Rebel in the Rye

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Rebel in the Rye

PG-13

2017

1h 46m

Biography

History

Drama

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Popcornmeter

28%

Tomatometer

88 Reviews

63%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Author J.D. Salinger leads a reclusive lifestyle after the success of his popular and controversial novel The Catcher in the Rye.

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Critics Consensus

Rebel in the Rye attempts to dramatize J.D. Salinger's life and creative process, but falters with a lack of dramatic impetus or a cohesive thesis about the reclusive author.

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Adam White

Independent (UK)

May 19, 2020

2/5

For the film's UK release, nearly three years after its limited theatrical unveiling in the US, Spacey has unsurprisingly been scrubbed from its cover art. The same treatment should have been extended to the film itself.

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Carson Lund

Slant Magazine

Jan 14, 2018

1.5/4

Danny Strong's film suggests dramatic Tetris, and it leeches J.D. Salinger and his process of any mystery.

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Dave McGinn

Globe and Mail

Oct 6, 2017

1.5/4

We see the young Salinger stuck at his desk lighting matches and throwing pages in the garbage. We see his trembling hand hovering above a page. There is sometimes music. When all else fails, there's a montage.

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Jul 28, 2025

2/5

The creative choices made by Danny Strong, in his debut directorial effort, swirl between an engaging warm hug and an indifferent cold shoulder.

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Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

Mar 1, 2021

2/5

From its on-the-nose title to the standard biopic conventions Rebel in the Rye/i> could probably best be described by Caulfield himself: 'You never saw so many phonies in all your life.'

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Leigh Monson

Substream Magazine

Sep 28, 2020

1.5/5

For all its dependence on the truth, Rebel in the Rye comes across feeling like a big phony.

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Steve Y

@Cubby65 Apr 21, 2026

J.D. Salinger comes off like the embodiment of Holden Caufield. If that's your thing, enjoy.

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Dionisius D

@RT82698182 Jul 22, 2023

As a writer, this movie inspired me to keep writing. I watch it repeatedly whenever I feel tired in my writing activities.

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isla s

@RT89656869 Sep 3, 2022

This was an interesting story about someone I didn't know much about (J.D. Salinger). Nicholas Hoult gives a decent performance as the somewhat quiet and thoughtful Salinger. Kevin Spacey is in this film, although he isn't in every scene - seeing his name put me off watching it but I'd say he's not one of the main characters and its worth seeing anyway. I thought the narration, insight into the authors assumed thoughts, was particularly intriguing. I did feel both frustrated and sorry for the main character at different times. Its a somewhat thoughtful watch, which I reckon is worth seeing.

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lanfranco c

@Lanfrancobz Jul 19, 2022

A nice movie to understand how was written a great book.

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Jul 20, 2021

I enjoyed this movie about the life of JD Salinger and the story it told about the trials he encountered in life leading up to his famous novel "Cather in the Rye" and the character Holder Caufield. The movie also has a great cast to bring the story to life.

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Aug 3, 2020

The reviews of this film are what I have a problem with on Rotten Tomatoes. The critics savaged it somewhat unfairly. The smug "modest biopic" comments from audience members are proof positive that there are still Holden Caulfields in the world--phonies who think everyone (and every film) around them is phony. (And Zoey Deutch didn't get a lot to do because the film isn't about Oona O'Neill!). Is it the best film I've ever seen? No. But it's really interesting--especially if you've read or studied Salinger, or if you are interested in the subject--as is the case with all biopics!

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Danny Strong

Director

Nicholas Hoult

J.D. Salinger

Kevin Spacey

Whit Burnett

Sarah Paulson

Dorothy Olding

Hope Davis

Miriam Salinger

Victor Garber

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Synopsis

Author J.D. Salinger leads a reclusive lifestyle after the success of his popular and controversial novel The Catcher in the Rye.

Director: Danny Strong
Producer: Bruce Cohen, Jason Shuman, Danny Strong, Molly Smith, Thad Luckinbill, Trent Luckinbill
Screenwriter: Danny Strong
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Black Label Media
Rating: PG-13 (Sexual References|Language|Smoking Throughout|Some Violence|Thematic Elements)
Genre: Biography, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 8, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 19, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $376.7K
Runtime: 1h 46m

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