Rules Don't Apply

In 1958 Los Angeles, Frank Forbes is a driver working for mogul Howard Hughes. He picks up Marla Mabrey, a devout Baptist beauty queen under contract with Hughes' film studio RKO Pictures, receiving $400 a week{{efn|$400 a week in 1958 is {{Inflation|US|400|1958|r=-1|fmt=eq}} }} and living in a beautiful home with her strict mother Lucy. Frank becomes Marla's primary driver, taking her to singing and dance classes.

Marla spends months awaiting her screen test for Stella Starlight and meeting Hughes. Hughes' employee Levar Mathis regularly reminds Frank that the starlets cannot have close contact with men. Frank is devoutly religious, though he and his fiancée Sarah have secretly had sex. Lucy returns to Virginia, while Marla waits for her screen test.

With her mother gone, Frank and Marla become closer. He lets her drive, and they confide in each other. Marla worries about conforming to the Hollywood "rules" of being a great singer and dancer and having a big bosom; Frank assures her the rules do not apply to her. She finally meets Hughes in a private bungalow, where she turns down his offer of a drink and talks frankly about her acting aspirations. Nadine, Hughes' executive secretary, sets up Marla's screen test. Frank's first meeting with Hughes is so positive, he brings him into his inner circle of staff.

Hughes becomes even more reclusive, fearing that minority shareholders at TWA will have him committed. His right-hand man Noah Dietrich upsets Hughes by suggesting he see a psychiatrist, and Hughes is advised to get married so his "wife" can refuse to sign commitment papers. Marla's screen test is a meaningless façade. She sings Frank a song she wrote, leading to a passionate kiss. They stop because Marla feels like an adulterer, but Frank says he will break up with Sarah.

Marla is called to another late-night meeting with Hughes where, upset about Frank, she consumes alcohol for the first time. When Hughes finally joins her, a very drunk Marla tells him how special he is. She performs her song for him, who becomes emotional and suddenly proposes, ending in them having sex. The next day, Frank is devastated when Marla reveals she is secretly engaged and then abruptly dismisses him.

Within days, Hughes marries Jean Peters to protect him from being committed and fires Noah, hiring Robert Maheu as CEO of his companies. Maheu warns him that TWA shareholders could force Hughes to appear in court on charges of mismanagement.

Marla is upset for believing Hughes' proposal and having sex with him. When she informs him that she is pregnant with his child, Hughes suggests she is lying and looking for money. Again dismissive and rude to Frank, Marla returns to Virginia.

Hughes takes his entourage out of the country, becoming increasingly reclusive. When the courts decide in favor of the minority TWA shareholders, with a judgment for $645 million, Hughes has to sell his most cherished asset, his father's original Hughes Tool Company, to pay off the debt.

In 1964, Frank, Levar, and Nadine wait for Hughes to call the American press concerning a book written by Richard Miskin, who claims to have interviewed Hughes in person and that he has complete dementia, which could cost him the rest of his empire. Marla arrives with Matt, her and Hughes' five-year-old son, with news that Miskin's ex-girlfriend Mamie is ready to confirm in court that Miskin never met Hughes, so he does not need to make the call. Having Matt there, Hughes finds the strength to make the phone call anyway, and talks in great detail about current and past events, proving he is lucid and confirming that he has never met Miskin.

Frank immediately quits his job and goes after Marla and Matt. They live together as a family.

• Warren Beatty as Howard Hughes
• Lily Collins as Marla Mabrey
• Alden Ehrenreich as Frank Forbes
• Annette Bening as Lucy Mabrey
• Matthew Broderick as Levar Mathis
• Alec Baldwin as Robert Maheu
• Haley Bennett as Mamie Murphy
• Candice Bergen as Nadine Henley
• Dabney Coleman as Raymond Holliday
• Steve Coogan as Colonel Nigel Briggs
• Ed Harris as Mr. Bransford
• Amy Madigan as Mrs. Bransford
• Megan Hilty as Sally
• Louise Linton as Betty
• Oliver Platt as Mr. Forester
• Martin Sheen as Noah Dietrich
• Paul Sorvino as Vernon Scott
• Taissa Farmiga as Sarah Bransford
• Paul Schneider as Richard Miskin
• Chace Crawford as Young Actor
• Patrick Fischler as Director
• Caitlin Carver as Marla Lookalike
• Hart Bochner as Colonel Willis
• Marshall Bell as Colonel Maxwell
• Ron Perkins as Senator Ferguson
• Peter Mackenzie as Gene Handsaker
• Julio Oscar Mechoso as President Somoza
• Eileen Ryan as Frank's Grandmother
• Evan O'Toole as Matt Mabrey
• Michael Badalucco as Solly the Barber
• Christine Marzano as Carrie
• Graham Beckel as Wilbur
• James Keane as Tom
• Ashley Hamilton as Rudolf
• Holmes Osborne as Cappy
• Geoff Pierson as Merrill Lynch Executive
• Michael Cavanaugh as Methodist Minister
• Bruce Gray as Baptist Preacher
• Kyle Bornheimer as Concerned Orderly
• Joey Diaz as Mobster
• Joe Cortese as Mobster
• James Martin Kelly as Mobster
• Joshua Malina as Herb (uncredited)

