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Biographical drama

Maestro (2023): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Maestro (2023) movie poster

Maestro is a 2023 biographical drama starring Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein, Sarah Silverman and Carey Mulligan. It runs 2 hours 9 minutes and earned $383,532 worldwide on a $80 million budget. It was nominated for 7 Oscars. Critics gave it 78% on Rotten Tomatoes and 77 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10.

IMDb rating
6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes
78%
worldwide gross
$383.5K
award nominations
28
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Maestro (2023) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 9m (129 min)
Genres
Biography , Drama , Music , Romance
Original language
English
Budget
$80M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Maestro About?

The premise of Maestro without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

The film chronicles the passionate and complex relationship between legendary composer Leonard Bernstein and his wife, Felicia Montealegre. Their story begins with a whirlwind romance in 1946 and follows them through decades of love, artistic collaboration, and personal challenges. The narrative explores the depths of their connection against the backdrop of Bernstein's extraordinary career and the evolution of American music.

Maestro Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • marriage
  • actress
  • cigarette smoking
  • gay kiss
  • gay
  • bisexual man
  • 1940s
  • love
  • composer
  • husband wife relationship
  • gay affair
  • adultery
+38 more
  • family relationships
  • jewish
  • gay interest
  • male female relationship
  • jealousy
  • complicated marriage
  • sitting back to back
  • new york city
  • bisexual male protagonist
  • bisexual protagonist
  • bisexual character
  • bisexual
  • lgbt
  • year 1946
  • based on real people
  • 20th century
  • song
  • humanitarian
  • parent
  • educator
  • author
  • directed by star
  • orchestra conductor
  • title at the end
  • co written by star
  • director plays a role in the movie
  • extramarital affair
  • unfaithfulness
  • infidelity
  • breast cancer
  • death
  • death of wife
  • reference to tallulah bankhead
  • reference to arthur laurents
  • reference to stephen sondheim
  • betty comden character
  • adolph green character
  • brother sister relationship
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Cast & crew

Maestro Cast & Characters

Bradley Cooper leads the cast as Leonard Bernstein, with Sarah Silverman as Shirley Bernstein and Carey Mulligan as Felicia Montealegre.

Also Starring in Maestro

· 15 more
Ratings

Maestro Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Maestro 78% on Rotten Tomatoes and 77 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 75/100, strongest in sensory experience (85) and weakest in rewatch factor (60).

75 /100

Maestro Echo Score Breakdown

Maestro demonstrates considerable strengths in its visual and auditory design alongside committed lead performances, but it is tempered by an uneven script that undercuts narrative momentum. The film’s celebration of Leonard Bernstein’s emotional journey resonates in its quieter, more intimate moments, yet some viewers find the overall structure diffuse. While the sensory and production elements often elevate the material, the balance between artistic flourishes and character focus wavers. Ultimately, Maestro leaves a moderately favorable impression as a thoughtfully crafted but narratively inconsistent biopic.

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

  • Art & Craft 80

    In terms of art and craft, Maestro features striking cinematography and ambitious production design. Critics noted its heady, bombastic sequences and inventive shifts from monochrome to vivid color, praising cohesive visual composition and measured editing. A few observers found some expressive flourishes feeling hollow or overly stylized. Overall, the film’s technical artistry generally succeeds in creating an engaging period atmosphere despite occasional excess.

  • Character & Emotion 75

    When it comes to character and emotion, Maestro is anchored by committed lead performances and palpable on-screen chemistry. Bradley Cooper’s immersive portrayal and Carey Mulligan’s nuanced presence earned frequent commendation, particularly in emotionally charged scenes. Some critics, however, felt character arcs remained underexplored or hollow. Overall, the film offers a solid emotional core driven by strong acting, even as certain personal dimensions feel insufficiently developed.

  • Story & Flow 60

    Regarding story and flow, Maestro presents a mixed narrative with uneven pacing and structural imbalances. Observers praised its moving later sections and intimate focus on Bernstein’s relationships, but many noted that the screenplay struggles to sustain momentum, with occasional digressions and unclear dialogue. While moments of genuine emotional engagement emerge, the overall plot coherence is disrupted by a diffuse approach. Net impression: the film’s highlights are notable yet undermined by narrative inconsistency.

  • Sensory Experience 85

    In terms of sensory experience, Maestro excels with an immersive soundtrack, dynamic sound design, and visually expressive style. Multiple reviewers highlighted the film’s lush orchestral score and exceptional audio transitions that mirror emotional states, alongside vivid production design and creative camera work. The cohesion between sound and imagery consistently enriches key sequences. Overall, the sensory presentation stands out as one of the film’s most compelling assets.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    Concerning rewatch factor, responses are divided on the film’s lasting appeal. Some viewers appreciate its aesthetic moments and emotional undercurrents, suggesting thoughtful visuals and performances invite repeat viewings. Others find the central narrative too diffuse and the tone occasionally pretentious, diminishing replay value. In summary, Maestro offers idiosyncratic qualities that may reward select audiences, but it may not sustain broad enthusiasm for multiple viewings.

Plot

Maestro Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Maestro from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The curtain rises on an elderly Leonard Bernstein, portrayed by Bradley Cooper, who is immersed in a reflective state as he plays a touching piece from his opera, A Quiet Place. As the camera crew captures this intimate moment, the melody fades, leaving Leonard lost in memories of his late wife, Felicia, brought to life by Carey Mulligan. He confides to the crew that there are times when silence brings her spirit very much to life, almost as if she is right there beside him.

Full summary

The whole story of Maestro, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Maestro Box Office & Budget

Maestro grossed $383,532 worldwide on a $80 million budget.

2023 box office

Worldwide gross

$383.5K

International
$383.5K
Budget
$80M
Awards

Maestro Awards & Nominations

Maestro was nominated for 7 Oscars. The 28 nominations come from 6 ceremonies, the most at the Critics' Choice 2024.

28 nominations6 ceremonies

Show all 6 ceremonies
Videos

Maestro Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Maestro.

Official Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Maestro?

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

Who plays the role of Leonard Bernstein in 'Maestro'?

Cars

Cars in Maestro

8 cars on screen, including the 1975 AMC Matador Station Wagon and the GMC TDH 4512.

All 8 cars
  • 1975 AMC Matador Station Wagon in Maestro 1975 AMC Matador Station Wagon Minor role
  • GMC TDH 4512 in Maestro GMC TDH 4512 Minor role
  • 1987 Jaguar XJ-SC XJ27 in Maestro 1987 Jaguar XJ-SC XJ27 Minor role
  • 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme in Maestro 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Minor role
Details

Maestro Also Known As

19 alternative titles, including “Bernstein” and “Rybernia”.

Also known as
  • Bernstein
  • Rybernia
  • 마에스트로
  • マエストロ: その音楽と愛と
  • 大师风华:真爱乐章
  • 音乐大师
  • Бърнстейн
  • Маэстро Бернстайн
  • 마에스트로 번스타인
  • Маестро
  • มาเอสโตร
  • המאסטרו
+7 more
  • قصة حب الموسيقار
  • 大師級愛情
  • 大師風華:真愛樂章
  • Ο Μαέστρος
  • उस्ताद
  • Maestro: Muzică și dragoste
  • مایسترو (استاد)

Seen Maestro?

FAQ

Maestro FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

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

How long is Maestro?

Maestro runs 2 hours 9 minutes (129 minutes).

When was Maestro released?

Maestro was released on November 22, 2023.

Who is in the cast of Maestro?

Maestro stars Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein, Sarah Silverman as Shirley Bernstein and Carey Mulligan as Felicia Montealegre, among 19 credited actors.

How much did Maestro make at the box office?

Maestro grossed $383,532 worldwide on a budget of $80 million.

How is Maestro rated?

Maestro has 6.5/10 on IMDb, 78% on Rotten Tomatoes, 77 on Metacritic and 65% on TMDB.

Was Maestro nominated for any awards?

Maestro received 28 nominations across 6 ceremonies.

Does Maestro have a post-credit scene?

No. Maestro has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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