Following early buzz and industry anticipation, George Clooney‘s new movie received favorable reviews from critics. It earned a certified fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Directed by Noah Baumbach, Jay Kelly stars Adam Sandler, along with Clooney. Their performances and the film’s character-driven focus have attracted notable critical attention.
Jay Kelly reviews are largely positive
Among top critics, Jay Kelly has received predominantly favorable evaluations. Critics such as Mick LaSalle (San Francisco Chronicle) called it “Baumbach’s best film,” while Owen Gleiberman (Variety) described it as “a fictional inside-the-movie-world portrait… made with a great deal of care and affection.”
David Ehrlich (IndieWire) referred to it as “a gorgeously bittersweet shortfaller,” and Bilge Ebiri (Vulture) said George Clooney delivers “the performance of a lifetime.” Stephanie Zacharek (TIME) noted, “There’s nothing overtly dislikable about the film… Jay Kelly feels more sentimental than truly thoughtful.”
Some top critics offered more reserved takes. Andrew Marzoni (The New Republic) wrote that the film “lacks the unvarnished middle-aged pathos of Greenberg.” Tara Brady (Irish Times) remarked, “Ruminations on fame as a hollow, unfulfilling enterprise have all the depth of a disposable contact lens.” Peter Bradshaw (Guardian) criticized it as “smothered in a bland, Tuscan sunshine-syrup,” while Johnny Oleksinski (New York Post) concluded it leaves viewers with “an emptiness.”
Jay Kelly’s Rotten Tomatoes score is pretty good
On Rotten Tomatoes, Jay Kelly holds a certified fresh score of 79% based on 140 critic reviews. It also has a fresh audience score of 67% from over 100 ratings.
Released in theaters on November 14, 2025, and set for streaming via Netflix on December 5, 2025, Jay Kelly is directed by Noah Baumbach and co-written with Emily Mortimer. Other than George Clooney and Adam Sandler, the cast also includes Laura Dern, Patrick Wilson, Billy Crudup, Greta Gerwig, and Riley Keough.
