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Late Fame

Play trailer Late Fame 2025 1h 36m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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91% Tomatometer 11 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 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.

Critics Reviews

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Hannah Strong Little White Lies Late Fame is nostalgic but always gestures at more interesting artists than presenting one of its own. Sep 1, 2025 Full Review Ben Croll TheWrap Late Fame begins with a premise that could easily tilt toward a better-late-than-never redemption tale... Instead, Jones and screenwriter Samy Burch strike a trickier balance, taking aim at all the ripe targets without ever turning salacious. Sep 1, 2025 Full Review Bilge Ebiri New York Magazine/Vulture As it proceeds, it feels less assured. Still, Dafoe and Lee are so good, and the idea behind the story so enchanting, that I keep wishing it were better. Maybe one day I’ll convince myself it is. Aug 31, 2025 Full Review Frank J. Avella The Contending Kent Jones’s enthralling Late Fame features Willem Dafoe in the kind of role actors dream of playing...he devours the challenge... Extra kudos to Greta Lee for a layered turn—she’s truly mesmerizing as an actress-wannabe who is always performing. Rated: B Sep 5, 2025 Full Review Yasmine Kandil AwardsWatch It’s always a shame to see potential in a project that clearly fails to see it in itself. There is so much that could be explored within Late Fame, especially with such a strong initial setup at hand. Rated: C+ Sep 5, 2025 Full Review Cody Dericks Next Best Picture Like its main character, “Late Fame“ is a modest delight of a film about the unexpected ways that the past never truly leaves us, shot with an understated style that feels uniquely New York. Rated: 7/10 Aug 30, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Cast & Crew

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Kent Jones

Director

Willem Dafoe

Actor

Greta Lee

Actor

Edmund Donovan

Actor

Samy Burch

Screenwriter

Pamela Koffler

Producer
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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
Screenwriter
Samy Burch
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 36m