On June 20, 2011, Paramount Pictures announced that Warren Beatty would write, direct and star in an untitled film, his first directorial effort since 1998's Bulworth and his first acting role since 2001's Town & Country.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/warren-beatty-returning-filmmaking-paramount-203419|title=Warren Beatty Returning to Filmmaking With Paramount Project|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Gregg|last=Kilday|date=June 20, 2011|access-date=February 26, 2014}} Beatty had been working on a biopic based on Howard Hughes' life for more than 40 years, after seeing him in a hotel lobby in the early 1970s and being fascinated by him.{{cite web|url=http://www.closerweekly.com/posts/warren-beatty-s-big-return-to-hollywood-the-real-reason-for-his-13-year-disappearance-46731|title=Warren Beatty's Big Return to Hollywood: The Real Reason for His 13-Year Disappearance!|website=Closer|date=November 25, 2014|access-date=December 28, 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/warren-beatty-puts-his-reputation-on-the-line-again-with-howard-hughes-biopic-9391289.html|title=Warren Beatty puts his reputation on the line (again) with Howard Hughes biopic|website=The Independent|first=Paul|last=Gallagher|date=May 18, 2014|access-date=December 28, 2014}} The screenplay was written by Beatty, based on a story by himself and two-time Oscar-winning screenwriter Bo Goldman.{{cite web|url=http://www.foxmovies.com/movies/rules-dont-apply|title=Rules Don't Apply|website=20th Century Fox|access-date=May 18, 2016}} On September 16, 2011, Paramount dropped the project and New Regency Pictures picked it up.{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/deal-central/column-post/paramount-drops-warren-beatty-movie-new-regency-picks-it-31064|title=Paramount Drops Warren Beatty Movie, New Regency Picks It Up|website=TheWrap|first=Joshua|last=L. Weinstein|date=September 16, 2011|access-date=February 26, 2014}} The film then stayed in the development stages for almost three years.{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/warren-beatty-howard-hughes-movie-ehrenreich-collins/|title=Warren Beatty's Long-Gestating Howard Hughes Film Begins Production; Alden Ehrenreich and Lily Collins to Star|website=Collider|first=Matt|last=Goldberg|date=February 24, 2014}} On February 24, 2014, it was reported that New Regency and RatPac Entertainment were producing and financing the film,{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2014/02/warren-beatty-ron-burkle-steve-bing-brett-ratner-terry-semel-arnon-milchan-annette-bening-alden-ehrenreich-lilly-collinshoward-hughes-686367/|title=Warren Beatty's Untitled Howard Hughes Pic Finally Takes Flight Financed By Billionaire Boys' Club; Ehrenreich, Collins To Star in Love Story; Bening And Broderick Also In|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Anita|last=Busch|date=February 24, 2014|access-date=February 26, 2014}} with a $26.7 million budget ($25 million after taxes).{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/04/warren-beatty-howard-hughes-movie-fox-new-regency-release-1201737267/|title=Fox & New Regency Setting Fall Release For Warren Beatty's Howard Hughes Movie|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Pete|last=Hammond|date=April 13, 2016|access-date=April 18, 2016}}

