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Kill Your Darlings

Play trailer Poster for Kill Your Darlings R 2013 1h 42m Drama LGBTQ+ Biography Romance Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer 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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Kill Your Darlings

Kill Your Darlings

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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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Critics Reviews

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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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review David Bax Battleship Pretension Feb 23, 2021
Without wasting any time whatsoever, Krokidas falls victim to the glassy-eyed hero worship that causes people to think that any figure they admire must always have been extraordinary at every moment. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ryan R. @RBRShortFilms13 Feb 20, 2026 One of the best films of the 2010’s! Highly underrated. 10/10 See more Shioka O @RT54204327 Jun 2, 2025 It's okay, a quick easy watch. Could be more crazier... See more 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. See more Jerod S @jeroduptown Apr 18, 2024 Radcliffe and Michael C Hall are great bookends of this tale of poets and rivals and war. See more Dani G @RT81139271 Apr 16, 2024 It's not bad per-se, but I think it's a little dull See more Steve D @RT35616104 Feb 6, 2024 I have no idea why I should care about any of it. See more Read all reviews
Kill Your Darlings

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Cast & Crew

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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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Kill Your Darlings

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Movie Info

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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