Hollywood Ending | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

47% Tomatometer 134 Reviews 49% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings

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 (Tea Leoni) 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.

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Critics Consensus

Although Hollywood Ending contains some zany one-liners, its promising premise is far from developed.

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Critics Reviews

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Hollywood Ending | Rotten Tomatoes (1) David Denby New Yorker Hollywood Ending has its satirical charms, but it repeats itself remorselessly, and it has no emotional center. Nov 17, 2015 Full Review Hollywood Ending | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Nell Minow Common Sense Media Ephemeral, Woody Allen. Only for his fans. Rated: 3/5 Dec 24, 2010 Full Review Hollywood Ending | Rotten Tomatoes (3) David Ansen Newsweek You know a romantic comedy is in trouble when you root for the hero not to get the girl. Nov 1, 2007 Full Review Hollywood Ending | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid Filled with laughs and missed potential for lots more, the film leaves us happy but maybe wishing for something bigger. May 26, 2006 Full Review Hollywood Ending | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Film Threat Rated: 2/5 Dec 6, 2005 Full Review Hollywood Ending | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Scott Nash Three Movie Buffs Rated: 3/4 Sep 30, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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David H Woody Allen is a goofball. I have enjoyed many of his past films. But I have to say that Hollywood Ending was sort of a throw-away film. *** ** *** The premise was fun: A talented director who has fallen on hard times is given a chance to make another big film as a way to rescue his career from the doldrums. However, he mysteriously goes blind the night before he is scheduled to begin. *** ** *** You can sort of imagine where it goes from there. He obviously can't watch any of what is being filmed because he's blind. And all of the predictable Woody-Allen style humor ensues. *** ** *** I think what made Midnight in Paris such a great film was that Allen himself did not appear in it. Frankly, he's sort of a one-dimensional actor. Not that he isn't an enjoyable actor to watch. I have enjoyed many a Woody Allen film in the past. but he can't seem to play any role other than that sort of nervous, fidgety middle-aged man who is invariably married to or interested in younger women. Rated 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 09/18/24 Full Review Jason M I love Woody Allen's work and I am currently watching all of his films. Every film up til now has been solid, even his lesser works are solid movies at the core level. This is a rare genuine misfire. A great idea with some great moments but it just doesn't work overall. I didn't buy the premise, and while Woody has always been great at physical comedy, he just can't pull off this role. Other casting problems as well. Match Point is coming up soon on my list which will be a nice change of pace. Rated 2.5/5 Stars • Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 05/16/24 Full Review Alec B One of Allen's worst. The observations about Hollywood are pretty superficial and unfunny, Allen is totally wrong for the lead role (physical comedy like this isn't really in his wheelhouse), and it is probably 20-30 minutes too long. Rated 1.5/5 Stars • Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 01/10/24 Full Review Elvis D Woody Allen normalmente tiende a dirigir películas que en su mayoría apelan al psicoanálisis y por eso llegan a ser difíciles de procesar o no se entiende el humor que intenta transmitir. Hollywood Ending es una de las pocas excepciones decentes de este director con una gracia bastante notable. Aquí el humor de Allen es más visible y se puede disfrutar más. Tiene el mismo peso que tiene el resto de la filmografía de Allen, pero con una mejor notoriedad en el balance entre el drama y la comedia. La participación de Woody Allen como protagonista es quizás lo que le da más humor a esta película debido a su característica manera exagerada de actuar. Hollywood Ending es en definitiva la película más digerible y procesable de un director que está demasiado acostumbrado a brindar películas muy melodramáticas. Mi calificación final para esta película es un 7/10. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/25/23 Full Review Audience Member 3.3 . Woody Allen always over does his jokes but I liked it Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/25/22 Full Review Audience Member One of Allen's worst. The observations about Hollywood are pretty superficial and unfunny, Allen is totally wrong for the lead role (physical comedy like this isn't really in his wheelhouse), and it is probably 20-30 minutes too long. Rated 1.5/5 Stars • Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

Woody Allen Director Woody Allen Val Téa Leoni Ellie George Hamilton Ed Debra Messing Lori Mark Rydell Al
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Hollywood Ending

Studio head Hal Yeager (WILLIAMS) and his fiancee Ellie (LEONI) discuss the progress of their latest film project, being directed by Ellie's ex-husband. Director Val Waxman (ALLEN) and studio executive Ellie (LEONI) compliment Lori (MESSING) on her scene. TÉA LEONI (right) stars opposite WOODY ALLEN in Allen's HOLLYWOOD ENDING. Director Val Waxman (WOODY ALLEN, left) has an uncomfortable meeting about the progress of his comeback film with studio head Hal (TREAT WILLIAMS) in Woody Allen's latest comedy HOLLYWOOD ENDING. Director Val Waxman (WOODY ALLEN) tells his girlfriend Lori (DEBRA MESSING) about his latest film project in Woody Allen's latest contemporary comedy HOLLYWOOD ENDING. Production designer Elio Sebastian (MIZRAHI, center left) and costume designer Alexandria (SELDES) do some location scouting with director Val (ALLEN, right) and studio exec Ellie (LEONI, far right). DEBRA MESSING stars as Lori, an aspiring actress, in Woody Allen's latest contemporary comedy HOLLYWOOD ENDING. TREAT WILLIAMS stars as Hal Yeager, the head of the studio, in Woody Allen's latest contemporary comedy HOLLYWOOD ENDING. Director Val Waxman (WOODY ALLEN, left) and his agent Al Hack (MARK RYDELL) meet with studio executive Ellie (TÉA LEONI) in hopes that Val will be able to direct Ellie's next movie. Studio head Hal Yeager (TREAT WILLIAMS) shows director Val Waxman (WOODY ALLEN) some poster ideas for his latest picture in Woody Allen's contemporary comedy HOLLYWOOD ENDING. View more photos

Synopsis 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 (Tea Leoni) 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.

Director
Woody Allen

Producer
Letty Aronson

Screenwriter
Woody Allen

Distributor
DreamWorks SKG

Production Co
DreamWorks SKG, Perido Productions, Gravier Productions

Rating
PG-13 (Some Drug References|Sexual Material)

Genre
Comedy

Original Language
English

Release Date (Theaters)
May 3, 2002, Wide

Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 31, 2016

Box Office (Gross USA)
$4.8M

Runtime
1h 52m

Sound Mix
Mono, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Surround, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo

Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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