Beatty began looking for an ensemble cast for the film in June 2011, with his playing the role of Howard Hughes. He met with Andrew Garfield, Alec Baldwin, Annette Bening, Shia LaBeouf, Jack Nicholson, Evan Rachel Wood, and Rooney Mara to co-star.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2011/06/warren-beatty-playing-howard-hughes-great-cast-circling-142269/|title=Warren Beatty Playing Howard Hughes, Great Cast Circling|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Mike Jr.|last=Fleming|date=June 22, 2011|access-date=February 26, 2014}} On November 14, 2011, Felicity Jones was cast as the female lead,{{cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/felicity-jones-star-warren-beattys-howard-hughes-film/|title=Felicity Jones To Star in Warren Beatty's Howard Hughes Film|website=/Film|first=Germain|last=Lussier|date=November 15, 2011}} but later dropped out of the role, due to production delays.{{cite web|url=http://www.upandcomers.net/2014/02/24/lily-collins-warren-beaty-howard-hughes-biopic-alden-ehrenreich/|title=Lily Collins Replaces Felicity Jones in Warren Beaty's Howard Hughes Biopic; Alden Ehrenreich Also In|website=Up and Comers|first=Linda|last=Ge|date=February 24, 2014}} Justin Timberlake and Alden Ehrenreich were up for the male lead, while Bening, Nicholson, Baldwin, and Owen Wilson were rumored for other roles.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2011/11/like-crazys-felicity-jones-is-warren-beattys-choice-for-howard-hughes-film-194993/|title='Like Crazy's Felicity Jones Is Warren Beatty's Choice For Howard Hughes Film|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Mike Jr.|last=Fleming|date=November 14, 2011|access-date=February 26, 2014}} By February 2014, Beatty had cast Alden Ehrenreich, Lily Collins, Matthew Broderick, and Annette Bening among the ensemble. Collins portrays a young actress named Marla Mabrey, and Ehrenreich co-stars as Frank Forbes, assistant to Hughes, who along with Hughes, becomes romantically involved with Mabrey.

On February 27, 2014, it was reported that Candice Bergen had joined the supporting cast, portraying Hughes' secretary Nadine Henly. On March 6, 2014, Martin Sheen was cast in an unknown role, later confirmed to be Noah Dietrich.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2014/03/martin-sheen-joins-cast-of-warren-beattys-untitled-howard-hughes-project-694715/|title=Martin Sheen Joins Cast of Warren Beatty's Howard Hughes Movie|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Anita|last=Busch|date=March 6, 2014|access-date=March 7, 2014}} Taissa Farmiga later joined the cast as Frank's fiancée Sarah Bransford.{{cite web|url=http://www.frontiersmedia.com/frontiers-blog/2014/05/28/coming-to-theatres-jem-gets-a-cast-taissa-farmiga-to-work-with-warren-beatty/|title=Coming to Theatres: Taissa Farmiga to Work with Warren Beatty|website=FrontiersLA|first=Nathaniel|last=Grey|date=May 27, 2014|access-date=June 8, 2014}} In April 2014, Brooklyn Decker revealed that Beatty had asked her to improvise on the film, but she did not know if her scenes would make the final cut.{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/04/11/brooklyn-decker-on-her-horrible-modeling-experiences-marriage-and-cracking-hollywood.html|title=Brooklyn Decker on Her 'Horrible' Modeling Experiences, Marriage, and Cracking Hollywood|website=The Daily Beast|first=Marlow|last=Stern|date=April 11, 2014|access-date=April 3, 2016}} On May 9, 2014, Alec Baldwin joined the cast, portraying Robert Maheu, the reclusive billionaire's lawyer.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2014/05/alec-baldwin-joins-warren-beatty-howard-hughes-movie-727528/|title=Alec Baldwin Joins Warren Beatty's Untitled Howard Hughes Project|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Anita|last=Busch|date=May 9, 2014|access-date=May 10, 2014}}

In March 2015, The New York Times reported that Dabney Coleman would co-star in an unspecified role.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/07/movies/if-warren-beatty-is-directing-shooting-can-wait-for-years.html|title=If Warren Beatty Is Directing, Shooting Can Wait. For Years.|website=The New York Times|first=Michael|last=Cieply|date=March 6, 2015|access-date=May 2, 2015}} In February 2016, Steve Coogan's casting in the film was reported.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/paul-rudd-steve-coogan-play-864934|title=Berlin: Paul Rudd, Steve Coogan to Play Married Couple in 'An Ideal Home'|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Rebecca|last=Ford|date=February 13, 2016}} That same month, Farmiga revealed in an interview that Ed Harris and Amy Madigan would be portraying her character's parents.{{cite web|url=http://www.interviewmagazine.com/culture/taissa-farmiga-1/|title=Taissa Farmiga Takes the Stage|website=Interview|first=Emma|last=Brown|date=February 22, 2016}} In April 2016, the casting of Josh Casaubon was reported.{{cite web|url=http://2paragraphs.com/2016/04/who-is-kris-hall-on-criminal-minds-beyond-borders/|title=Who Is Kris Hall on 'Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders'|website= 2paragraphs.com |date=April 6, 2016|access-date=April 6, 2016}}

