Saturday Night

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Saturday Night

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1h 49m

Comedy

Drama

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Popcornmeter

78%

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193 Reviews

84%

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500+ Verified Ratings

At 11:30pm on October 11, 1975, a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers changed television -- and culture -- forever. Directed by Jason Reitman and written by Gil Kenan & Reitman, Saturday Night is based on the true story of what happened behind the scenes in the 90 minutes leading up to the first broadcast of Saturday Night Live. Full of humor, chaos, and the magic of a revolution that almost wasn't, we count down the minutes in real time until we hear those famous words....

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Critics Consensus

Jazzed up by an excellent ensemble that captures the essence if not the exact likeness of SNL's original cast and crew, Saturday Night is a frenetic and nostalgic celebration of one of showbiz's most auspicious debuts.

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Audience Says

An all-access pass to the chaos and minutiae behind the scenes, this account of the premiere that changed the history of television honors the talent who brought you: Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!

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Adam Nayman

The New Republic

Jason Reitman’s movie is an ode to Lorne Michaels, afraid to take even small risks.

Oct 25, 2024

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Adam Kempenaar

Filmspotting

The cosplay is entertaining (and accurate) enough, but the conceit leaves ensemble members – to borrow the title of Jay Mohr’s book about his two-year stint on SNL – gasping for airtime. Meaningful airtime, anyway.

Rated: 2.5/5

Oct 25, 2024

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Linda Marric

HeyUGuys

Pitch-perfect performances, a tight script, & an expertly paced narrative, Saturday Night brilliantly encapsulates the chaos, innovation, and raw talent of SNL. It’s stressful, chaotic, but above all - deliciously entertaining.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 18, 2024

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Simon Miraudo

Movie Squad (RTRFM 92.1)

Some great performances and flattering imitations, but why did I learn more about the brickwork on the stage than about Laraine Newman?

Rated: 3/5

Nov 1, 2024

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Morgan Shaunette

Willamette Week

Reitman and co-writer Gil Kenan are wise enough to slow down every so often, giving the audience a chance to catch their breath while the Not Ready for Playtime Players share their doubts or deal with personal troubles.

Oct 31, 2024

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Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

What follows amounts to a true state of nirvana for those who love their comedy history, as the maverick spirit coursing through this one seismic moment in time is conjured once more.

Rated: 3.5/5

Oct 30, 2024

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Bertha

I loved how stressful the movie made me feel - you could sense the tension involved in trying to get a live show on air. I didnt like some of the unrealistic parts - like throwing the show order together 1 minute before air, waiting to see if Belushi came through the door for the first scene, and the whole brick laying plot line.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/02/24

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Moviegoer

The opening 20 minutes or so are frantic and unrelenting. Five minutest at that pace would have been enough. So many stories are being told that the movies loses focus. There are some fairy tale scenes in it too such as Belushi stating on a deserted Rockefeller Plaza rink.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

11/02/24

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Lisa

Riveting! The pace was non-stop, relentless, it really gave me a sense of the urgency of that crucial 90 minute time frame. The actors are excellent: I was there when the original SNL started, and these actors resembled the original stars so well. It made me feel like I was watching history being made, and I was.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/01/24

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merav

This movie could have been so much better. Not enough laughs. Better appreciation to icons like Belushi and Carlin. It was nostalgic, which could have been made better, too. It squeezed the nostalgia tear duct just right towards the end. Finally we go to really laugh out loud.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/01/24

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Susan

Well casted, well written. Wanted to go home and watch the first Saturday Night show.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/01/24

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Torachan

Hilarious, clever and an interesting time capsule

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/31/24

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Jason Reitman

Director

Gabriel LaBelle

Actor

Dylan O'Brien

Actor

Cory Michael Smith

Actor

Rachel Sennott

Actor

Lamorne Morris

Actor

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Synopsis

At 11:30pm on October 11, 1975, a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers changed television -- and culture -- forever. Directed by Jason Reitman and written by Gil Kenan & Reitman, Saturday Night is based on the true story of what happened behind the scenes in the 90 minutes leading up to the first broadcast of Saturday Night Live. Full of humor, chaos, and the magic of a revolution that almost wasn't, we count down the minutes in real time until we hear those famous words....

Director: Jason Reitman
Producer: Jason Blumenfeld, Peter Rice, Jason Reitman, Gil Kenan
Screenwriter: Gil Kenan, Jason Reitman
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Sony Pictures Releasing
Rating: R (Sexual References|Language Throughout|Brief Graphic Nudity|Some Drug Use)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 11, 2024, Wide
Box Office (Gross USA): $8.9M
Runtime: 1h 49m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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