‘Hillbilly Elegy’ Trailer Draws Harsh Criticism From Twitter Users: “You Couldn’t Pay Me Enough to See It”

Well, that didn’t take long. This morning, Netflix released the official Hillbilly Elegy trailer, and within minutes, Twitter users were already dunking on Ron Howard’s adaptation of J.D. Vance’s memoir. Much like Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy book, the trailer is being criticized for its depiction of Appalachia, addiction, and inequality, and many users have insisted that they won’t be watching the Hillbilly Elegy Netflix movie at all. As one particularly succinct critic put it, “I don’t think I’ve disliked a trailer more than the one for Hillbilly Elegy.”

Both Vance’s 2016 book, Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis, and the Netflix adaptation follow J.D. (Gabriel Bosso) as he attempts to navigate the complex dynamics of his Appalachian family. A native of southern Ohio, J.D. was primarily raised by his grandmother Mamaw (Glenn Close), as his mother Bev (Amy Adams) spent much of his young life battling addiction. As J.D., now a Yale Law student, reflects on his journey, he begins to come to terms with his personal experience and explores how his own story intersects with larger political and social issues plaguing the region.

In addition to Bosso, Close, and Adams (seen in very heavy makeup in the trailer), Netflix’s Hillbilly Elegy cast includes Haley Bennett, Frieda Pinto, Bo Hopkins, and Owen Asztalos.

Since its release in 2016, Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy book has criticized for reinforcing negative Appalachian stereotypes, and after watching Netflix’s official trailer, many Twitter users seem to agree. “The trailer for Hillbilly Elegy gives me the impression that it will not be good for anyone,” wrote one user. “You couldn’t pay me enough to see it,” said another.

Of course, other Twitter users are simply calling out Netflix’s Hillbilly Elegy for what it is: awards bait. “Hillbilly Elegy looks awful. Watch it sweep the Oscars,” wrote one critic. “The Hillbilly Elegy trailer is just 2 minutes straight of those clips they show at the Oscars,” added another.

Dumpster fire or Oscars catnip? You decide! Check out the Hillbilly Elegy Netflix trailer above.