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Late Fame

Play trailer 2:22 Poster for Late Fame Now Playing 1h 36m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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92% Tomatometer 65 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Ed Saxberger, a forgotten New York poet, works in the post office. After an eager and flattering young admirer appears on his doorstep, Saxberger is beckoned into a coterie of twentysomething admirers who anoint him as a rediscovered genius. Intoxicated by the attention -- and by the alluring presence of Gloria, the group's "tragic heroine" -- Saxberger gradually reckons with the authenticity of his newfound poetic circle. This thoughtful, witty film is a wistful yet unromantic look at a lost idea of downtown New York.
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Late Fame

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Critics Consensus

A gentle rumination on art and authenticity, Late Fame's wistful narrative is made lively by Willem Dafoe and Greta Lee's wonderfully complementary performances.

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Critics Reviews

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Randy Myers San Jose Mercury News 10h
3.5/4
A thoughtful cultural clash where “bright young things” gathered at a contemporary Algonquin Round Table view those who came before them for inspiration rather than for true understanding and appreciation. Go to Full Review Ty Burr Ty Burr's Watch List (Substack) 1d
2.5/4
Late Fame is hardly a bad movie and it’s made by some very good and gifted people. But it’s the rare case of a film that knows what it wants to be but isn’t quite sure when. Go to Full Review Anna Smith Time Out 1d
3/5
Much like its hero, Late Fame drifts towards a conclusion rather than following a clear sense of purpose, but it does so with grace. Like the poetry, it’s sure to find an appreciative audience. Go to Full Review Josh Larsen LarsenOnFilm 16h
3/4
... at once animated by artistic appreciation and tinged with a realistic sense of regret. Go to Full Review Toba Singer culturevulture.net 2d
Dafoe turns in a performance fully invested in the Saxberger idiom: informed experience begets the patience and zest for life that inspire originality. Go to Full Review Read all reviews
Late Fame

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Cast & Crew

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Kent Jones

Director

Willem Dafoe

Actor

Greta Lee

Actor

Edmund Donovan

Actor

Tony Torn

Actor

Jake Lacy

Actor
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Late Fame

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Movie Info

Synopsis Ed Saxberger, a forgotten New York poet, works in the post office. After an eager and flattering young admirer appears on his doorstep, Saxberger is beckoned into a coterie of twentysomething admirers who anoint him as a rediscovered genius. Intoxicated by the attention -- and by the alluring presence of Gloria, the group's "tragic heroine" -- Saxberger gradually reckons with the authenticity of his newfound poetic circle. This thoughtful, witty film is a wistful yet unromantic look at a lost idea of downtown New York.
Director
Kent Jones
Producer
Pamela Koffler, Mason Plotts, Christine Vachon, Danny Roberts, H.S. Naji, Jackie Langelier, Taylor Shung, Ethan Lazar
Screenwriter
Samy Burch
Distributor
Magnolia Pictures
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 7, 2026, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA)
$97.3K
Runtime
1h 36m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.66:1)
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