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Opening Night

Play trailer 4:43 Poster for Opening Night PG-13 Released Dec 25, 1977 2h 24m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 27 Reviews 90% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Actress Myrtle Gordon (Gena Rowlands) is a functioning alcoholic actress who is a few days from the opening night of her latest play, concerning a woman distraught about aging. One night a car kills one of Myrtle's fans who is chasing her limousine in an attempt to get the star's attention. Myrtle internalizes the accident and goes on a spiritual quest, but fails to finds the answers she is after. As opening night inches closer and closer, fragile Myrtle must find a way to make the show go on.
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Opening Night

Opening Night

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Critics Consensus

Opening Night is as dense and difficult as one would expect from John Cassavetes, but even the director's detractors will be unable to deny the power of Gena Rowlands' performance.

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Critics Reviews

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Adam Kempenaar Filmspotting Tying back to A Woman Under the Influence... [Cassavetes] explores what happens when women don't play their prescribed roles. Rated: 4/5 Mar 23, 2019 Full Review Richard Brody The New Yorker Cassavetes's most cleverly constructed film is also a definitive lesson in the death-defying, all-consuming art of acting, proof of a madness beyond the Method. Jul 5, 2016 Full Review Variety Staff Variety Gena Rowlands turns in another virtuoso performance as the troubled actress. Cassavetes' highly personal work will please his coterie of enthusiasts, but for general audiences it will be viewed as shrill, puzzling, depressing and overlong. Jul 28, 2008 Full Review Justine Smith Vague Visages As the film progresses, the truth comes to the surface, and it hits with bludgeoning force. Jun 6, 2024 Full Review Josh Larsen LarsenOnFilm Rowlands takes the movie by the throat... Rated: 3.5/4 Mar 14, 2019 Full Review Dom Nero Esquire Magazine Opening Night is exactly the sort challenging film that we should consider when examining the adventurous breadth of a genre that cannot, and should not, be nailed down by any simple definition or formula. Oct 16, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Rare T Very well filmed and acted out. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/10/24 Full Review Charles B fell asleep in parts of the movie so I had a hard time following the plot. but it was quite intense. The movie projects lots of authentic emotion which is more than can be said for most movies Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/13/24 Full Review Jodi G NOT a brilliant movie. Definitely a confused & tedious one. Everything seems dated, and of course I can think of a zillion other much older films that are not dated & remain fresh & endlessly rewatchable. Gena Rowlands is absolutely BRILLIANT and not in the least dated. With the ghost element could reimagine as rather more mischievous,fun, & genuinely complex inquiry into creative process. Give me Bergman, Fellini, Truffaut, any day of the week. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/09/24 Full Review Alec B A tense examination of an artist in freefall. Rowlands is obviously dynamite here and I appreciate how often the movie plays like a horror film. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/10/24 Full Review Donald A Transfixing, captivating, moving: what more can a film strive to be? All of these adjectives describe the soul of Cassavetes' picture. It is essential viewing, especially for any actor of theatre. Cassavetes himself is fantastic, more than normally, but Rowlands is the star of the show. She's wonderful, the film won't work without her. Take her out of the equation and substitute in any actress, and the movie won't function as well. In every scene, Rowlands has the (for lack of a better word) hurt needed for the role. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/08/24 Full Review Maria B Absolutely fantastic performances and direction. It can seem a bit static due to the time it was shot but trust, it is an amazing movie. I fully identified with this woman as she transcends into this journey of embodiment or, perhaps, it is the character she represents that embodies her. Long but worth it. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/01/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Opening Night

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Movie Info

Synopsis Actress Myrtle Gordon (Gena Rowlands) is a functioning alcoholic actress who is a few days from the opening night of her latest play, concerning a woman distraught about aging. One night a car kills one of Myrtle's fans who is chasing her limousine in an attempt to get the star's attention. Myrtle internalizes the accident and goes on a spiritual quest, but fails to finds the answers she is after. As opening night inches closer and closer, fragile Myrtle must find a way to make the show go on.
Director
John Cassavetes
Producer
Al Ruban
Screenwriter
John Cassavetes
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 25, 1977, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 29, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA)
$10.5K
Runtime
2h 24m
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