Good Night, and Good Luck.

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Good Night, and Good Luck.

PG

Released Oct 7, 2005

1h 33m

History

Drama

Biography

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

226 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

When Senator Joseph McCarthy begins his foolhardy campaign to root out Communists in America, CBS News impresario Edward R. Murrow (David Strathairn) dedicates himself to exposing the atrocities being committed by McCarthy's Senate investigation. Murrow is supported by a news team that includes long-time friend and producer Fred Friendly (George Clooney). The CBS team does its best to point out the senator's lies and excesses, despite pressure from CBS' corporate sponsors to desist.

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Critics Consensus

A passionate and concise cinematic civics lesson, Good Night, And Good Luck has plenty to say about today's political and cultural climate, and its ensemble cast is stellar.

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Zadie Smith

Daily Telegraph (UK)

In terms of historical content, the film is neither quite honest nor quite true. That's a shame, because it's a great film.

Feb 12, 2020

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Victoria Segal

New Statesman

Shorn of flash and dazzle in a way Murrow would appreciate, Good Night, and Good Luck practises what it preaches. It might be the result of wires and lights in a box, but it feels like a slice of life.

Sep 26, 2017

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Simon Crook

Empire Magazine

Provocative, principled and richly detailed, this is compelling stuff. Emotionally it(TM)s a little dry, but as brain-food, it(TM)s absolutely invigorating. George done good.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 27, 2008

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Like All the President’s Men, it celebrates journalistic integrity in the face of political corruption, and like Quiz Show, it foreshadows how this invention with the ability to educate people has been dumbed down to placate the lowest common denominator.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jun 5, 2025

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Matt Neal

ABC Radio (Australia)

Clooney has some good films under his belt as director but this is his tightest and most powerful.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 5, 2024

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Good Night, and Good Luck is both a masterpiece and a reminder that journalists have a responsibility.

Rated: 5/5

Jan 8, 2024

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Stephen C

Based on a true story in 1 hour and 33 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated PG for Mild Thematic Elements and Brief Language!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $31,500,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy 20th anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/22/25

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John K

I'm hitting 70 yrs old, I found it too boring after about 30 min, that was enough. It seemed like one of those movies that is "very important" or very self-important, with every other line of dialogue having a significant dramatic pause but drama that didn't draw me in. Just me I guess.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/26/25

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thiago s

Filme fraco, o roteiro é ruim, o elenco é bom mas ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, nem o George clooney que é o protagonista e o diretor do filme a história é fraca, e as cenas são ruins, e o filme não tem nenhuma cena relevante e boa para alavancar o filme, e também todo o filme é preto e branco coisa que não ajudou no filme, com tudo isso, eu não recomendo esse filme.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/13/25

Full Review

Alysha S

It's a little boring but mostly wonderful and a critical story to tell.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/20/25

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Mario V

Not bad but not my favorite. All star cast.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/05/24

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Adrian M

Educational, informational, should be shown at elementary schools. One of the finest Clooney's efforts. Great cast, a history lesson packed inside hour and a half time. Great jazz tracks, Reeves and company deliver excellent versions of jazz classics.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/27/24

Full Review

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George Clooney

Director

David Strathairn

Edward R. Murrow

Patricia Clarkson

Shirley Wershba

George Clooney

Fred Friendly

Jeff Daniels

Sig Mickelson

Robert Downey Jr.

Joe Wershba

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Synopsis

When Senator Joseph McCarthy begins his foolhardy campaign to root out Communists in America, CBS News impresario Edward R. Murrow (David Strathairn) dedicates himself to exposing the atrocities being committed by McCarthy's Senate investigation. Murrow is supported by a news team that includes long-time friend and producer Fred Friendly (George Clooney). The CBS team does its best to point out the senator's lies and excesses, despite pressure from CBS' corporate sponsors to desist.

Director: George Clooney
Producer: Grant Heslov
Screenwriter: George Clooney, Grant Heslov
Distributor: Warner Independent
Production Co: Warner Independent Pictures, Metropolitan, Section Eight Ltd., 2929 Productions
Rating: PG (Mild Thematic Elements|Brief Language)
Genre: History, Drama, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 7, 2005, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 9, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $31.5M
Runtime: 1h 33m
Sound Mix: Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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