Despite being directed by critically acclaimed director Ron Howard, Amy Adams' Hillbilly Elegy was highly controversial upon release. 576i3y

Hillbilly Elegy is a 2020 film based on JD Vance’s memoir detailing the influence of his Kentucky upbringing, but there’s another movie that touches on similar themes that resonate even deeper. The controversial Hillbilly Elegyexplores the unglamorous side of America, discussing generational poverty as the author reflects on the influence his family had on him. Those who liked Hillbilly Elegy, or liked the themes but wanted more from the movie, should check out Jennifer Lawrence’s breakout film from a decade prior, Winter’s Bone.

Gabriel Basso has seen a recent boost in fame after starring in Netflix's hit political thriller, The Night Agent, but unfortunately, not all of Basso's roles have been so well-received. In 2023, Basso took on the lead role of Peter Sutherland in Netflix's sixth-most-watched television show of all time, The Night Agent. The thriller follows an FBI agent who, after receiving a mysterious phone call, gets pulled into a dangerous political conspiracy. At the moment, anticipation is high for The Night Agent season 2, yet Basso is also trending for another less exciting reason.

Netflix's Hillbilly Elegy has gotten a renewed spotlight, begging the question as to just how much the biopic left out of its source material. Releasing in 2020, Hillbilly Elegy adapted politician J.D. Vance's 2016 memoir, Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis, gaining generally favorable audience reviews but leaving a poor impression on critics. In the wake of J.D. Vance becoming presidential candidate Donald Trump's running mate, Hillbilly Elegy has seen a surge of viewership on Netflix.

Amy Adams’ Hillbilly Elegy made its way to a Netflix global top 10 hit, a reminder of how badly movie lovers need her horror film, Nightbitch. Adams has successfully navigated Hollywood throughout the past decades, going from small to leading roles and making her name as one of the most popular and acclaimed actors of her generation. Adam’s upbringing prepared her to become a versatile performer who has tackled a variety of roles, from intense dramas to superhero films and everything in between.

The 2020 movie Hillbilly Elegymakes its way onto the Netflix Global Top 10 several years after its release. Based on J.D. Vance's bestselling 2016 memoir Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis, the movie follows the story of Vance's character as he receives a phone call that pulls him back to his Ohio hometown, where three generations of his family live. Hillbilly Elegy was directed by Ron Howard and features a leading cast including Amy Adams, Glenn Close, Gabriel Basso, Haley Bennett, Frida Pinto, and Bo Hopkins.

The crime drama series American Rust follows in the footsteps of Ron Howard’s film Hillbilly Elegy, yet the two projects may not be as similar as they seem. After Hillbilly Elegy’s release in 2020, it received harsh criticism from reviewers, many of whom stated that a lack of authenticity prevented the film from being faithful to the memoir it was based on. Though American Rust has also garnered poor reviews, the reason behind it is a bit different, and this is for the better.

Ron Howard's film Hillbilly Elegy has faced some controversy since its release in 2020, but its star-studded cast remains notable, and their other movies are certainly worth the watch. Hillbilly Elegy follows the true story of J.D. Vance's Appalachian childhood, alongside his wise grandmother and his addicted mother. Though the film's message has been brought into question, the cast led by Amy Adams and Glenn Close has been singled out as one of the film's undoubted strong suits.

Ron Howard’s drama Hillbilly Elegy is based on a critically adored memoir, but the movie has received some brutal reviews. Hillbilly Elegy tells the true story of three generations of the Vance family, an Appalachian brood living in poverty whose young son eventually attends Yale Law School despite the odds being stacked against him. There, he finds himself unsurprisingly out-of-place but, by recalling the advice of his cartoonish granny (played by Glenn Close) and the resilience of his unstable, addicted single mother (Amy Adams), he perseveres and becomes a wealthy professional.

JD Vance’s sister, Lindsay Ratliff, plays a key part in the Netflix film Hillbilly Elegy, and her post-movie fate is revealed in the film’s epilogue. Played by Haley Bennett, Lindsay is shown as a for JD as they struggle to deal with their mother’s substance abuse. Hillbilly Elegy also affected Vance’s mother, his main foil in the film, depicted by Amy Adams. The book and movie Hillbilly Elegy are based on JD Vance’s true story and real Appalachian family experience, with some exaggerations.