Naked Lunch

1991
R
1h 55m

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

58K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer1:40

Dark Comedy Drama Mystery

After developing an addiction to the substance he uses to kill bugs, an exterminator accidentally kills his wife and becomes involved in a secret government plot being orchestrated by giant ... Read allAfter developing an addiction to the substance he uses to kill bugs, an exterminator accidentally kills his wife and becomes involved in a secret government plot being orchestrated by giant bugs in a port town in North Africa.After developing an addiction to the substance he uses to kill bugs, an exterminator accidentally kills his wife and becomes involved in a secret government plot being orchestrated by giant bugs in a port town in North Africa.

Director
- David Cronenberg
Writers
- William S. Burroughs
- David Cronenberg
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

58K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

3,435

313

Director
- David Cronenberg
Writers
- William S. Burroughs
- David Cronenberg
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 13 wins & 17 nominations

Trivia
Peter Weller turned down the lead role in RoboCop 3 (1993) to appear in this movie.

Goofs
The glass shot off Judy Davis' head changes to a plastic glass. First instance as the glass is falling off her head after the shot and then at end of film it is a plastic glass Ms Davis balances on her head. It remains plastic until it falls to floor and changes back into glass.

Quotes
Bill Lee: Exterminate all rational thought. That is the conclusion I have come to.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Rush/Naked Lunch/The Prince of Tides/Fried Green Tomatoes/Madame Bovary (1991)

Soundtracks
Vaya Con Dios
Composed by Larry Russell / Inez James / Buddy Pepper
Performed by Les Paul and Mary Ford
Courtesy of Capitol Records

User reviews195

Review

Featured review

10/10

Twisted Film concerning twisted minds

Naked Lunch seems to be just totally incomprehensible upon first viewing. However, after watching it again, you start to understand more and more. Upon multiple viewings, you really get a feel for what's transpiring before your eyes. The ultimate message is that it is really just a metaphor for heroin addiction, even though it's so much more deeper than that. It's an intricate study of a man, William S. Burroughs, who was a heroin addict, and among other things one of the most significant Beat authors ever. The film delves deeply into the psyche of Burroughs and takes you on a trip in his mind and your own. There are touches of reality and many flashes of paranoia, and it is all done with style and grace. Seriously one of the best films about an author, Naked Lunch will certainly stand the test of time against other films which may seem at first entertaining, but lose their luster upon multiple viewings. Whereas, Naked Lunch, in my opinion, never will. 10 out of 10.