Is This Thing On?

Last updated
Is This Thing On?
Is This Thing On%3F poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Bradley Cooper
Screenplay by
Story by
Produced by
  • Bradley Cooper
  • Weston Middleton
  • Will Arnett
  • Kris Thykier
Starring
Cinematography Matthew Libatique
Edited byCharlie Greene
Music byJames Newberry
Production
companies
  • Lea Pictures
  • Archery Pictures
Distributed by Searchlight Pictures
Release dates
  • October 10, 2025 (2025-10-10)(NYFF)
  • December 19, 2025 (2025-12-19)(United States)
Running time
124 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Is This Thing On? is a 2025 American comedy-drama film directed by Bradley Cooper, from a screenplay he co-wrote with Will Arnett and Mark Chappell. It is loosely inspired by the life of British comedian John Bishop. [1] It stars Arnett, Laura Dern, Cooper, Andra Day, Amy Sedaris, Sean Hayes, Christine Ebersole and Ciarán Hinds.

Contents

The film had its world premiere as the closing film of the 2025 New York Film Festival on October 10, and it is scheduled to be released in the United States by Searchlight Pictures on December 19.

Premise

After many years together, Alex and Tess have reached an amicable end to their marriage, thus beginning the awkward stage of figuring out how to live separately while raising two boys and maintaining their friendships. Alex discovers a new hobby and, in the process, learns more about himself and his relationship.

Cast

Production

It was announced in June 2023 that Bradley Cooper would be directing a film, which he would star in alongside Will Arnett. Arnett would co-write the screenplay alongside Mark Chappell. [3] Emily Blunt was reported as being part of the cast later that month. [4] In December 2024, Sean Hayes joined the cast. [5] In February 2025, Cooper announced Laura Dern and Andra Day as part of the cast, in addition to announcing he would also serve as the B camera operator for the film. [6] [7] Filming wrapped in April, with additional casting announced including Amy Sedaris, Peyton Manning, Christine Ebersole, and Ciarán Hinds. [8]

Principal photography was scheduled to begin in September 2024 in Los Angeles. [9] [10] Filming reportedly began by January 2025 in New York City. [11] Production wrapped on April 16, 2025, with Searchlight eyeing a fall release. [8]

Release

Is This Thing On? had its world premiere as the closing film of the New York Film Festival on October 10, 2025, [12] and it is scheduled to be released in the United States on December 19, 2025. [13]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 95% of 21 critics' reviews are positive. [14] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 71 out of 100, based on 11 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. [15]

Cooper's direction was praised. [16] [17] In The Hollywood Reporter , David Rooney wrote that Cooper's "unassuming" direction helped ground the film's emotional connection to the New York setting and imbued it with "a sweetness that’s never cloying, a generosity of spirit that’s never unearned". [17] Close-up scenes in which Arnett is filmed performing his stand-up routines were emphasized by both Rooney and Tim Grierson from Screen International as moments where Cooper deftly amplified the film's intimacy in collaboration with Matthew Libatique 's cinematography. [16] [17]

Arnett and Dern's performances were also well-received. [18] [2] Reviewers including Alison Willmore and Adrian Horton found Arnett to be well cast, bringing a necessary self-deprecation and dry humor from past comic experience that augmented his credibility in the role and endeared audiences to connect with his character's journey. [18] [2] Siddhant Adlakha from Observer joined them in praising Dern for her chemistry with Arnett and her vulnerability, established within a mix of meditative introspections and spirited emotions, that served to heighten the "sometimes barbed and sometimes witty, always charged" mutual dynamic between the two characters. [18] [2] [19]

Accolades

OrganizationYearCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
Savannah Film Festival November 1, 2025Luminary Award Will Arnett Won [20]

References

  1. ↑ Perry, Kevin E G (April 30, 2025). "Bradley Cooper and Will Arnett's new movie inspired by life of unlikely British comedian". The Independent . Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Horton, Adrian (October 10, 2025). "Is This Thing On? review – Bradley Cooper's comedy of comedians is a charmer". The Guardian . Archived from the original on October 11, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  3. ↑ Kroll, Justin (June 14, 2023). "Bradley Cooper And Will Arnett Team on Searchlight Pic Is This Thing On? With Both Starring And Cooper Setting As Next Directorial Effort". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  4. ↑ Rajput, Priyanca (June 27, 2023). "Bradley Cooper's Is This Thing On? sets filming date". Kemps Film and TV Production Services Handbook . Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  5. ↑ Kroll, Justin (December 20, 2024). "Sean Hayes Sets Back To Back Films For 2025 That Include 'Running Man' And 'Is This Thing On' From Bradley Cooper". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  6. ↑ Bergeson, Samantha (February 11, 2025). "Bradley Cooper Will Make Camera Operator Debut with 'Is This Thing On?' Starring Laura Dern, and Shares Plot Details". IndieWire . Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  7. ↑ Jackson, Angelique (February 14, 2025). "Andra Day Joins Bradley Cooper's 'Is This Thing On?' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety . Retrieved February 14, 2025.
  8. 1 2 Stephan, Katcy (April 16, 2025). "Bradley Cooper's 'Is This Thing On?' Adds Amy Sedaris, Peyton Manning and More as Searchlight Film Wraps Production (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety . Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  9. ↑ Gajewski, Ryan (March 11, 2024). "After the Oscars: What the Nominees Are Doing Next". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  10. ↑ Prasad, Sumith (July 31, 2024). "Bradley Cooper's Is This Thing On? Starts Shooting in Los Angeles in September". The CinemaHolic. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  11. ↑ Shreya (January 14, 2025). "What We Know About Bradley Cooper and Will Arnett's "Is This Thing On?"". FandomWire. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  12. ↑ Rubin, Rebecca (July 30, 2025). "Bradley Cooper's 'Is This Thing On?' Debuts First Look, Sets New York Film Festival World Premiere". Variety . Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  13. ↑ Ford, Rebecca (August 21, 2025). "Bradley Cooper and Will Arnett Storm the Stand-Up Stage in Is This Thing On?". Vanity Fair . Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Is This Thing On?". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media.
  15. ↑ "Is This Thing On?". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  16. 1 2 Grierson, Tim (October 11, 2025). "'Is This Thing On?' review: Bradley Cooper's bittersweet third feature stars Will Arnett and Laura Dern". Screen International . Archived from the original on October 11, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  17. 1 2 3 Rooney, David (October 10, 2025). "'Is This Thing On?' Review: Will Arnett and Laura Dern Are a Delight in Bradley Cooper's Warmhearted Flipside to 'Marriage Story'". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on October 11, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  18. 1 2 3 Willmore, Alison (October 10, 2025). "Bradley Cooper's Big Crowd-pleaser". Vulture . Archived from the original on October 12, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  19. ↑ Adlakha, Siddhant (October 10, 2025). "Screening at NYFF: Bradley Cooper's 'Is This Thing On?'". Observer . Archived from the original on October 11, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  20. ↑ "AwardsWatch - 2025 SCAD Savannah Film Festival Honorees Include Rose Byrne, Oscar Isaac, Dylan O'Brien and Tessa Thompson". AwardsWatch. 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.