Jay Kelly (2025): Cast, Plot, Release Date, Review & Where to Watch – George Clooney & Adam Sandler Shine in Noah Baumbach’s Poignant Drama Masterpiece

A film about regrets, glories, and the messy beauty of life—Jay Kelly is already being hailed as Noah Baumbach’s next masterpiece. Premiering at the Venice International Film Festival and earning a Golden Lion nomination, this star-studded coming-of-age comedy-drama arrives in select theaters November 14, 2025, before streaming globally on Netflix December 5, 2025.

"The past always finds a way of catching up with you. The question is—what will you do when it does?"

🌍 The Story – A Journey Across Europe

At its core, Jay Kelly is a road movie wrapped in self-reflection.

George Clooney plays Jay Kelly, a world-famous actor whose career is as celebrated as it is complicated. When he sets off on a European trip with his loyal but weary manager Ron Sukenick (Adam Sandler), the journey becomes more than business—it transforms into an odyssey of friendship, regret, and redemption.

Together, Jay and Ron revisit old haunts, confront people from their past, and question the legacies they’re leaving behind. The film balances Baumbach’s trademark humor with emotional depth, blending witty banter with soul-stirring confessions.

"We spent years chasing the spotlight. Maybe it’s time to see what’s left in the shadows."

🌟 The Cast – Legends & Powerhouse Performances

Baumbach has assembled an extraordinary ensemble:

• George Clooney as Jay Kelly – a star confronting the ghosts of his career.

• Adam Sandler as Ron – the devoted manager, equal parts comic relief and emotional anchor.

• Laura Dern as Liz – Jay’s sharp-witted publicist.

• Billy Crudup as Timothy – an actor friend who never found fame.

• Riley Keough & Grace Edwards as Jay’s daughters – torn between love and estrangement.

• Stacy Keach as Jay’s father, and Jim Broadbent as the late director who shaped Jay’s career.

The cast also features Greta Gerwig, Patrick Wilson, Eve Hewson, Alba Rohrwacher, Isla Fisher, and more—creating a tapestry of characters who weave in and out of Jay’s journey.

🎥 Behind the Scenes – Baumbach’s Most Personal Work Yet

Directed by Noah Baumbach, co-written with Emily Mortimer, and produced alongside Amy Pascal and David Heyman, Jay Kelly feels like a culmination of Baumbach’s storytelling career.

Shot with breathtaking intimacy by Linus Sandgren (La La Land), edited by Valerio Bonelli, and scored by Nicholas Britell (Succession), the film is designed to be both a reflective character study and a sweeping cinematic experience.

🏆 Early Praise – A Festival Favorite

At Venice, critics hailed Jay Kelly as “a career-best Clooney performance” and “Baumbach at his most humane and vulnerable.” Adam Sandler, once again stepping into a dramatic role, was praised for his heartfelt chemistry with Clooney.

The film has already been described as “a funny, heartbreaking meditation on fame, friendship, and what it means to start over when you’re running out of time.”

📅 Release Date & Streaming

• Select Theaters: November 14, 2025

• Netflix Global Release: December 5, 2025

Get ready to laugh, reflect, and maybe shed a tear—because Jay Kelly isn’t just a film, it’s a mirror held up to the choices we all make.

"We’re not who we were, Ron. But maybe we can still be who we’re meant to be."