Is This Thing On?

Play trailer

2:23

Is This Thing On?

R

In Theaters Jan 9

2h 4m

Comedy

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

113 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

As their marriage quietly unravels, Alex (Will Arnett) faces middle age and an impending divorce, seeking new purpose in the New York comedy scene while Tess (Laura Dern) confronts the sacrifices she made for their family--forcing them to navigate co-parenting, identity, and whether love can take a new form.

Coming Soon

In Theaters Jan 9

Reserve Tickets

Critics Consensus

Mining sly humor from its mature portrait of a failing marriage, Is This Thing On? is another terrific relationship study from Bradley Cooper and an ideal platform for Will Arnett's dramatic chops.

Read Critics Reviews

Bradley Cooper

Director

Will Arnett

Alex Novak

Laura Dern

Tess Novak

Andra Day

Actor

Bradley Cooper

Actor

Amy Sedaris

Actor

Randy Myers

San Jose Mercury News

2d

3.5/4

Is This Thing On? is gratefully never cynical, just aware that the happily-ever-after scenario doesn’t cover the the scope of what relationships are all about.

Go to Full Review

Odie Henderson

Boston Globe

2d

2/4

A standard issue divorce movie, with scenes you’ve seen countless times before, just with less bitterness and more quirk.

Go to Full Review

Carla Meyer

San Francisco Chronicle

2d

3/4

Scenes inside the cramped club hum with excitement and touches of anxiety heightened by Libatique’s handheld camera work.

Go to Full Review

Linda and Al Lerner

Movies and Shakers

2d

Arnett gives a polished performance in Director Cooper's film. There are not a lot of big laughs, but they fill the bill with grins and knowing nods about life and family with engaging discourse, on stage and off. Yes! This is definitely on.

Go to Full Review

Laura Clifford

Reeling Reviews

2d

B+

Arnett, asea separately, and Dern, energetic on her own, are just wonderful together, convincing of a long held partnership that could use some refreshing, each changing for the better having been given room to grow. Cooper is great comic relief...

Go to Full Review

Rendy Jones

Rendy Reviews

2d

3.5/5

A heartfelt and sincere romantic comedy that explores the themes of aging and the hobbies that help us find our better halves again, all of which is fueled by the exceptional screen chemistry between Will Arnett and Laura Dern.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Sparrow

1h

Will Arnetts performance is incredible (all of the performances are fantastic—Laura Derns as well), and gives us an opportunity to see him in a very different acting context. The movie is also shot in a novel way, with all the closeups. Loved learning more about the standup comedy world, as well.

See more

Randi

1d

Amazing acting, true storyline with emotional portrayals

See more

Maria

1d

Loved it! It was really authentic but I loved the ending! I was not sure where it was gonna go….but so happy where it ended up! Very interesting characters!

See more

jmg

6d

this movie was great in my opinion will arnet- omg I don't know where his talent has been hiding but he will be nominated for an Academy Award. he's been so underrated for too long Laura Dern was amazing too I get a little sick of Bradley Cooper's frequent extended close-ups (we get it your character is emotional) but overall it's just tremendous

See more

C W

6d

Loved the concept that Love conquers character defects and all that comes with it

See more

Grace T

6d

Incredibly well acted, raw, relatable, but still makes the theater laugh together. Particularly loved the dialogue and how ad-libbed it felt (in the best way). Really hope this movie gets the flowers it deserves, think it represents a very honest story we can all empathize with.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Is This Thing On?: Exclusive Featurette - Behind the Mic

3:09

Is This Thing On?: Trailer 1

2:23

Is This Thing On?: Teaser Trailer

2:13

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

As their marriage quietly unravels, Alex (Will Arnett) faces middle age and an impending divorce, seeking new purpose in the New York comedy scene while Tess (Laura Dern) confronts the sacrifices she made for their family--forcing them to navigate co-parenting, identity, and whether love can take a new form.

Director: Bradley Cooper
Producer: Bradley Cooper, Weston Middleton, Will Arnett, Kris Thykier
Screenwriter: Will Arnett, Mark Chappell, Bradley Cooper
Distributor: Searchlight Pictures
Production Co: Archery Pictures, Lea Pictures
Rating: R (Language Throughout|Some Drug Use|Sexual References)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 9, 2026, Wide
Box Office (Gross USA): $135.8K
Runtime: 2h 4m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.66:1)