Jay Kelly

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Jay Kelly

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2h 12m

Comedy

Drama

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Popcornmeter

79%

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142 Reviews

86%

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50+ Verified Ratings

JAY KELLY, the new film from Academy Award nominee Noah Baumbach, follows famous movie actor Jay Kelly (George Clooney) and his devoted manager Ron (Adam Sandler) as they embark on a whirlwind and unexpectedly profound journey through Europe. Along the way, both men are forced to confront the choices they've made, the relationships with their loved ones, and the legacies they'll leave behind.

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Critics Consensus

George Clooney riffs on his star persona with disarming vulnerability while Adam Sandler impressively expands his dramatic range in Jay Kelly, a Hollywood satire that's gentler than one might expect from director Noah Baumbach.

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Andrew Marzoni

The New Republic

Jay Kelly, a minor film with delusions of grandeur, lacks the unvarnished middle-aged pathos of Greenberg or the raw emotion of Marriage Story.

Nov 24, 2025

Full Review

Michael Andor Brodeur

Washington Post

It’s beautifully shot, bustles with strong performances by a roundly endearing cast and indulges in an old-Hollywood elegance well-suited to its story: the late-life crisis of its titular megastar, played — embodied, really — by George Clooney.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 24, 2025

Full Review

Kimberley Jones

Austin Chronicle

Trier’s films don’t treat depression like something that’s got to get fixed, or relegate the depression to a secondary character, othering it. Uniquely, depression feels first-person-lived in a Trier film.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 20, 2025

Full Review

Sean P. Means

The Movie Cricket

Have you ever wondered how much it would suck to be George Clooney? Me neither, but director Noah Baumbach devotes much time considering that question in a surprisingly moving comedy-drama.

Rated: 3.5/4

Nov 30, 2025

Full Review

Pedro Gallego

Espinof

Baumbach becomes so enamored with ideals that he again displays a poor grasp of tone and his own pedantry, leaving scattered fragments that are meant to resemble characters. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 2/5

Nov 29, 2025

Full Review

Oscar Goff

Cambridge Day

Even if "Jay Kelly" is an exercise in self-indulgence, it is exceptionally pleasurable and well-crafted self-indulgence, with a playfulness that takes the edge off its maudlin overtones.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 26, 2025

Full Review

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J. Town

In this quietly affecting drama, director 'Noah Baum ach' crafts a thoughtful meditation on the cost of success, told through the weary but insightful perspective of Jay Kelly, played with measured restraint by George Clooney. As Kelly approaches the twilight of a long and demanding career, the film leans into introspection rather than spectacle, asking what we truly sacrifice in pursuit of professional excellence. Clooneys performance anchors the story with a sense of lived-in regret and hard-won wisdom, and the supporting characters deepen the narrative in meaningful ways—each confronting their own reckonings with passion, duty, and the realities of aging out of what once defined them. Their conversations are sharp without being cynical, illuminating how the work we love can shape us as profoundly as it ultimately exhausts us. Thoughtful, mature, and emotionally resonant, the film stands as a poignant reminder that success is rarely free, and purpose must be constantly renegotiated as life moves forward.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/30/25

Full Review

Christopher

Five tool (acting, directing, writing, cinematography, editing) travelogue character story - it’s why you go see this in a theatre.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/30/25

Full Review

Greg D

Outstanding entertainment and cinema artistry.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/24/25

Full Review

Stephen T

this movie takes a deep dive into the question about how we prioritize things in our lives and the price we pay for our choices. it touched me profoundly.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/23/25

Full Review

GREG ARCHER

Unfolds with wonderful splendor. Clooney charms as only he can. Sandler gives an Oscar worthy ( at least nom) performance —- The writing — Baumbach and Mortimer — on target. A crowd- pleaser that leans deep into reflecting on our life choices —

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/23/25

Full Review

Sal

Decent movie. Funny and emotional. But, it’s also been done before.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/23/25

Full Review

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Noah Baumbach

Director

George Clooney

Jay Kelly

Adam Sandler

Ron

Laura Dern

Liz

Billy Crudup

Timothy

Riley Keough

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Jay Kelly: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

JAY KELLY, the new film from Academy Award nominee Noah Baumbach, follows famous movie actor Jay Kelly (George Clooney) and his devoted manager Ron (Adam Sandler) as they embark on a whirlwind and unexpectedly profound journey through Europe. Along the way, both men are forced to confront the choices they've made, the relationships with their loved ones, and the legacies they'll leave behind.

Director: Noah Baumbach
Producer: Noah Baumbach, David Heyman, Amy Pascal
Screenwriter: Noah Baumbach, Emily Mortimer
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: Heyday Films
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 14, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 5, 2025
Runtime: 2h 12m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.66:1)