Jay Kelly (2025)
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12-month trend
Monthly article views
2025-09 to 2026-08
A famous actor travels through Europe with his manager while reflecting on his life choices, relationships, and legacy.
The story
After completing his latest film, actor Jay Kelly attempts to spend time with his daughter Daisy before she leaves for Europe and begins college. She declines, preferring to travel with friends. Upon learning that the director who launched his career has died, Jay decides to travel to Europe to follow his daughter. Accompanied by his longtime manager, Ron, and a team, Jay navigates the complexities of his fame and personal life while traveling through various locations, including Paris and Tuscany, as he faces the consequences of his past choices and the reality of his professional legacy.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After the death of the director who launched his career, actor Jay Kelly decides to travel to Europe to find his daughter, Daisy, who is leaving for college. He is accompanied by his longtime manager, Ron Sukenick. During the journey, Jay encounters his former acting-school roommate, Tim, leading to a physical altercation and a lawsuit. While traveling by train to Paris, Jay experiences flashbacks to his past, including his strained relationship with his older daughter, Jessica, whom he alienated by prioritizing his career. Along the way, Jay becomes a viral sensation after a heroic act on a train. He eventually reaches Tuscany for a career-tribute award. During the trip, his relationship with Ron becomes strained as Ron is forced to manage other clients. Jay also attempts to reconcile with his estranged father and his daughter Jessica. At a final ceremony, Jay and Ron share a poignant moment watching a reel of Jay's performances, ending with footage of his children, as Jay reflects on his life's work.
- First release year
- 2025
- Runtime (minutes)
- 132
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Noah Baumbach
- Writers
- Noah Baumbach · writer; Emily Mortimer · writer
- Cast and characters
- George Clooney · Jay Kelly; Adam Sandler · Ron Sukenick; Laura Dern; Billy Crudup
- Genres
- comedy-drama
- Themes
- legacy; father-daughter relationships; fame; friendship
- Tone and mood
- drama
- Premise and plot tags
- midlife crisis; coming-of-age
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 67 · scale: 100 · review count: 51
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Globe · acting · nomination; Golden Globe · acting · nomination
- Production trivia
- Noah Baumbach and cinematographer Linus Sandgren make cameos as the director and camera operator.; The film was shot on 35mm film.; The film premiered at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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