Is This Thing On?

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Is This Thing On?

R

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2h 4m

Comedy

Drama

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Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

161 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

500+ Verified Ratings

As their marriage quietly unravels, Alex (Will Arnett) faces middle age and an impending divorce, seeking new purpose in the New York comedy scene while Tess (Laura Dern) confronts the sacrifices she made for their family--forcing them to navigate co-parenting, identity, and whether love can take a new form.

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Critics Consensus

Mining sly humor from its mature portrait of a failing marriage, Is This Thing On? is another terrific relationship study from Bradley Cooper and an ideal platform for Will Arnett's dramatic chops.

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Katherine McLaughlin

Little White Lies

2h

4/5

Cooper’s kinetic camerawork and Matthew Libatique’s dynamic cinematography mirrors the exhausting balancing act of middle age perfectly fine without having to spell it out for the audience.

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David Sims

The Atlantic

Jan 14

The tone reminded me most of the work of Cameron Crowe... Nobody could lob a sincere, big-feelings dramedy over the plate better than Crowe. Is This Thing On?, in its strongest moments, brushes against those heights.

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Katie Walsh

Tribune News Service

Jan 14

2.5/4

The best thing about the movie is Cooper showcasing this great performance from Arnett, who shines under the spotlight.

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Philip Concannon

The Skinny

1d

3/5

Often perceptive and heartfelt as a portrait of a marriage in a rut, and a refreshing change of pace for its director.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

1d

4/5

…Is THis Thing On? is an original, often striking character piece from director Bradley Cooper about a man who takes to the stage with gags about his divorce…thought-provoking, enlightening and sometimes achingly funny…

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Matt Pais

MattPais.com

5d

B+

A funny, mildly challenging and darkly uplifting movie containing both recline and hunger, sudden clarity and total cognitive messiness, great scenes and ideas more complicated than they may seem.

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Sally

3d

It was mediocre, did touch on real life divorce stories, but this one had a happy ending.

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Ricky S

4d

Overall a great movie, have some nitpicks I don’t feel like typing out and ofc it didn’t ruin the movie for me and it went by surprisingly fast for a 2 hour movie

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Krystal

4d

This movie, in my opinion, is a sleeper. I would recommend sleeping in on this movie. Get some comfortable sitting, like a nice reclined seat, eat your popcorn first and then go and take a nice nap and wake up maybe from time to time to see when its over. I definitely do not recommend spending your money on this one.

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Melissa

5d

Amazing movie ~ real life stuff, authentic characters. All the actors were just awesome!!

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Jimmy S

5d

Just a great movie about real life!

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Jill S

6d

Loved this film! Bravo to Will Arnett and Bradley Cooper!

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Bradley Cooper

Director

Will Arnett

Alex Novak

Laura Dern

Tess Novak

Andra Day

Actor

Bradley Cooper

Actor

Amy Sedaris

Actor

Is This Thing On?: Movie Clip - In Love With Stand-Up

0:53

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Awards Leaderboard: Best Movies of 2025

Will Arnett on Stand-Up Comedy, Is This Thing On?, and Career Reflections

Will Arnett on Stand-Up Comedy, ‘Is This Thing On?,’ and Career Reflections

18:43

Is This Thing On?: Exclusive Featurette - Behind the Mic

3:09

Is This Thing On?: Trailer 1

2:23

Is This Thing On?: Teaser Trailer

2:13

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Synopsis

As their marriage quietly unravels, Alex (Will Arnett) faces middle age and an impending divorce, seeking new purpose in the New York comedy scene while Tess (Laura Dern) confronts the sacrifices she made for their family--forcing them to navigate co-parenting, identity, and whether love can take a new form.

Director: Bradley Cooper
Producer: Bradley Cooper, Weston Middleton, Will Arnett, Kris Thykier
Screenwriter: Will Arnett, Mark Chappell, Bradley Cooper
Distributor: Searchlight Pictures
Production Co: Archery Pictures, Lea Pictures
Rating: R (Language Throughout|Some Drug Use|Sexual References)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 9, 2026, Wide
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.6M
Runtime: 2h 4m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.66:1)