On this day April 25, 1980, the counterculture comedy Where the Buffalo Roam premiered in theaters. Directed by Art Linson, the film starred Bill Murray as famed journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson, alongside Peter Boyle and Craig T. Nelson.
The movie offered a fictionalized and loosely structured take on Thompson’s writings, particularly his relationship with his lawyer and friend, Oscar Zeta Acosta, renamed Carl Lazlo in the film. Bill Murray fully committed to the role, spending time with Thompson and adopting his voice, mannerisms, and chaotic energy both on and off screen.
Though reviews were mixed and box office returns modest at 6.6 million dollars, the film has gained cult status over the years for its unfiltered portrayal of Thompson and its early showcase of Bill Murray in a more eccentric role.
Fun fact: Hunter S. Thompson reportedly disliked the movie but admitted that Bill Murray's impersonation of him was so accurate it occasionally creeped him out.
Trivia question: What real life journalist known for gonzo writing inspired Bill Murray’s character in Where the Buffalo Roam?
The movie offered a fictionalized and loosely structured take on Thompson’s writings, particularly his relationship with his lawyer and friend, Oscar Zeta Acosta, renamed Carl Lazlo in the film. Bill Murray fully committed to the role, spending time with Thompson and adopting his voice, mannerisms, and chaotic energy both on and off screen.
Though reviews were mixed and box office returns modest at 6.6 million dollars, the film has gained cult status over the years for its unfiltered portrayal of Thompson and its early showcase of Bill Murray in a more eccentric role.
Fun fact: Hunter S. Thompson reportedly disliked the movie but admitted that Bill Murray's impersonation of him was so accurate it occasionally creeped him out.
Trivia question: What real life journalist known for gonzo writing inspired Bill Murray’s character in Where the Buffalo Roam?
