Kill Your Darlings

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Kill Your Darlings

R

2013

1h 42m

Drama

LGBTQ+

Biography

Romance

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

78%

Tomatometer

147 Reviews

60%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

In 1944, young Allen Ginsberg (Daniel Radcliffe) has a rival for the affections of his charismatic classmate Lucien Carr (Dane DeHaan). When the rival is found dead, Carr, William Burroughs and Jack Kerouac are arrested for murder.

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Critics Consensus

Bolstered by the tremendous chemistry between Daniel Radcliffe and Dane DeHaan, Kill Your Darlings casts a vivid spotlight on an early chapter in the story of the Beat Generation.

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Amy Taubin

Film Comment Magazine

Aug 28, 2019

Krokidas's romantic sense of the characters and the moment corresponds precisely to the way those young men saw themselves-at once closeted and defiant, making up the rules of art and sexuality as they went along.

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Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

Dec 8, 2013

3/5

Ultimately, it's oddly conservative fare; well played, handsomely mounted, but as inert as the books that its protagonists blithely hurl from the shelves.

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Charlotte O'Sullivan

London Evening Standard

Dec 6, 2013

3/5

Foster is wonderful as the watchful, weak Burroughs, at ease only when drugged, with a mouth like a cat's bum. But DeHaan is even better.

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Matt Oakes

Silver Screen Riot

Oct 15, 2026

C+

With more confidence and tighter vision, 'Kill Your Darlings' may have been excellent. As it is, it's still pretty good.

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Carla Renata

The Curvy Film Critic

Mar 24, 2026

Peaked my interest about the beat generation and its subjects, while shedding light on how being gay has always been and continues to be a judgemental, stigmatic label placed into a negative light by insisting being gay is a lifestyle choice.

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George Fenwick

The Post NZ

Jul 26, 2021

Though it's not perfect, Kill Your Darlings is hard to fault with such a brilliant cast bringing the Beat generation to life with such precision.

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Rebecca H

@Debs2 Oct 5, 2026

Really wanted to love it. But the execution of the film has a clean "Hollywood" sheen that does not match the messy lives of its main characters.

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Ryan R.

@RBRShortFilms13 Feb 20, 2026

One of the best films of the 2010’s! Highly underrated. 10/10

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Shioka O

@RT54204327 Jun 2, 2025

It's okay, a quick easy watch. Could be more crazier...

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Michael V

@RT01374702 May 5, 2024

A true story of obsession and murder. Kill Your Darlings is a 2013 American biographical drama film written by Austin Bunn and directed by John Krokidas in his feature film directorial debut 📚 It’s ok, but I feel mixed about this one 😉 I’d recommend it if you like this genre, but if not then probably give it a miss 👍🏼👎🏼 D A murder in 1944 draws together the great poets of the beat generation: Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac and William Burroughs.

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Jerod S

@jeroduptown Apr 18, 2024

Radcliffe and Michael C Hall are great bookends of this tale of poets and rivals and war.

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Dani G

@RT81139271 Apr 16, 2024

It's not bad per-se, but I think it's a little dull

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John Krokidas

Director

Daniel Radcliffe

Allen Ginsberg

David Cross

Louis Ginsberg

Dane DeHaan

Lucien Carr

Ben Foster

William Burroughs

Michael C. Hall

David Kammerer

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Synopsis

In 1944, young Allen Ginsberg (Daniel Radcliffe) has a rival for the affections of his charismatic classmate Lucien Carr (Dane DeHaan). When the rival is found dead, Carr, William Burroughs and Jack Kerouac are arrested for murder.

Director: John Krokidas
Producer: Christine Vachon, Michael Benaroya, Rose Ganguzza, John Krokidas
Screenwriter: John Krokidas, Austin Bunn
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Killer Films
Rating: R (Drug Use|Brief Violence|Language|Sexual Content)
Genre: Drama, LGBTQ+, Biography, Romance, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 18, 2013, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 18, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.0M
Runtime: 1h 42m

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