Broadcast News
Broadcast News

Broadcast News

1987Movie133 minEnglish

A high-strung news producer finds herself in a love triangle between a talented but self-doubting reporter and a charming news anchor who embodies the growing trivialization of news that she is determined to fight against.

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Insights

IMDb6.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes98%
Metacritic90
Google Users89%
Director: James L. BrooksGenres: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Plot Summary

A driven and idealistic TV news producer finds herself in a love triangle with a charismatic but superficial anchorman and a principled, but less-than-glamorous, reporter. As she navigates the changing landscape of television news, she must confront the ethical dilemmas and personal compromises that come with the pursuit of ratings and truth. The film humorously and insightfully examines the shift from substantive journalism to entertainment-driven broadcasting.

Critical Reception

Broadcast News was a critical and commercial success, widely praised for its sharp writing, intelligent satire, and strong performances. Critics lauded its insightful commentary on the media industry and its ability to balance humor with genuine emotional depth. It resonated with audiences for its relatable characters and its exploration of contemporary issues in television news.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its witty and incisive script that cleverly satirizes the television news industry.
  • Lauded for stellar performances, particularly from Holly Hunter, William Hurt, and Albert Brooks.
  • Applauded for its sophisticated blend of comedy, romance, and social commentary.

Google audience: Google users overwhelmingly praised Broadcast News for its sharp writing, humor, and relevant social commentary on the media. Many highlighted the engaging performances and the film's ability to provoke thought while remaining entertaining. Some noted that while the film is from the 1980s, its themes about the pressures of broadcasting remain surprisingly relevant.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for 7 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (William Hurt), Best Actress (Holly Hunter), and Best Original Screenplay. It also won numerous other awards and nominations from critics' circles and guilds.

Fun Fact

During filming, Albert Brooks suffered from laryngitis, leading to his character, Aaron Altman, having a distinctive raspy voice in the finished film. Brooks's discomfort was incorporated into the character's portrayal and dialogue.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
kevin2019

kevin2019

"Broadcast News" is desperately overlong and it stubbornly insists upon indulging in irrelevant mini-prologues of the three main characters at the beginning which has absolutely no bearing on them as adults, but other than this the film doe...
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Centred around the cut-throat environment of an American newsroom at a time when the focus of the bosses was switching from strong journalistic values to those more ratings-based, we are provided with this premiss. William Hurt ("Grunick") ...