Eleanor the Great — Review
Warning: This review may contain minor spoilers for Eleanor the Great.
Source: Sony Pictures Classics
Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut Eleanor the Great is equal parts heart-wrenching and heartwarming. On paper, Tory Kamen’s script might seem like a tough sell. The premise alone could raise eyebrows or even appall some viewers, but it is handled with remarkable sensitivity and sincerity. Thanks to Johansson’s gentle direction and June Squibb’s multifaceted performance, the story comes to life in a way that feels surprisingly sincere, unexpectedly funny, and deeply emotional.
As odd as the comparison may sound, Eleanor the Great feels like a blend of two other 2025 releases: James Sweeney’s Twinless and Tracie Laymon’s Bob Trevino Likes It. Like Twinless, it features support groups, explores coping with grief, and shows how secrets can spiral out of control. Like Bob Trevino Likes It, it is a tender story about an unlikely friendship between two lost souls from different generations. And much like Bob Trevino Likes It, some audiences might find Eleanor the Great to be too uneven, saccharine, or melodramatic. For those who connect with it, however, Eleanor the Great is a poignant and powerful experience.
Source: Sony Pictures Classics
Squibb is the heart of the film, and it never would have worked without her. She brings a playful charisma and flawless comedic timing that hooks viewers from the start. Her rapport with Rita Zohar’s Bessie feels effortlessly real, like banter between lifelong friends. So when the inciting incident hits and Bessie passes away, we feel that loss alongside Eleanor and want to see how she navigates life without her other half.
There are countless movies where a lie or misunderstanding spirals out of control, leaving the audience cringing with secondhand embarrassment. Because of that, it is probably inevitable some will compare this film to Dear Evan Hansen. But Eleanor the Great succeeds where that film falters. It is easy to empathize with Eleanor’s mistake and see where she is coming from, as someone desperate to honor her best friend’s memory. The conflict is messy yet understandable, which keeps the story compelling throughout.
Source: Sony Pictures Classics
Erin Kellyman is fantastic as Nina, a young journalism major who befriends Eleanor while grappling with an insurmountable loss of her own. Kamen’s script gives every actor a chance to shine, including Chiwetel Ejiofor, who delivers a tearjerking monologue in his brief role as Nina’s father. Johansson’s choice to bookend the film with mirrored shots is also a lovely touch.
Ultimately, Eleanor the Great examines the many complex ways we mourn and process grief. It demonstrates how grief can sometimes bring out the worst in us, making us lie, shut people out, or act selfishly because we do not know how else to cope. Yet at its core, it is a tender, touching portrait of friendship, and a reminder that healing often begins when we allow ourselves to be vulnerable and let others back in.
Eleanor the Great hits theaters on September 26, 2025.
