Blue Moon (2025 film)

Last updated

Blue Moon
Blue Moon poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Richard Linklater
Written by Robert Kaplow
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyShane F. Kelly
Edited by Sandra Adair
Music by Graham Reynolds
Production
companies
  • Detour Filmproduction
  • Renovo Media Group
  • Wild Atlantic Pictures
  • Cinetic Media
  • Not To Be Seen Productions
  • Under the Influence Productions
  • Concord Originals
Distributed by Sony Pictures Classics
Release dates
  • February 18, 2025 (2025-02-18)(Berlinale)
  • October 17, 2025 (2025-10-17)(United States)
Running time
100 minutes [1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$63,000 [2] [3]

Blue Moon is a 2025 American biographical comedy drama film directed by Richard Linklater and written by Robert Kaplow. The film follows songwriter Lorenz Hart (Ethan Hawke) as he reflects on himself on the opening night of Oklahoma! , a new musical by his former colleague Richard Rodgers (Andrew Scott). It also stars Margaret Qualley, Bobby Cannavale and Jonah Lees.

Contents

The film had its world premiere at the main competition of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, on February 18, 2025, where it won the Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance for Scott. [4] It was theatrically released in the United States by Sony Pictures Classics on October 17.

Plot

Largely set on March 31, 1943, the opening night of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! , Richard Rodgers's former creative partner Lorenz Hart struggles with alcoholism and depression. [5] Most of the plot takes place at the bar of the New York Theater District restaurant Sardi's. Slipping out of Oklahoma!’s opening night, the semi-closeted Hart arrives at Sardi's ahead of the afterparty to get drunk and complain about his former creative partner's new hit musical. The barman lends an ear while trying not to serve Hart liquor. [6]

Cast

Production

A biopic of songwriter Lorenz Hart written by Robert Kaplow was reported in June 2024 with Richard Linklater attached as director and producer, alongside John Sloss. [7] Later that month, Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley, Bobby Cannavale and Andrew Scott joined the cast and Sony Pictures Classics were reported to have acquired worldwide distribution rights in addition to joining the project as co-financier. Principal photography took place in Dublin from early July 2024 [8] [9] [10] to September 2024. [11]

Music

Graham Reynolds composed the score. He previously composed scores for several Linklater films, including A Scanner Darkly , Before Midnight , and Hit Man . [12]

Release

(l-r) Qualley, Hawke, Linklater, and Scott at Berlinale Film Crew of Blue Moon.jpg
(l-r) Qualley, Hawke, Linklater, and Scott at Berlinale

Blue Moon premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 18, 2025. [13] The film was released in a limited theatrical release on October 17, 2025, before a wide release on October 24. [14] [15]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 92% of 60 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.8/10.The website's consensus reads: "While not the flashiest Richard Linklater film, Blue Moon boasts a wonderful performance by Ethan Hawke as he embodies a man hanging on by a thread while the audience hangs on to every word said." [16] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 78 out of 100, based on 16 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. [17]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipientResultRef.
Berlin International Film Festival February 23, 2025 Golden Bear Blue MoonNominated [18]
Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance Andrew Scott Won

References

  1. ↑ "Blue Moon[M]". Australian Classification Board . June 24, 2025. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Blue Moon". The Numbers . Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved October 19, 2025. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg ID is missing in both template and Wikidata; please add to either place.
  3. ↑ "Blue Moon". Box Office Mojo . IMDb . Retrieved October 19, 2025. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  4. ↑ Ntim, Zac (February 22, 2025). "Berlin Film Festival: Norwegian Film 'Dreams (Sex Love)' Wins Golden Bear, Andrew Scott & Rose Byrne Take Acting Honors — Full List". Deadline. Retrieved February 22, 2025.
  5. ↑ Welk, Brian (June 18, 2024). "Richard Linklater Reuniting with Ethan Hawke on 'Blue Moon' for Sony Pictures Classics". IndieWire . Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  6. ↑ Russell, Stephen A. "Blue Moon review". TimeOut . Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  7. ↑ Grobar, Matt (June 3, 2024). "Richard Linklater Developing Film 'Blue Moon' On Famed American Songwriters Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart, Their Parting Of Ways". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  8. ↑ Grobar, Matt (June 18, 2024). "Sony Pictures Classics Acquires Richard Linklater's 'Blue Moon'; Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley, Bobby Cannavale & Andrew Scott Set To Star". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  9. ↑ Calnan, Ellie (July 4, 2024). "2024 film and high-end TV productions shooting in the UK and Ireland: latest updates". Screen Daily . Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  10. ↑ Calnan, Ellie (August 14, 2024). "2024 film and high-end TV productions shooting in the UK and Ireland: latest updates". Screen Daily. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  11. ↑ Ruimy, Jordan (October 21, 2024). "Richard Linklater's 'Blue Moon' Sets May 2025 Release Date". World of Reel. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Graham Reynolds Scoring Richard Linklater's 'Blue Moon'". Film Music Reporter. February 4, 2025. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  13. ↑ Bergeson, Samantha (January 20, 2025). "Margaret Qualley Says Starring in Richard Linklater's 'Blue Moon' Was 'Life-Changing'". Indie Wire . Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  14. ↑ Fuster, Jeremy (May 12, 2025). "Richard Linklater's 'Blue Moon' Set for October Release by Sony Pictures Classics". TheWrap. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  15. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 12, 2025). "Richard Linklater's 'Blue Moon' To Rise This Fall". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 12, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Blue Moon". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved September 2, 2025. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  17. ↑ "Blue Moon". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  18. ↑ Scott Roxborough (January 21, 2025). "Berlin Film Festival Lineup: Movies From Richard Linklater, Michel Franco, Hang Song-Soo in Competition (Full List)". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved January 26, 2025.
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