe Morgenstern

Wall Street Journal

10/18/2008

It's been a long, dumb spell, but The People vs. Larry Flynt makes it OK to take your brain to the movies again.

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

06/30/2008

A

An exultant comedy of American repression and revolt.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

06/30/2008

A brave, spectacularly entertaining -- and unexpectedly stirring -- account of Flynt's life that asks us to regard the publisher of Hustler magazine as an invaluable champion of our First Amendment freedoms.

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

Aug 25

4.5/5

A suitably unsubtle movie about a liberty no one is ever subtle about targeting.

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Jeff Beck

The Blu Spot

Aug 3

3.5/5

The People vs. Larry Flynt may not be a particularly in-depth biopic about the eccentric purveyor of lewd magazines, but it is an entertaining, amusing, and fast-paced one with an important message.

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Frank J. Avella

The Contending

Jul 28

A

Great films stand the test of time no matter how many misguided activists try to steer the public away from them. The (film's) dire message that we never take our freedoms for granted could not be timelier–nor can the systematic movement to suppress it.

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Junior S.

@RT39899143 Jun 26

Thoroughly entertaining on multiple levels, as biopic, as love story, as tragedy, and as meditation on fundamental, and constitutional, freedom. Courtney Love should have at least been nominated for Best Supporting Actress, she is exceptional in her role, and Woody Harrelson proves he is the best talent to come out the Cheers stable. Wonderful work from veteran Milos Forman.

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shane O

@Shanes_DVD_Shack Apr 24

Even thought the characters are pretty reprehensible , it’s still a very well done movie. The acting is very good even Courtney love manages to put in a good performance. I would recommend it

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Jelisije J

@jjosifovic Feb 5

As a biopic this movie is great, but as far as rewatch ability this movie has very little value to me.......I don't consider the man who made Hustler magazine life story anything interesting just expect a lot of sex, drugs, and depression.

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Jack F

@MovieFan111 Nov 9

It was really good, and funny as well. I'm glad I watched it.

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Julie D

@RT40892224 08/27/2025

Long after you've grown tired of his escapades, the scenes in which he and Althea support one another against the slings an arrows of outrageous fortune are touching and, ultimately, genuinely tragic.

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Grant H

@RT95929188 08/10/2025

A confronting message on sexuality, exploitation and the importance of freedom of speech, no matter how repugnant the subject matter. Harrelson and Love have never been better as they inhabit entirely the characters they play.

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Milos Forman

Director

Woody Harrelson

Larry Flynt

Courtney Love

Althea Leasure

Edward Norton

Alan Isaacman

James Cromwell

Charles Keating

Crispin Glover

Arlo

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Synopsis

Pursued by opponents who say his "Hustler" magazine breaks decency laws, pornographer Larry Flynt hires lawyer Alan Isaacman to help fight his legal battles. A zealot shoots the men near a Georgia courthouse, and though Flynt discovers he'll never walk again, his fighting spirit -- like his love for stripper Althea Leasure -- stays strong. Ultimately, the unlikely free speech warrior takes his biggest case to a showdown at the Supreme Court.

Director: Milos Forman
Producer: Michael Hausman, Oliver Stone, Janet Yang
Screenwriter: Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski
Distributor: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia Tristar
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation, Phoenix Pictures, Illusion Entertainment, Ixtlan Corporation
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 1996, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $20.2M
Runtime: 2h 10m
Sound Mix: Surround

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