The Paperboy is a 2012 American crime drama thriller film co-written and directed by Lee Daniels and based on Pete Dexter's 1995 novel of the same name.

It follows Miami reporter Ward Jansen who returns to his hometown in Florida to investigate a murder case involving a death row inmate.

The film stars Matthew McConaughey, Zac Efron, Nicole Kidman, David Oyelowo, John Cusack and Macy Gray.

[5] In the summer of 1969, Anita, former maid of the Jansen family, recounts the events surrounding Ward Jansen, an idealistic reporter for The Miami Times, who returns to his hometown of Lately, Florida, to investigate the controversial murder conviction of Hillary Van Wetter, a brutish alligator hunter sentenced to death for the 1965 killing of a corrupt local sheriff.

Ward and his colleague, Yardley Acheman—an English-accented journalist—aim to expose procedural flaws in the trial, including lost evidence they attribute to systemic injustice.

Their efforts intersect with Charlotte Bless, an Alabama woman who, after exchanging letters with Van Wetter, believes him innocent and plans to marry him upon his exoneration.

Anita concludes her account noting Jack’s reunion with his estranged mother at Ward’s funeral and his enduring grief over Charlotte, his unrequited first love.

The tragedy leaves Jack adrift, towing his brother and Charlotte’s bodies home, symbolizing the irreversible consequences of misplaced idealism and fractured relationships.

[6] He particularly enjoyed the characters in the novel, finding them extremely relatable, though he found the plot was somewhat nonsensical and thus viewed the movie as an attempt to create a more coherent storyline.

Robbie Collin at The Daily Telegraph wrote that "Readers of the film's Wikipedia page may spot the claim that it received 'the longest sustained standing ovation of the festival at 16 minutes'.

[12] Most praise has been for Nicole Kidman's portrayal of Charlotte Bless, and Collin wrote that she "has not been this good since Dogville (2003), and...secretes sensuality like a slug does slime".

It is this very style backed by intelligence, undeniable directorial skill, and an intimate knowledge of his deeply flawed but very human characters that make for such a compelling film.

The website's critics consensus reads: "Trashy and melodramatic, The Paperboy is enlivened by a strong cast and a steamy, sordid plot, but it's uneven and often veers into camp.

[19] Stephen Whitty of the Newark Star-Ledger wrote of the film, "Simply ugly trash,"[20] while Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle basically recommended one watch the movie "with the indispensable aid of that wonderful late-20th century invention: fast forward.".