After the death of Bessie, her best friend and roommate of twelve years, 94-year-old Eleanor Morgenstein leaves Florida and moves to New York City to live with her daughter Lisa and grandson Max. Feeling sidelined by her busy family, Eleanor finds herself at a loose end when Lisa drops her off at the local Jewish Community Center.
Through a misunderstanding, Eleanor wanders into a support group for Holocaust survivors. Rather than correct the mistake, she begins sharing Bessie’s harrowing story of surviving the Holocaust as if it were her own—a way to honor her friend’s memory while filling the void of loneliness and finding a sense of belonging. Her fabricated history captures the attention of Nina Davis, a grieving journalism student who has recently lost her mother. The two form an unlikely and genuine friendship, with Nina eventually incorporating Eleanor’s “survivor testimony” into a class project. When Nina’s father, a local television newscaster who is himself struggling to process his wife’s death and connect with his daughter, broadcasts Eleanor’s story, the deception spirals beyond anyone’s control.
The inevitable unraveling—exposed by Lisa—leaves a trail of damage: public humiliation for Eleanor’s family, a sense of betrayal among the survivors who welcomed her, and a rupture in her bond with Nina, who must now confront not only the lie but what their friendship meant in spite of it.
Cast
June Squibb as Eleanor Morgenstein, a 94-year-old woman who has recently moved back to New York City
Erin Kellyman as Nina Davis, a college journalist who has recently lost her mother, whom Eleanor befriends
Chiwetel Ejiofor as Roger Davis, Nina's father, a recent widower and a news anchor
Rita Zohar as Bessie Stern, Eleanor's best friend, a Holocaust survivor, recently deceased
Will Price as Max, Eleanor's grandson
Greg Kaston as Peter
Production
Scarlett Johansson expressed an early desire to direct, inspired at age 12 while observing Robert Redford during the filming of The Horse Whisperer (1998).[6] In September 2023, it was announced that Johansson would make her feature directorial debut with Eleanor, Invisible, a character-driven script by Tory Kamen about an elderly woman navigating loss and transition in New York City.[4][6]
The project was introduced to Johansson by Celine Rattray of Maven Screen Media. Moved by the script, Johansson decided to direct and produce the film. These Pictures co-founders Jonathan Lia and Keenan Flynn supported her involvement. Kamen, who had struggled for eight years to produce the screenplay, credited Johansson's industry influence for facilitating its realization.[6]
In February 2024, June Squibb, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jessica Hecht, and Erin Kellyman joined the cast in undisclosed roles, with TriStar Pictures and Sony Pictures Classics partnering to distribute for the first time.[7] Squibb, 94 at the time, was then announced to be cast in the titular role, a decision Johansson deemed essential. The project received backing from Pinky Promise, a female-led production company, and Johansson was granted full creative autonomy. Hélène Louvart was chosen as director of photography,[6] and principal photography got underway in February 2024.[8] Filming locations included Coney Island, New York City,[9] which presented logistical challenges due to Squibb's age and the urban environment.[6] Filming wrapped in April.[10] Johansson also worked closely with the USC Shoah Foundation to ensure the authenticity of a subplot involving Holocaust survivors. Real survivors were cast for scenes depicting a support group.[6]
Release
In April 2025, Eleanor the Great was revealed to be part of the Un Certain Regard lineup at the Cannes Film Festival, where it had its world premiere on May 20, 2025.[11][12] It was released on September 26, 2025.[13]
Reception
Critical reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 66% of 134 critics' reviews are positive.The website's consensus reads: "Scarlett Johansson's directorial debut may have the pitfalls of an unsteady visionary, but this ultimately uneven caper is greatly amplified by June Squibb's exquisite performance."[14]Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 51 out of 100, based on 24 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[15]
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