The Night Before
The Night Before

The Night Before

2015Movie101 minEnglish

In New York City for their annual tradition of Christmas Eve debauchery, three lifelong best friends set out to find the Holy Grail of Christmas parties since their yearly reunion might be coming to an end.

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Insights

IMDb6.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes63%
Metacritic61/100
Google Users77%
Director: Jonathan LevineGenres: Comedy, Drama

Plot Summary

Three lifelong best friends – Ethan, Isaac, and Chris – reunite for their annual tradition of a wild, alcohol-fueled Christmas Eve reunion in New York City. This year, however, marks the end of their tradition as they all enter a new phase of their lives. To make it the most memorable night ever, they embark on a quest to find the elusive "Nutcracka Ball," an exclusive secret party rumored to be the best holiday gathering in the city, encountering a series of increasingly bizarre and hilarious events along the way.

Critical Reception

The Night Before received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its humor, performances, and surprisingly heartfelt moments. While some found the plot predictable or the raunchiness excessive, the chemistry between the lead actors and its blend of comedy and emotional depth were widely appreciated.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its surprisingly touching portrayal of male friendship amidst the raucous comedy.
  • The chemistry and comedic timing of the lead trio are a consistent highlight.
  • While often crude, the film manages to deliver genuine laughs and moments of heart.

Google audience: Audiences generally enjoyed the film, appreciating its humor, the relatable themes of friendship, and the performances of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, and Anthony Mackie. Some viewers found certain comedic elements to be overly crude or the storyline to be a bit formulaic.

Fun Fact

The characters of Ethan, Isaac, and Chris were inspired by the real-life friendships of director Jonathan Levine and screenwriters James Franco, Kyle Hunter, and Ariel Shaffir.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
r96sk

r96sk

Funny. <em>'The Night Before'</em> makes for very amusing viewing, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen and Anthony Mackie are great together, I like all three actors individually and as a trio they are just as terri...
Gimly

Gimly

The skeleton of The Night Before is very clichéd, but the cast is magnificent and the requisite amount of jokes land. Final rating:★★½ - Had a lot that appealed to me, didn’t quite work as a whole.