The Morning After

R

Released Dec 25, 1986

1 hr. 42 min.

Mystery & Thriller

List

63%

19 Reviews

Tomatometer

38%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Failed actress Alex Sternbergen (Jane Fonda) wakes up hungover one morning in an apartment she does not recognize, unable to remember the previous evening -- and with a dead body in bed next to her. As she tries to piece together the events of the night, Alex cannot totally rely on friends or her estranged husband, Joaquin (Raul Julia), for assistance. Only a single ally, loner ex-policeman Turner Kendall (Jeff Bridges), can help her escape her predicament and find the true killer.

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Jeff M

This is an absolutely textbook example of an actor elevating the material he or she has been given. As a thriller, this really doesn't work at all. There isn't a single moment's hesitation as to "who did it", and we are bludgeoned with every suspenseful cliche imaginable. Characters behave so stupidly you want to scream at the screen. The musical score is kinda horrendous - ranging from a Muzak-ish theme to moments when the soprano saxophone practically makes your ears bleed. But... and this is a HUGE BUT... there is Jane Fonda, who is nothing less than magnificent. It's rare to see this caliber of acting in this type of film, but she pretty much single-handedly carries the whole enterprise on her aerobicized shoulders. When she awakens from her frequent hangovers, you can almost taste the bile in her mouth and feel her headaches. When she talks about her failed potential as an actress, her range of emotions is mind-boggling. One can't help but wonder what could have happened if this strong a performance had been in a film worthy of it. Bridges is one of my very favorite actors, but this isn't my favorite performance of his - and I didn't feel much chemistry between him and Fonda. I much preferred Fonda's scenes with Julia, who you want to see a lot more here than you do. This one's a tough call, but based on Jane, whose talent sadly tends to get overshadowed by her controversial personal life, I have to give it a slight recommendation. It's a reminder of what an extraordinary talent she is!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/17/24

Full Review

Alec B

The screenplay slowly squanders its intriguing premise, which is a real shame as Fonda is clearly giving this her all.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/10/24

Full Review

Nizar N

The whole thing feels like it's constantly building up to something that's going to happen but it never really does. The last scene, despite its length, feels rushed, as it's extended in favor of a non-existent additional scene that should've been there, leaving the ending inadequate. It's unfair that a sloppy script can lower the level of the whole movie, especially with the moving performance from Jane Fonda and the great direction from Sidney Lumet. Nevertheless, because of those last two, The Morning After is not boring and can be an enjoyable watch if one does not really focus that much on the plot. It's more enjoyable than a lot of similar movies today.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

jonathan m

I liked it a lot I seen it on the MGM movie station years ago and than again as of recent it's the case of a an avrage 3 star script acted by a 5 star cast. The old saying can a star studded cast turn a script into gold by just showing up well 👌 in this case yes they can.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

No ****ing thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

georgan g

This crime thriller was interesting to keep up with. Jane Fonda did great acting. Liked her and Jeff Bridges chemistry.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Sidney Lumet

Director

Jane Fonda

Alex Sternbergen

Jeff Bridges

Turner Kendall

Raul Julia

Joaquin Manero

Diane Salinger

Isabel Harding

Richard Foronjy

Sergeant Greenbaum

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Richard Combs

Sight & Sound

The Morning After is, for a romantic thriller, perhaps over-burdened with possible patterns.

Mar 27, 2020

Full Review

Dan Callahan

Slant Magazine

Sidney Lumet directs wearily; as a thriller, it's full of holes.

Rated: 2/4

Jun 17, 2007

Full Review

Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: 3/5

Feb 8, 2004

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

A palpable misfire...

Rated: 2/4

Oct 26, 2020

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

The thriller is always looking for something that is missing and never finds it.

Rated: C

Apr 25, 2011

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

As an alcoholic ex-actress, Jane Fonda gives a brilliant, Oscar-nominated peformance in Lumet's routine thriller set (for a change) in L.A.

Rated: B

Jan 3, 2011

Full Review

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Synopsis

Failed actress Alex Sternbergen (Jane Fonda) wakes up hungover one morning in an apartment she does not recognize, unable to remember the previous evening -- and with a dead body in bed next to her. As she tries to piece together the events of the night, Alex cannot totally rely on friends or her estranged husband, Joaquin (Raul Julia), for assistance. Only a single ally, loner ex-policeman Turner Kendall (Jeff Bridges), can help her escape her predicament and find the true killer.

Director: Sidney Lumet
Executive Producer: Faye Schwab
Screenwriter: James Hicks
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Lorimar Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 1986, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $22.4M

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