2002·Comedy·1h 52m
7.0
★
Woody Allen stars as Val Waxman, a two-time Oscar winner turned washed-up, neurotic director in desperate need of a comeback. When it comes, Waxman finds himself backed into a corner: Work for his ex-wife Ellie or forfeit his last shot. Is Val blinded by love when he opts for the reconnect? Is love blind when it comes to Ellie's staunch support? Literally and figuratively, the proof is the picture.
Directed by Woody Allen
blindness and impaired vision
movie business
creative crisis
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
Cast
Woody Allen
Val
George Hamilton
Ed
Téa Leoni
Ellie
Debra Messing
Lori
Mark Rydell
Al
Treat Williams
Hal
Jodie Markell
Andrea Ford
Isaac Mizrahi
Elio Sebastian
Marian Seldes
Alexandra
Aaron Stanford
Actor
Tiffani-Amber Thiessen
Sharon Bates
Mark Webber
Tony Waxman
Crew
Woody Allen
Director
Woody Allen
Screenplay
Alisa Lepselter
Editor
Wedigo von Schultzendorff
Director of Photography
Letty Aronson
Producer
Janice Williams
Production Supervisor
Patricia Kerrigan DiCerto
Casting Associate
Mark Schwartzbard
Camera Loader
Juliet Taylor
Casting
Ryan Collison
Foley Recording Engineer
Jay Carrado
Stunt Double
Santo Loquasto
Production Design
Popular Reviews
43 reviews
Liam Kinghorn
7.0★ · 10/11/25
Hollywood Ending is everything I wanted it to be—a straight-to-the-point, self-aware, crowd-pleasing comedy that delivers all the charm Woody Allen is known for. It’s an unassuming film—one that knows exactly what it is and does its thing well. You could critique it for playing things safe, but I don’t see any issue with that when it’s just so damn funny.
Beyond the humor, the film explores inherently intriguing themes: fear of failure, compromise, reminiscing on better times, reconnecting with a former lover, and more. These are universal ideas, and Allen’s approach to them is lighthearted yet empathetic. The film never drags—every scene either moves the story forward or delivers genuine laughs, making for a viewing experience that flies by.
It’s the kind of film you can put on at any time, with just about anyone—and that’s an underappreciated quality. In fact, Hollywood Ending itself is underappreciated and underrated. Many view it as lower-tier Allen, and I just don’t see why. It accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do and does it exceptionally well, leaving a smile on my face as the credits roll.
Beyond the humor, the film explores inherently intriguing themes: fear of failure, compromise, reminiscing on better times, reconnecting with a former lover, and more. These are universal ideas, and Allen’s approach to them is lighthearted yet empathetic. The film never drags—every scene either moves the story forward or delivers genuine laughs, making for a viewing experience that flies by.
It’s the kind of film you can put on at any time, with just about anyone—and that’s an underappreciated quality. In fact, Hollywood Ending itself is underappreciated and underrated. Many view it as lower-tier Allen, and I just don’t see why. It accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do and does it exceptionally well, leaving a smile on my face as the credits roll.
Hollywood Ending is everything I wanted it to be—a straight-to-the-point, self-aware, crowd-pleasing comedy that delivers all the charm Woody Allen is known for. It’s an unassuming film—one that knows exactly what it is and does its thing well. You could critique it for playing things safe, but I don’t see any issue with that when it’s just so damn funny.
Beyond the humor, the film explores inherently intriguing themes: fear of failure, compromise, reminiscing on better times, reconnecting with a former lover, and more. These are universal ideas, and Allen’s approach to them is lighthearted yet empathetic. The film never drags—every scene either moves the story forward or delivers genuine laughs, making for a viewing experience that flies by.
It’s the kind of film you can put on at any time, with just about anyone—and that’s an underappreciated quality. In fact, Hollywood Ending itself is underappreciated and underrated. Many view it as lower-tier Allen, and I just don’t see why. It accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do and does it exceptionally well, leaving a smile on my face as the credits roll.
Beyond the humor, the film explores inherently intriguing themes: fear of failure, compromise, reminiscing on better times, reconnecting with a former lover, and more. These are universal ideas, and Allen’s approach to them is lighthearted yet empathetic. The film never drags—every scene either moves the story forward or delivers genuine laughs, making for a viewing experience that flies by.
It’s the kind of film you can put on at any time, with just about anyone—and that’s an underappreciated quality. In fact, Hollywood Ending itself is underappreciated and underrated. Many view it as lower-tier Allen, and I just don’t see why. It accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do and does it exceptionally well, leaving a smile on my face as the credits roll.
Zach
8.2★ · 08/06/25
August 6, 2025
August 6, 2025
Brian Ekberg
8.5★ · 05/01/25
Funny and fast-paced, twenty something years after its release, here's a time capsule of a movie industry the way it used to be (or at least, an idealized version of such). When Allen gets a good idea he really knows how to develop, and this one — a film director goes psychosomatically blind while shooting his comeback film, and does his best to hide it from everyone— is one of his best and most ridiculous gags.
Tea Leoni is radiant and a great comedic foil for Allen, capable of delivering his madcap dialogue with the pace and commitment that it requires. This one feels old fashioned in the best sense and I loved revisiting it.
Tea Leoni is radiant and a great comedic foil for Allen, capable of delivering his madcap dialogue with the pace and commitment that it requires. This one feels old fashioned in the best sense and I loved revisiting it.
Funny and fast-paced, twenty something years after its release, here's a time capsule of a movie industry the way it used to be (or at least, an idealized version of such). When Allen gets a good idea he really knows how to develop, and this one — a film director goes psychosomatically blind while shooting his comeback film, and does his best to hide it from everyone— is one of his best and most ridiculous gags.
Tea Leoni is radiant and a great comedic foil for Allen, capable of delivering his madcap dialogue with the pace and commitment that it requires. This one feels old fashioned in the best sense and I loved revisiting it.
Tea Leoni is radiant and a great comedic foil for Allen, capable of delivering his madcap dialogue with the pace and commitment that it requires. This one feels old fashioned in the best sense and I loved revisiting it.
Gianni
4.0★ · 03/28/25
41/100
Woody Allen does for one more time what he has already done infinite times before: he creates a fictional autobiography of himself, filling it with references to his past and his personality. but the result is lame and predictable, the plot is incoherent and the characters are boring. the jokes are ok I guess but it's probs the only thing that saves this movie from being a total mess.
Woody Allen (director) ranked
Woody Allen does for one more time what he has already done infinite times before: he creates a fictional autobiography of himself, filling it with references to his past and his personality. but the result is lame and predictable, the plot is incoherent and the characters are boring. the jokes are ok I guess but it's probs the only thing that saves this movie from being a total mess.
Woody Allen (director) ranked
41/100
Woody Allen does for one more time what he has already done infinite times before: he creates a fictional autobiography of himself, filling it with references to his past and his personality. but the result is lame and predictable, the plot is incoherent and the characters are boring. the jokes are ok I guess but it's probs the only thing that saves this movie from being a total mess.
Woody Allen (director) ranked
Woody Allen does for one more time what he has already done infinite times before: he creates a fictional autobiography of himself, filling it with references to his past and his personality. but the result is lame and predictable, the plot is incoherent and the characters are boring. the jokes are ok I guess but it's probs the only thing that saves this movie from being a total mess.
Woody Allen (director) ranked
sienna
5.0★ · 11/25/24
love to watch men in the worst conditions possible
love to watch men in the worst conditions possible