When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
12-month trend
12-month trend
Monthly article views
2025-09 to 2026-08
Two people who meet in Chicago and navigate a decade of chance encounters in New York while questioning if men and women can ever just be friends.
The story
In 1977, cynical Harry Burns and optimistic Sally Albright graduate from the University of Chicago. Sally gives Harry a ride to New York City because he is dating her friend, Amanda. During the journey, they debate their differing views on life and relationships. Sally rejects Harry's claim that men and women cannot be friends because the man will always want to have sex with the woman. At a diner, Harry tells Sally she is very attractive, prompting her to accuse him of making a pass. They part ways in New York at the Washington Square Arch, never intending to see each other again.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1977, cynical Harry Burns and optimistic Sally Albright graduate from the University of Chicago. During a ride to New York City, they debate the possibility of platonic friendship between men and women. They part ways in 1977, only to encounter each other again in 1982 at an airport, and again in 1987 after both have experienced failed relationships. They eventually agree to become friends, developing a close bond over several years. After a series of dates and a complicated encounter where they sleep together, their friendship becomes strained. By Christmas 1988, Sally tells Harry she can no longer be his "consolation prize." On New Year's Eve, Harry finds Sally at a party and declares his love. He lists the things he loves about her, and she eventually accepts his proposal. Three months later, they are married.
- First release year
- 1989
- Runtime (minutes)
- 95
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Rob Reiner
- Writers
- Nora Ephron · writer
- Cast and characters
- Billy Crystal · Harry Burns; Meg Ryan · Sally Albright; Carrie Fisher · Marie; Bruno Kirby · Jess; Steven Ford · Joe; Lisa Jane Persky · Alice; Michelle Nicastro · Amanda Reese; Kevin Rooney · Ira Stone; Harley Kozak · Helen Hillson; Estelle Reiner · female customer
- Genres
- romantic comedy
- Themes
- friendship; romance
- Tone and mood
- romantic; funny
- Premise and plot tags
- romance; comedy; platonic friendship
- Reception
- The film was released to critical acclaim and is considered a standard for romantic comedies. It holds high ratings on Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic, and received an 'A+' from audiences.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 90% · review count: 143; Metacritic · score: 76 · scale: 100 · review count: 17
- Awards and nominations
- Grammy Award · Best Jazz Male Vocal Performance · win; BAFTA Award · Best Original Screenplay · win
- Production trivia
- The film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 2022.; The scene at Katz's Delicatessen is considered one of the most memorably funny lines in movie history.; The film was adapted for the stage in 2004.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
Your lists
Loading your lists…