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Peter Hujar's Day

Play trailer 1:55 Poster for Peter Hujar's Day 2025 1h 16m Biography Drama History Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
92% Tomatometer 96 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
A film adaptation of the book, Peter Hujar's Day, by Linda Rosenkrantz. It invites audiences into a single day in 1974 with groundbreaking queer photographer Peter Hujar. Set entirely in one room, the film re-creates the conversation between Hujar and Rosenkrantz, recorded on audio tape nearly fifty years ago and later published as a book. Through their freewheeling, intimate exchange, Hujar shares vivid stories of his interactions with literary and cultural icons like William Burroughs, Candy Darling, Susan Sontag and Allen Ginsberg, while also reflecting on the rhythms of everyday life in 1970s New York.
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Peter Hujar's Day

Peter Hujar's Day

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Critics Consensus

Confined to a limited setting, Peter Hujar's Day proves surprisingly expansive as director Ira Sachs insightfully captures the repartee between Rebecca Hall and Ben Whishaw at the top of their game.

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Critics Reviews

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Miriam Balanescu Empire Magazine Jan 14
4/5
Paying fitting tribute to a photography legend, this slice-of-life film is a delectable treat, with among the best marriages of the ordinary and the transcendent since Perfect Days.  Go to Full Review
Luke Hicks Little White Lies Jan 9
5/5
It’s Sachs’ best film yet. Go to Full Review
Tara Brady Irish Times Jan 2
4/5
Whishaw’s performance is a theatrical masterclass in controlled ramble; Hall’s is the art of listening, with responses that range from concern to a slightly cocked head. Go to Full Review
Eilidh Akilade The Skinny Jan 5
5/5
Peter Hujar’s Day is an exercise in listening, and it is a joy to practice with Rosenkrantz. Go to Full Review
Jack Martin Film Feeder Jan 4
3/5
It’s an interesting flow that the filmmaker has opted for here, one that seems to be part-docudrama mixed with arthouse tendencies which creates a peculiar vibe where you’re drawn into its style more than the actual substance. Go to Full Review
Markie Robson-Scott The Arts Desk Jan 2
4/5
It’s an elegant, unusual film... Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Patrick C Dec 7 I bought the ticket two days in advance and promptly FORGOT ALL ABOUT it until 530 on Sunday afternoon - a half hour after it started. That was a waste of money / a donation to the Roxie Theater for nothing. I still want to see the damn movie. See more Vincent S @Vin_E_At_The_Movies 6h Boring, self-indulgent, not interesting at all. Why do I need to hear these two dull, arrogant people drone on for a lethargic 90 minutes? See more Tim O 2d I found it hard to maintain interest and engagement with this film which portrays the interview between the photographer and his friend during which he recounts the details of a day in his life. While the film is well-acted, the day described was pretty dull and the scenes were almost exclusively shots of either (or both) actors in a New York flat. Consequently it was difficult to maintain an interest in either the dialogue or the filming, both of which were worthy but dull and monotonous. The idea might have supported a decent 15 minute short film for a trainee director, but ran out of legs and invention well before the final credits provided welcome relief. See more Karo A @Karosza13 Jan 4 I struggled to watch this movie. It was the first time I actually left a cinema before a film ended. While I was looking forward to a slower pace, more focus, and genuinely discovering something deeper about Peter Hujar’s reality, I found the portrayal of his day came across as rather arrogant and pretentious. I couldn’t relate to his world at all. My irritation kept growing until I couldn’t contain it anymore. See more Howie B @Howie10 Jan 3 One of those unexpected international film festival treats you always hope for. Was unaware of the plot or anything really about this film, except it was starring Ben Whishaw. That was enough for me to purchase a ticket. How totally entertaining it was. