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Comedy drama

Ella McCay (2025): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Ella McCay (2025) movie poster

Ella McCay is a 2025 comedy drama directed by James L. Brooks, starring Jamie Lee Curtis as Helen McCay, Emma Mackey and Woody Harrelson. It runs 1 hour 55 minutes and earned $4.6 million worldwide on a $35 million budget. Critics gave it 23% on Rotten Tomatoes and 39 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.2/10.

IMDb rating
5.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes
23%
worldwide gross
$4.6M
Echo Score
50
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Ella McCay (2025) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 55m (115 min)
Director
James L. Brooks
Genres
Comedy , Drama
Original language
English
Budget
$35M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Ella McCay About?

The premise of Ella McCay without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A new comedy from 20th Century Studios, written and directed by Oscar® and Emmy Award® winner James L. Brooks—known for As Good as It Gets, Terms of Endearment, Broadcast News and The Simpsons—explores the tangled politics that surface when a young woman’s demanding career collides with her chaotic family life.

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Cast & crew

Ella McCay Cast & Characters

Jamie Lee Curtis leads the cast as Helen McCay, with Emma Mackey as Ella McCay and Woody Harrelson as Eddie McCay. Directed by James L. Brooks; 20 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from James L. Brooks

One more film directed by James L. Brooks: I’ll Do Anything.

Full filmography
Ratings

Ella McCay Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Ella McCay 23% on Rotten Tomatoes and 39 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.2/10. Our Echo Score gives it 50/100, strongest in character & emotion (60) and weakest in art & craft (38).

50 /100

Ella McCay Echo Score Breakdown

The film presents a blend of commendable performances and an ambitious premise, but its execution suffers from scattered storytelling and uneven craftsmanship. Critics note the lead’s strong acting yet criticize the script’s lack of focus, while audience reactions range from enthusiastic endorsement of the cast to disappointment over its convoluted plot. Visual and auditory elements receive modest acknowledgment without strong praise. Consequently, the movie offers occasional engaging moments but remains hindered by structural and tonal inconsistencies.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 38

    Artistic execution is uneven, with moments of visual competence undermined by inconsistent direction and editing. Critics describe the style as bland and serviceable, while users cite editing issues and a lack of cohesive visual tone. The overall craftsmanship falls short of supporting the film’s ambitions.

  • Character & Emotion 60

    Character work stands out as the film’s strongest element, bolstered by a talented ensemble cast. Reviews praise the lead’s nuanced performance and the chemistry among supporting actors, although some viewers find certain roles overblown or caricatured. Overall, the portrayals convey genuine emotion, even when the surrounding narrative falters.

  • Story & Flow 48

    The narrative suffers from overextension, juggling numerous subplots that dilute focus and momentum. Critics and users alike highlight the script’s meandering pace and unclear tonal direction, describing the story as messy and hard to follow. While occasional scenes engage, the lack of a unifying thread hampers overall coherence and audience investment.

  • Sensory Experience 50

    Auditory and visual design receive modest acknowledgment but lack distinction. Observers note a serviceable color palette and adequate sound mixing, yet few cite memorable score or striking cinematography. The sensory component functions competently without elevating the film’s overall impact significantly.

  • Rewatch Factor 55

    Rewatch potential is limited by the film’s structural flaws, though its witty moments and strong performances may reward occasional viewings. Some audience members express enthusiasm for revisiting the comedy elements, whereas others anticipate the movie fading from memory. Overall, repeat enjoyment is modest and contingent on personal taste.

Plot

Ella McCay Plot Summary

What happens in Ella McCay from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In 2008, Ella McCay, the lieutenant governor of an unnamed state, is informed by her mentor, Albert Brooks Bill Moore, that he is stepping into a cabinet post in the forthcoming presidential administration. Moore resigns immediately, leaving Ella to assume the governorship for the remaining fourteen months of his tenure. From the start, Ella is portrayed as ambitious and idealistic, eager to push bold ideas, but she is not beloved within her party because her speeches are long and her proactive, hands-on approach can feel combative to some colleagues.

Full summary

The whole story of Ella McCay, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Ella McCay Box Office & Budget

Ella McCay grossed $4.6 million worldwide on a $35 million budget, 13% of what it cost. $4 million came from the US and Canada and $535,403 (12%) from the rest of the world.

2025 box office

Worldwide gross

$4.6M

13% of its budget back

US & Canada
$4M
International
$535.4K
Budget
$35M
US & Canada 88% Rest of the world 12%
Videos

Ella McCay Trailers & Videos

34 videos: 2 trailers, 18 teasers, 4 clips, 9 featurettes and 1 behind-the-scenes video.

All 34 videos
Official Trailer
  • Trailer Official Trailer
  • Teaser From Academy Award winning writer/director James L. Brooks Comes Ella McCay
  • Teaser Full Trailer Online Now
  • Teaser It's a tale of the ties that bind us, the people we can count on, and the ones we can't.
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Ella McCay?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Which actor portrays Ella McCay's estranged father, Eddie McCay?

Details

Ella McCay Also Known As

8 alternative titles, including “Imperfeitamente Perfeita” and “엘라 맥케이”.

Also known as
  • Imperfeitamente Perfeita
  • 엘라 맥케이
  • Елла МакКей
  • Ella McCay: Imperfectamente perfecta
  • אלה מקיי
  • เอลล่า แมคเคย์
  • Ella McCay - Perfettamente imperfetta
  • 政坛新星

Seen Ella McCay?

FAQ

Ella McCay FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Ella McCay, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Ella McCay?

Ella McCay runs 1 hour 55 minutes (115 minutes).

When was Ella McCay released?

Ella McCay was released on December 12, 2025.

Who directed Ella McCay?

Ella McCay was directed by James L. Brooks.

More films by James L. Brooks

Who is in the cast of Ella McCay?

Ella McCay stars Jamie Lee Curtis as Helen McCay, Emma Mackey as Ella McCay and Woody Harrelson as Eddie McCay, among 20 credited actors.

How much did Ella McCay make at the box office?

Ella McCay grossed $4.6 million worldwide ($4 million domestic, $535,403 international) on a budget of $35 million.

How is Ella McCay rated?

Ella McCay has 5.2/10 on IMDb, 23% on Rotten Tomatoes, 39 on Metacritic and 55% on TMDB.

Does Ella McCay have a post-credit scene?

No. Ella McCay has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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