Principal photography for the film began on February 24, 2014 in Los Angeles, California.{{cite web|url=http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/warren-beatty-begins-work-howard-hughes-film-alden-ehrenreich/|title=Warren Beatty Begins Work on Howard Hughes Film with Alden Ehrenreich|website=Rope of Silicon|first=Brad|last=Brevet|date=February 24, 2014|access-date=February 26, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.express.co.uk/news/showbiz/461745/Warren-Beatty-moving-forward-with-long-gestating-Howard-Hughes-film|title=Warren Beatty moving forward with long-gestating Howard Hughes film|website=Daily Express|date=February 25, 2014|access-date=February 26, 2014}} Studio production took place at the Sunset Gower Studios in Hollywood. On location filming took place at multiple venues, including S. Grand Avenue, Musso & Frank Grill, and the Millennium Biltmore Hotel.{{cite web|url=http://www.onlocationvacations.com/2014/05/02/friday-may-2-filming-locations-for-the-untitled-warren-beatty-project-the-kroll-show-law-order-svu-how-why-and-more/|title=Friday, May 2 Filming Locations for The Untitled Warren Beatty Project, The Kroll Show, Law & Order: SVU, How & Why, and more!|website=On Location Vacations|date=May 2, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment/post/alden-ehrenreich-impresses-big-names-way-playing-hail-caesar-cowboy/|title=Alden Ehrenreich impresses big names on the way to playing 'Hail, Caesar!' cowboy|website=Chicago Sun-Times|first=Lindsey|last=Bahr|date=February 9, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.millenniumhotels.com/content/dam/usa/en/millennium-biltmore-los-angeles/downloads/filming-lists-december-2014.pdf|title=Filming List – Feature Films|website=Millennium Biltmore Hotel|date=December 11, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228192205/http://www.millenniumhotels.com/content/dam/usa/en/millennium-biltmore-los-angeles/downloads/filming-lists-december-2014.pdf|archive-date=December 28, 2014}} It was reported that production had been completed on June 8, 2014, after 74 filming days. Additional filming took place in late February 2015.

In April 2016, it was announced that 20th Century Fox would distribute the film with New Regency Pictures, with a planned fall 2016 release.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/warren-beattys-howard-hughes-film-881966|title=CinemaCon: Warren Beatty's Howard Hughes Film to Get Fall Release From Fox, New Regency|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Rebecca|last=Ford|date=April 13, 2016|access-date=April 13, 2016}} Rules Don't Apply had its world premiere at the AFI Fest on November 10, 2016.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/warren-beatty-howard-hughes-movie-rules-dont-apply-to-open-afi-fest-1201847020/|title=Warren Beatty's Howard Hughes Movie 'Rules Don't Apply' to Open AFI Fest|website=Variety|first=Dave|last=McNary|date=August 30, 2016|access-date=August 30, 2016}} The film was originally scheduled for release on November 11, 2016,{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/warren-beatty-howard-hughes-movie-release-date-1201778002/|title=Warren Beatty's Howard Hughes Movie Gets November Release|website=Variety|first=Dave|last=McNary|date=May 18, 2016|access-date=May 18, 2016}} but was pushed back two weeks and released on November 23, 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2016/07/rules-dont-apply-trailer-warren-beatty-howard-hughes-alden-ehrenreich-lily-collins-1201705770/|title='Rules Don't Apply' Trailer: Warren Beatty Stars as Howard Hughes In 1950s Hollywood Rom-Com|website=IndieWire|first=Vikram|last=Murthi|date=July 14, 2016|access-date=July 14, 2016}}

In December 2017, it was announced that Arnon Milchan and Regency Enterprises, one of the film's financiers, were suing Beatty for $18 million. The company cited a breach of contract, claiming Beatty had not repaid the promotion cost losses the company took on following the underperformance at the box office.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/12/warren-beatty-sued-rules-dont-apply-regency-1202228330/|title=Warren Beatty's 'Rules Don't Apply' Faces $18M Lawsuit Over Poorly Performing Pic |website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Patrick|last=Hipes|date=December 15, 2017|access-date=December 15, 2017}} In March 2018, an investment group including Brett Ratner, Ron Burkle and Steve Bing counter-sued Regency for $50 million, claiming it was their under-promotion of the film that had led to its "disastrous box office results and the loss of cross-complainants' entire investment".{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/03/rules-dont-apply-lawsuit-arnon-milchan-regency-warren-beatty-brett-ratner-1202352648/|title=Arnon Milchan & Regency Countersued For Fraud Over Warren Beatty's 'Rules Don't Apply' |website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Erik|last=Pederson|date=March 23, 2018|access-date=March 24, 2018}}

