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Comedy drama

This Is the Night (2021): Cast & Ratings

This Is the Night (2021) movie poster

This Is the Night is a 2021 comedy drama directed by James DeMonaco, starring Naomi Watts as Marie Dedea, Frank Grillo and Madelyn Cline. It runs 1 hour 47 minutes and was made on a reported $10 million budget. Critics gave it 14% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 5.5/10.

IMDb rating
5.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes
14%
Echo Score
50
budget
$10M
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This Is the Night (2021) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 47m (107 min)
Director
James DeMonaco
Genres
Drama , Comedy
Original language
English
Budget
$10M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is This Is the Night About?

The premise of This Is the Night without spoilers.

In 1982, a close-knit Italian-American family on Staten Island anticipates the premiere of a highly anticipated boxing movie. As the community celebrates, the family confronts unexpected challenges that test their bonds and force them to re-evaluate their priorities. They learn to cherish each moment and appreciate the importance of family amidst the excitement and uncertainty surrounding them.

This Is the Night Themes & Keywords

· 14 tags
  • gay
  • boy boy kiss
  • gay kiss
  • gay interest
  • summer
  • travesty
  • swimming pool
  • close up of eyes
  • teenager
  • year 1982
  • coming of age
  • teenage boy
+2 more
  • 1980s
  • boy girl kiss
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Cast & crew

This Is the Night Cast & Characters

Naomi Watts leads the cast as Marie Dedea, with Frank Grillo as Vincent Dedea and Madelyn Cline as Sophia Larocca. Directed by James DeMonaco; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in This Is the Night

· 6 more
From the director

More from James DeMonaco

More films directed by James DeMonaco, best-rated first: The Purge: Anarchy, The Purge: Election Year, The Purge and The Home.

Full filmography
Ratings

This Is the Night Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave This Is the Night 14% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 5.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 50/100, strongest in character & emotion (60) and weakest in art & craft (38).

50 /100

This Is the Night Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, This Is the Night delivers a mixed impression that leans toward disappointment. Critics uniformly condemn the film's direction, pacing, and tonal consistency, describing it as a misfire and generic, while several viewers highlight moments of sincere sentiment and occasional strong performances. Audience reactions diverge, with some praising the ensemble acting and nostalgic backdrop, yet many note a disjointed narrative and uneven execution. Consequently, the film offers limited lasting appeal despite isolated strengths.

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

  • Art & Craft 38

    In terms of art and craft, the film struggles with direction and overall execution. Critics repeatedly label the direction as stale, generic, and a misfire, while a few viewers acknowledge the director's effort to juggle multiple storylines. The consensus points to uneven editing and uninspired visual choices, resulting in a weaker technical foundation that undercuts the movie's ambitions.

  • Character & Emotion 60

    When it comes to character and emotion, performances generate the most praise. Numerous users commend Jonah Hauer-King, Naomi Watts, Frank Grillo, and Method Man for delivering solid, heartfelt portrayals, and some note strong chemistry among the cast. Critics, however, find the characters unconvincing and the acting occasionally overwrought. The balance of positive audience feedback against critical reservations yields a moderately favorable character assessment.

  • Story & Flow 45

    Story and flow are viewed as the film's weakest element. Critics describe the plot as exhausting, disjointed, and riddled with contrived conclusions, while viewers point to a confusing, generic teenage comedy structure. A handful of audience members appreciate the nostalgic premise and coming-of-age beats, yet the prevailing sentiment highlights pacing issues and a lack of coherent narrative drive.

  • Sensory Experience 50

    Sensory experience receives a neutral appraisal due to limited commentary. Neither critics nor users frequently mention the soundtrack, sound design, or visual style, leaving the assessment to hinge on indirect references to direction and visual cohesion. The modest score reflects an absence of strong praise or criticism, suggesting the sensory components neither elevate nor detract significantly from the overall film.

  • Rewatch Factor 55

    Rewatch factor shows slight optimism among some audience members. Several users report watching the film multiple times and cite its nostalgic, feel‑good moments as reasons to revisit. Conversely, critics argue the material lacks depth and replay value. The mixed but gently positive audience sentiment pushes the rewatch score just above average.

Videos

This Is the Night Trailers & Videos

The trailer of This Is the Night.

This is the Night - Official Trailer

Seen This Is the Night?

FAQ

This Is the Night FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, budget, ratings and post-credit scenes of This Is the Night, each answered in a sentence.

How long is This Is the Night?

This Is the Night runs 1 hour 47 minutes (107 minutes).

When was This Is the Night released?

This Is the Night was released on September 17, 2021.

Who directed This Is the Night?

This Is the Night was directed by James DeMonaco.

More films by James DeMonaco

Who is in the cast of This Is the Night?

This Is the Night stars Naomi Watts as Marie Dedea, Frank Grillo as Vincent Dedea and Madelyn Cline as Sophia Larocca, among 10 credited actors.

What was the budget of This Is the Night?

This Is the Night had a reported budget of $10 million.

How is This Is the Night rated?

This Is the Night has 5.5/10 on IMDb, 14% on Rotten Tomatoes, 56% on TMDB and 3.4/5 on Letterboxd.

Does This Is the Night have a post-credit scene?

No. This Is the Night has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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