Step into the gritty and emotional world of Dallas Buyers Club (2013), the powerful true story of one man’s fight against the system and his own mortality. Starring Matthew McConaughey in a career-defining role, this critically acclaimed film explores the early days of the AIDS crisis and one man’s unrelenting determination to challenge the odds.
Think you know everything about Ron Woodroof’s journey, the real-life events, and the incredible performances? Test your knowledge with this 10-question trivia challenge! Only the most devoted cinema enthusiasts and fans of powerful storytelling will make it through with a perfect score.
Dallas Buyers Club (2013) Trivia Questions & Answers
Here are the correct answers and detailed explanations for each question from our Dallas Buyers Club (2013) trivia challenge. This film is not only a showcase of brilliant acting but also a powerful reflection on resilience, discrimination, and the human will to survive.
1) Who plays the lead role of Ron Woodroof in Dallas Buyers Club?
Matthew McConaughey
Correct Answer: Matthew McConaughey
Matthew McConaughey’s portrayal of Ron Woodroof is one of the most transformative performances in modern cinema. He lost over 45 pounds to realistically depict Ron’s struggle with AIDS and delivered a raw, deeply emotional performance that earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor.
2) What is Ron Woodroof diagnosed with in the film?
HIV/AIDS
Correct Answer: HIV/AIDS
The film tells the true story of Ron Woodroof, a Texas electrician and rodeo cowboy diagnosed with HIV in the 1980s. At the time, HIV/AIDS was heavily stigmatized, and treatment options were limited. Ron’s diagnosis not only shook his world but also highlighted the systemic failures in addressing the AIDS crisis.
3) Which drug does Ron initially try to acquire to treat his illness?
AZT
Correct Answer: AZT
AZT (zidovudine) was one of the first drugs approved to treat HIV/AIDS, but in its early trials, it was administered in dangerously high doses and often did more harm than good. Ron initially seeks AZT but soon realizes its toxic effects and starts looking for alternative treatments outside the FDA’s reach.
4) What illegal operation does Ron establish to help others access treatment?
The Dallas Buyers Club
Correct Answer: The Dallas Buyers Club
Faced with the high cost and limited availability of effective medication, Ron sets up the Dallas Buyers Club. He imports unapproved, experimental drugs from Mexico and other countries, providing them to AIDS patients in exchange for club membership fees, bypassing legal and pharmaceutical restrictions.
5) Which actor portrays Rayon, Ron’s transgender business partner?
Jared Leto
Correct Answer: Jared Leto
Jared Leto plays Rayon, a transgender woman and fellow AIDS patient who becomes Ron’s unlikely business partner and friend. Leto’s transformative performance earned him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Rayon’s character brings warmth, vulnerability, and humanity to the film’s harsh realities.
6) What is Ron Woodroof’s profession before his diagnosis?
Cowboy and rodeo worker
Correct Answer: Cowboy and rodeo worker
Ron is introduced as a hard-living, tough-talking Texas cowboy, involved in the rodeo scene and living a reckless lifestyle. His profession and attitude highlight the societal prejudices of the time, making his personal transformation and fight against AIDS stigma all the more remarkable.
7) Which government agency attempts to shut down Ron’s buyers club?
FDA
Correct Answer: FDA
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) aggressively pursues Ron and his operation, arguing that the unapproved medications he distributes pose a public health risk. The film criticizes the bureaucracy and pharmaceutical industry’s stranglehold over treatment options during the AIDS epidemic.
8) Where does Ron travel to obtain alternative, non-FDA approved treatments?
Mexico
Correct Answer: Mexico
Ron travels to Mexico, where he finds a defrocked doctor providing HIV/AIDS treatments unavailable in the U.S. These treatments, including peptide T and other medications, showed promise but were not approved by the FDA at the time. Ron’s efforts in smuggling these drugs highlight the desperation and ingenuity of AIDS patients seeking to survive.
9) What is the initial prognosis given to Ron after his diagnosis?
30 days to live
Correct Answer: 30 days to live
At the time of diagnosis, Ron is told he has only 30 days to live. This grim prognosis serves as the starting point of his fight, as he refuses to accept death and instead takes control of his treatment, defying the odds and living for several more years beyond the initial prediction.
10) What is the main theme of Dallas Buyers Club?
Fighting against the system and stigma of illness
Correct Answer: Fighting against the system and stigma of illness
The film’s core theme is the fight against institutional barriers, societal prejudice, and the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS. Ron’s transformation from a homophobic, self-serving man to an advocate for patients’ rights underscores the human capacity for change, compassion, and resistance in the face of injustice.