The first production still from the film, featuring Collins and Bening, was released by Elle in October 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/g9329/women-in-hollywood-honoree-quotes/?slide=9|title=Women in Hollywood Honorees|website=Elle|date=October 20, 2014}} Images of Collins, Ehrenreich, and Beatty were released on May 18, 2016.{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/rules-dont-apply-images-warren-beatty-alden-ehrenreich/|title=First 'Rules Don't Apply' Images Reveal Warren Beatty's First Film in 18 Years|website=Collider|first=Adam|last=Chitwood|date=May 18, 2016|access-date=May 18, 2016}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2016/05/18/warren-beatty-howard-hughes?xid=entertainment-weekly_socialflow_twitter|title=Warren Beatty as Howard Hughes: See the exclusive first look of Rules Don't Apply|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|first=Chris|last=Nashawaty|date=May 18, 2016|access-date=May 18, 2016}} In August 2016, Entertainment Weekly released another image from the film, featuring Ehrenreich and Beatty.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/gallery/fall-movie-preview-2016/2717283_rules-dont-apply|title=Fall Movie Preview 2016: 'Fantastic Beasts,' 'Rogue One,' and 76 Other Films|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=August 23, 2016|access-date=August 24, 2016}}

The film was released on Amazon Video and iTunes on February 14, 2017, and Blu-ray and DVD in the United States on February 28, 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N9NXAX8|title=Rules Don't Apply|website=Amazon|access-date=February 16, 2017}}

Rules Don't Apply was unsuccessful financially.[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2016/11/28/schedule-budget-overly-ambitious-warren-beatty-became-king-hollywood/ Over schedule, over budget and overly ambitious: how Warren Beatty became the king of Hollywood flops] Rules Don't Apply opened alongside Moana, Allied and Bad Santa 2, and was initially expected to gross $3–5 million in its opening weekend and $7–9 million over its first five days, from 2,382 theaters.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/11/moana-fantastic-beasts-bad-santa-2-allied-thanksgiving-box-office-1201858515/|title=Will 'Moana' Slay 'Fantastic Beasts' Over The Thanksgiving Stretch?|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|date=November 21, 2016}} However, the film made $65,000 from Tuesday night previews at 1,100 theaters,{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-moana-hooks-26-million-tuesday-950107|title=Box Office: 'Moana' Hooks Record $2.6 Million Tuesday|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Rebecca|last=Ford|date=November 23, 2016|access-date=November 24, 2016}} and just $315,000 on its first day (for a per-theater average of $129), and five-day projections were lowered to $2.2 million.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-moana-rules-thanksgiving-eve-warren-beattys-rules-dont-apply-quickly-fades-black-950|title=Box Office: 'Moana' Owns Thanksgiving Holiday; Warren Beatty's 'Rules Don't Apply' Bombs|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Pamela|last=McClintock|date=November 23, 2016|access-date=November 24, 2016}} The film ended up grossing $1.6 million in its opening weekend (with a five-day total of $2.2 million), finishing 12th at the box office. It marked the worst Thanksgiving debut ever for a wide release and 6th worst opening ever for a film playing in more than 2,000 theaters.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/11/moana-fantastic-beasts-tuesday-box-office-thanksgiving-1201859220/|title='Moana' Rings Up $81M+ & Ranks As 2nd Best Thanksgiving Debut After 'Frozen'|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|date=November 24, 2016|access-date=November 27, 2016}} In its second weekend, the film grossed $543,058 (a drop of 65.8%), with a per-theater average of $233 from 2,386 screens, finishing 17th at the box office and marking one of the biggest second-weekend drops of all time.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/12/moana-fantastic-beasts-jackie-post-thanksgiving-box-office-weekend-1201863576/|title='Moana' Keeps Fire Going in Chilly December Weekend; 'Manchester' & 'Jackie' Bask in Awards Season Rays|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|date=December 4, 2016}} In the film's third weekend, it grossed $37,215 (a drop of 93.1%), with a per-theater average of $209.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/12/jennifer-aniston-tj-miller-office-christmas-party-moana-fantastic-beasts-1201867403/|title='Moana' Shuts 'Office Christmas Party' Out of No. 1, But Raunchy Comedy Loud With $17M+ – Sunday Update|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|date=December 11, 2016|access-date=December 23, 2016}} The film closed on December 22, 2016, ending its domestic run with $3.7 million.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 56% based on 179 reviews, with an average score of 5.76/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "With Rules Don't Apply, Warren Beatty takes an overall affable – but undeniably slight – look at a corner of old Hollywood under Howard Hughes' distinctive shadow."{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rules_dont_apply|title=Rules Don't Apply (2016)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango Media|access-date=May 20, 2025}} On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 60 out of 100, based on 40 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/rules-dont-apply/critic-reviews|title=Rules Don't Apply reviews|website=Metacritic|access-date=June 15, 2017}} Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B−" on an A+ to F scale.{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=4244&p=.htm|title='Moana' Sets Sights on $80+ Million 5-Day Thanksgiving Debut|website=Box Office Mojo|first=Brad|last=Brevet|date=November 22, 2016|access-date=November 24, 2016}}

Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "At once an amusingly eccentric take on a billionaire fixated with controlling other people's lives and a romance about a young couple constipated by the conservative religious and social sexual mores of the 1950s, this is a fitfully funny quasi-farce that takes off promisingly, loses its way mid-flight and comes in for a bumpy but safe landing."{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/rules-dont-apply-review-946080|title='Rules Don't Apply': Film Review – AFI Fest|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Todd|last=McCarthy|authorlink=Todd McCarthy|date=November 11, 2016|access-date=November 22, 2016}} Variety critic Peter Debruge wrote "Warren Beatty certainly took his time in getting this sprawling Spruce Goose of a movie off the ground, as the romance distracts from the Howard Hughes portrait, or vice versa."{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/rules-dont-apply-review-warren-beatty-1201914442/|title=AFI Film Review: 'Rules Don't Apply'|website=Variety|first=Peter|last=Debruge|date=November 11, 2016|access-date=November 22, 2016}}

The Guardian{{'s}} Jordan Hoffman awarded the film 3/5 stars, writing, "The legend's odd and energetic film is a mix of fun, sadness, and fatigue, and while not everything falls into place, it has its share of entertainment."{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/nov/11/rules-dont-apply-review-warren-beatty-as-howard-hughes-a-strangely-compelling-vanity-project|title=Rules Don't Apply review – Warren Beatty as Howard Hughes: a strangely compelling vanity project|website=The Guardian|first=Jordan|last=Hoffman|date=November 11, 2016|access-date=November 22, 2016}} Simon Thompson of IGN gave the film a 6/10 and wrote "It's an odd beast of a movie that sometimes works perfectly and is absolutely enchanting and then at other times just feels leaden and either half-baked or overdone. The story is great, there is some snappy dialogue and some nicely drawn characters and the cast can't be faulted [...] but unlike directors such as the Coen brothers, Beatty fails to make it pop and, in most cases, criminally underutilizes them – this does both them and the film a disservice."{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/11/16/rules-dont-apply-review|title=Rules Don't Apply Review|website=IGN|first=Simon|last=Thompson|date=November 16, 2016|access-date=November 22, 2016}} David Palmer of The Reel Deal gave the film a rating of 3/10, writing, "As someone who appreciates Warren Beatty's place and contribution to Hollywood history, I hope and pray he appears in at least one more great film, because ending his career on something as poorly assembled and downright boring as Rules Don't Apply would be devastating."{{cite web|url=https://thereeldealsite.wordpress.com/2016/11/24/rules-dont-apply-a-boring-disappointing-return-for-warren-beatty/ |title='Rules Don't Apply' a Boring, Disappointing Return for Warren Beatty|website=The Reel Deal|first=David|last=Palmer|date=November 24, 2016}}

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• {{Official website|http://www.foxmovies.com/movies/rules-dont-apply}}
• {{IMDb title|1974420}}
• {{Mojo title|rulesdontapply}}
• {{Rotten Tomatoes|rules_dont_apply}}

{{Warren Beatty}}

{{Howard Hughes}}

Category:2016 films

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Category:Films about filmmaking

Category:Films about death

Category:Films about interclass romance

Category:Films set in 1958

Category:Films set in 1964

Category:Films directed by Warren Beatty

Category:Films with screenplays by Bo Goldman

Category:Films with screenplays by Warren Beatty

Category:Films shot in Los Angeles

Category:Regency Enterprises films

Category:Shangri-La Entertainment films

Category:Worldview Entertainment films

Category:Cultural depictions of Howard Hughes

Category:Films produced by Arnon Milchan

Category:Films produced by Warren Beatty