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The Beach Bum

Play trailer 2:25 Poster for The Beach Bum R 2019 1h 35m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
58% Tomatometer 126 Reviews 41% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Moondog is a fun-loving, pot-smoking, beer-drinking writer who lives life on his own terms in Florida. If he can put down the drugs for just one minute, he may finally be able to put his talent to good use and finish the next great American novel.
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The Beach Bum

The Beach Bum

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Critics Consensus

The role of a lifetime for Matthew McConaughey, The Beach Bum is set apart by Harmony Korine's distinctive style, but that isn't always enough to offset the unfocused story.

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Critics Reviews

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Kevin Maher The Times (UK) Oct 28, 2019
1/5
It's as if, like the rest of the cast in this riotous non-event, [McConaughey's] having so much fun making the film that he simply doesn't care. Good for him. Go to Full Review
Simran Hans Observer (UK) Oct 27, 2019
3/5
It's not unfunny watching McConaughey smoke a joint from between Isla Fisher's toes, but some viewers may find themselves less enamoured of Moondog than the film is. Go to Full Review
Peter Bradshaw Guardian Oct 25, 2019
1/5
Korine achieves a Zen state of unfunny with this pointless non-comedy... Go to Full Review
Eddie Harrison film-authority.com Mar 23, 2024
3/5
…Korine’s best and most accessible film to date, hinging on an out-there star performance that’s worth celebrating for its sheer extremity… Go to Full Review
Bill Bria Vague Visages Jun 7, 2023
The Beach Bum is undoubtedly Harmony Korine’s friendliest movie, as the filmmaker tones down his Jean-Luc Godard meets John Waters envelope-pushing tendencies and alienating techniques, yet there’s still a lot of edge to be found in the film. Go to Full Review
Taylor Baker Drink in the Movies Sep 14, 2021
69/100
Episode 34: Relaxer / A Scanner Darkly / The Beach Bum / Holy Motors Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Lulu J @CallMeLulu Sep 13, 2026 Snoop Dogg is good. Is Matthew McConaughey good? Not sure "good," but he seems to have dove into the character avidly. It's hard to believe it was made as late as 2019. Most jokes are McConaughey's character being off his tats drunk, stoned, careening around. Bringing a stray kitten into a loud club with flashing lights, going on stage, yelling and waving the kitten around, then feeding it beer. Taking a whizz in someone's docked boat while hysterically laughing, holding up a beer triumphantly, while passersby all cheer. Grabbing his daughter's husband by the nuts in the middle of their wedding ceremony, sticking his fingers up his agent's rear as a joke. Matted filthy hair but women find him irresistible. Screwing random women (and his wife) in front of people. Picks up a waitress in a local dive, does her from behind in the kitchen while customers and cooks laugh and applaud. Going down on his wife while she's getting a pedicure. It gets even worse and more desperate to appear edgy. See more James K @RT44947267 Sep 11, 2026 Self indulgent tripe. Seriously. Did McConaughey actually act or is this just film role of him getting stoned and drunk? Painful to watch not because of the story or art but because of the time I will never get back. See more Stephen I @RT61957900 Sep 7, 2026 I especially enjoyed the placement of the Peggy Lee song and the interview Moondog gives the reporter at the end. It’s about the larger story and themes rather than scenes, if you watch it scene by scene you’ll miss the point of it all and end up disappointed. Maybe because I went in with low expectations due to ratings I was pleasantly surprised, what a treat! See more Maximus C @MaximumPerk Sep 3, 2026 This is not funny. I liked Matthew McConaughey as an actor and he played the part well, but his character is a leaching, constantly high, disrespectful, lawbreaking jerk. He even robs a man in a wheelchair. That was disturbing!!! I can overlook the cross dressing and fun loving on Key West but the movie shows disrespect for money and what it could mean to others. See more Lisa S @RT73554438 Aug 20, 2026 I watched it so you don't have to, don't throw away that gift I have given you. See more Nicolas G @Samuel_Goldmann May 31, 2026 nothing works in this movie. Acting is as bad as the story. The story is basicly some assholes and a cameraman high on acid filming it. sounds good? its bad! See more Read all reviews
The Beach Bum

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Movie Info

Synopsis Moondog is a fun-loving, pot-smoking, beer-drinking writer who lives life on his own terms in Florida. If he can put down the drugs for just one minute, he may finally be able to put his talent to good use and finish the next great American novel.
Director
Harmony Korine
Producer
John Lesher, Charles-Marie Anthonioz, Mourad Belkeddar, Nicolas Lhermitte, Steve Golin
Screenwriter
Harmony Korine
Distributor
Neon, Vice Studios
Production Co
Anonymous Content, Iconoclast, Le Grisbi
Rating
R (Nudity|Language Throughout|Pervasive Drug and Alcohol Use|Some Strong Sexual Content)
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 29, 2019, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 18, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.5M
Runtime
1h 35m
Sound Mix
Dolby Atmos
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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