Late Fame

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Late Fame

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1h 36m

Comedy

Drama

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Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

95 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Ed Saxberger, a forgotten New York poet, works in the post office. After an eager and flattering young admirer appears on his doorstep, Saxberger is beckoned into a coterie of twentysomething admirers who anoint him as a rediscovered genius. Intoxicated by the attention -- and by the alluring presence of Gloria, the group's "tragic heroine" -- Saxberger gradually reckons with the authenticity of his newfound poetic circle. This thoughtful, witty film is a wistful yet unromantic look at a lost idea of downtown New York.

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Critics Consensus

A gentle rumination on art and authenticity, Late Fame's wistful narrative is made lively by Willem Dafoe and Greta Lee's wonderfully complementary performances.

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Emily Maskell

Empire Magazine

2d

4/5

The subtlety of Dafoe’s grounded performance clashes beautifully with Lee’s flirtatious theatricality; she sidesteps Manic-Pixie-Dream-Girl cliché with wonderfully sarcastic declarations: "There is nothing more exciting than a rediscovered male genius."

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Mark Kermode

Kermode and Mayo's Take (YouTube)

2d

I thought it was really rather charming.

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Danny Leigh

Financial Times

2d

4/5

Funny and genial, Late Fame could have got by on charm alone. Jones doesn’t quite settle for that, though. Like all good writing, there is a cool astringency here too.

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Valerie Kalfrin

AWFJ.org

1d

LATE FAME isn’t about highbrow versus lowbrow, second chances or missed opportunities, but the ebb of contentment and ambivalence.

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Sarah Vincent

Sarah G Vincent Views

2d

"Late Fame" (2025) is one of the best movies of the year

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Lyle Kruger

That Shelf

2d

"Dafoe holds all of it together with one of his most restrained performances in years, doing more with a pause than most actors manage with a monologue..."

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Fred B

@fredinMA 37m

The performances are good, but overall I couldn't get past the sheer dreariness of the plot, cinematography, and tone the movie set.

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Cara B

@Criticalthinker225 18h

For starters, this movie featured great performances by Willem Defoe (Ed) and Greta Lee (Gloria). The main characters, Ed and Gloria, are attracted to each other upon meeting, despite obvious differences. That relationship intensifies and spins out of control as rapidly as it develops. It turns into a whirlwind relationship of sorts that simultaneously mirrors the relationship Saxberger shares with the group as a whole. The dynamic appears to work as a mini-whirlwind within a larger whirlwind. The plot provoked thought about life in the past, present and future. For this viewer, two broad take aways come to mind. First, beware of admirers. Their motivation may be self-serving as well as insincere. Secondly, beware of upsetting another's complacency in life. It can add a momentary flash of excitement and rejuvenation, but - as in this case - it is followed by a sense of discontentment and, luckily, a renewed appreciation of the status quo:)

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Margie R

@McargieK 1d

A gem of a film if only for the wonderful acting of William Defoe, a go see for that alone.

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ray L

@rayoflight88 1d

This plot is absolutely paper thin. The writing is cringe. It feels like an old person trying to write "gen z." Willem Dafoe is underutilized and Greta Lee (who can do no wrong) is painfully mis-cast.

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Roy J

6d

Another great Dafoe performance. Worth checking out on criticism about the art culture.

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Evan C

@RT74783562 Aug 27

The satire in Late Fame wouldn't work nearly as well if it wasn't for Willem Dafoe's wonderfully warm performance coupled with Greta Lee's zany but layered counterpoint. Because man some of those art students are beyond annoying and need a little punch in the face.

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Kent Jones

Director

Willem Dafoe

Actor

Greta Lee

Actor

Edmund Donovan

Actor

Tony Torn

Actor

Jake Lacy

Actor

Late Fame: Trailer 1

2:22

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Synopsis

Ed Saxberger, a forgotten New York poet, works in the post office. After an eager and flattering young admirer appears on his doorstep, Saxberger is beckoned into a coterie of twentysomething admirers who anoint him as a rediscovered genius. Intoxicated by the attention -- and by the alluring presence of Gloria, the group's "tragic heroine" -- Saxberger gradually reckons with the authenticity of his newfound poetic circle. This thoughtful, witty film is a wistful yet unromantic look at a lost idea of downtown New York.

Director: Kent Jones
Producer: Pamela Koffler, Mason Plotts, Christine Vachon, Danny Roberts, H.S. Naji, Jackie Langelier, Taylor Shung, Ethan Lazar
Screenwriter: Samy Burch
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 7, 2026, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA): $293.2K
Runtime: 1h 36m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.66:1)

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