Late Night
Late Night

Late Night

2019Movie102 minEnglish

A legendary late-night talk show host's world is turned upside down when she hires her only female staff writer. Originally intended to smooth over diversity concerns, her decision has unexpectedly hilarious consequences as the two women separated by culture and generation are united by their love of a biting punchline.

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Insights

IMDb6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes80%
Metacritic65/100
Google Users77%
Director: Nisha GanatraGenres: Comedy, Drama

Plot Summary

Katherine Newbury, a veteran talk show host, is facing declining ratings and the possibility of her show being canceled. To try and revitalize it, she hires Molly Patel, a junior chemical plant worker and avid fan, as the only woman on her all-male writing staff. Despite their vastly different backgrounds, Katherine and Molly form an unlikely bond as they navigate the cutthroat world of late-night television and strive to keep the show relevant.

Critical Reception

Late Night received generally positive reviews from critics, with many praising its sharp wit, strong performances, and timely themes of diversity and workplace dynamics. While some critics found the plot to be somewhat predictable, the chemistry between the lead actresses and the film's humor were widely lauded.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its witty dialogue and sharp social commentary.
  • Emma Thompson and Mindy Kaling deliver compelling and charismatic performances.
  • The film successfully tackles themes of diversity and mentorship in a comedic yet heartfelt way.

Google audience: Audiences appreciated the film's humor and the performances of the lead actresses, finding it to be an entertaining and relevant comedy. Some viewers felt the storyline was a bit formulaic but still enjoyed the overall message and chemistry.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the Writers Guild of America Awards.

Fun Fact

Mindy Kaling, who also stars in and wrote the film, drew inspiration for the character of Katherine Newbury from her own experiences as a woman of color in the writers' room of 'The Office'.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

This had the potential to delver quite an insightful look into the workings of a late-night talkshow, but regrettably this opportunity was largely wasted. Emma Thompson plays the role of host "Katherine Newbury" well, but her character is p...
SWITCH.

SWITCH.

Is ‘Late Night’ a perfect film? No. It could have used a few tweaks in the edit suite, and a couple more on the page. Yes, the “woman”, “women in comedy” and “woman of colour” angles are pushed and pushed hard - but then again, isn’t that w...