What Just Happened?

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What Just Happened?

R

2008

1h 53m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

49%

Tomatometer

140 Reviews

22%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

During the course of an ordinary week in Hollywood, movie producer Ben must navigate his way through shark-infested waters as he struggles to complete his latest projects. A demanding studio boss demands extensive changes to a movie starring Sean Penn, while another chief won't greenlight a project unless star Bruce Willis shaves his beard. Meanwhile, Ben tries to reconcile with his wife and maintain a relationship with his young daughter.

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Critics Consensus

What Just Happened has some inspired comic moments, but this inside-baseball take on Hollywood lacks satirical bite.

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Paul Byrnes

Sydney Morning Herald

It's a pungent film about Hollywood power and a useful manual for young producers on how to stay upright in Hollywood or at least, how to lose your soul with grace.

Rated: 3.5/5

May 24, 2009

Full Review

Philippa Hawker

The Age (Australia)

What Just Happened, despite an air of crisis, feels sluggish and plodding.

Rated: 2.5/5

May 21, 2009

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David Stratton

At the Movies (Australia)

I don't think it's particularly funny and I think that's the problem with the film. I think it wants to be funny.

Rated: 2.5/5

May 20, 2009

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

The only appeal is watching the long list of celebrities in the cast poke fun at their industry—a small consolation considering how sharp this film could have been.

Rated: 2/4

Dec 2, 2023

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Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

What Just Happened is artistically disjointed and lacking in courage. Apparently the stellar cast wanted to make a hard-hitting piece-the various performers worked for scale.

Sep 2, 2020

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Kaleem Aftab

The List

The laboured, almost morose storytelling style doesn't help.

Rated: 2/5

Nov 4, 2018

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Ann S

I could not even finish the movie, boring...

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

09/30/25

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N P

"What Just Happened" showcased the day-to-day life of a hot shot Hollywood producer down on his luck, whether that be familial, relationally or career wise. It was interesting to see how much weight, busy-ness and a mediator type role a producer plays - that it can get overwhelming, and the film does a good job at portraying that. De Niro plays the titular role endearingly, so the audience can't help but root for him. But, this film, at the end of the day, is aight and may fly past your head sooner rather than later.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

12/10/24

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alan g

When is hollywood going to realize that DeNiro can't act anymore. Just phoning it in. Waste of time.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

04/24/24

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Dani G

What a waste of time and talent

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/29/24

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Alec B

I think the reason this got such bad reviews is that the movie isn't really a satire despite the fact that it bills itself as one. Its clearly more of a "state of the film industry" (at least as it was in the mid 00s) and it's an admirable attempt at honesty even if it isn't really a compelling one.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/28/24

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John A

Levinson's screenplay is the film's detriment. All the other necessary pieces are in motion to make a funny yet realistic comedy full of familiar faces.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

05/13/23

Full Review

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Barry Levinson

Director

Robert De Niro

Ben

Sean Penn

Sean Penn

Catherine Keener

Lou Tarnow

John Turturro

Dick Bell

Robin Wright

Kelly

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Synopsis

During the course of an ordinary week in Hollywood, movie producer Ben must navigate his way through shark-infested waters as he struggles to complete his latest projects. A demanding studio boss demands extensive changes to a movie starring Sean Penn, while another chief won't greenlight a project unless star Bruce Willis shaves his beard. Meanwhile, Ben tries to reconcile with his wife and maintain a relationship with his young daughter.

Director: Barry Levinson
Producer: Robert De Niro, Art Linson, Jane Rosenthal, Barry Levinson
Screenwriter: Art Linson
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Production Co: Linson Films, Tribeca Productions, 2929 Productions
Rating: R (Sexual Content|Language|Some Drug Material|Some Violent Images)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 17, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 25, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.1M
Runtime: 1h 53m

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