One Night at McCool's

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One Night at McCool's

R

2001

1h 33m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

34%

Tomatometer

103 Reviews

40%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

McCool's bar was hopping that night. Randy (Matt Dillon) worked there, tending bar. Lawyer Carl (Paul Reiser) was there until past closing. Detective Dehling (John Goodman) got there once McCool's became a crime scene. Was it the dead body that tied these men together? Not as tightly as the live wire who was also there that night: the stunning young woman aptly named Jewel (Liv Tyler). A steamy story told from three very different points of view that ultimately become one.

Critics Consensus

Critics say this blend of film noir and screwball comedy seems to think itself more clever and hip than it actually is. Also, the crucial femme fatale role needs a better, more mature actress than Tyler.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Disappointing, too violent, and not very funny.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 26, 2010

Full Review

Dennis Lim

Village Voice

Oblivious to its own towering obsolescence.

May 2, 2001

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Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

Never fully rises to the occasion, maintaining a goofily even keel throughout but rarely tipping over into all-out froth and nuttiness.

Rated: 2.5/5

Apr 30, 2001

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Guylaine Cadorette

Hollywood.com

Rated: 3/5

Nov 20, 2008

Full Review

Film Threat

Rated: 3/5

Dec 6, 2005

Full Review

Scott Nash

Three Movie Buffs

Rated: 3/4

Sep 30, 2005

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Richard P

It happened One Night at McCool's is a hilarious ride with hints of Rashomon storytelling over brilliant character actor performances.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/22/25

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Robin O

Big laughs with lots of style and quirky character performances

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/01/25

Full Review

Jesika C

All star cast. This film is from a shifting male gaze that is ultimately what the female lead wanted to be seen as. The motives of the characters are solid, if a little basic. The humor is dark and just coming out of the deadpan, sarcastic 90’s. While the story morphing is a little too Roshomon meets Tarantino for most audiences, if you have time to pay attention to this movie you will be rewarded with a great ride.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/22/25

Full Review

Janis E

I remember watching the opening scenes with an air of indifference, and I remember watching the climax very nearly in hysterics.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/10/25

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Wirmer F

one of the best movies of the early aughts ... unbelievable how all the good ones get ignored by the critics and lost to the audiences this movie is so good

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/28/25

Full Review

John T

Cool style and lots of laughs in this underrated film

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/07/25

Full Review

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Harald Zwart

Director

Liv Tyler

Jewel

Matt Dillon

Randy

John Goodman

Detective Dehling

Paul Reiser

Carl

Michael Douglas

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Synopsis

McCool's bar was hopping that night. Randy (Matt Dillon) worked there, tending bar. Lawyer Carl (Paul Reiser) was there until past closing. Detective Dehling (John Goodman) got there once McCool's became a crime scene. Was it the dead body that tied these men together? Not as tightly as the live wire who was also there that night: the stunning young woman aptly named Jewel (Liv Tyler). A steamy story told from three very different points of view that ultimately become one.

Director: Harald Zwart
Producer: Michael Douglas, Allison Lyon Segan
Screenwriter: Stan Seidel
Distributor: USA Films
Production Co: October Films, Further Films
Rating: R (Sexuality|Language|Violence)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 27, 2001, Wide
Release Date (DVD): Nov 5, 2002
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.3M
Runtime: 1h 33m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, SDDS, Surround, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)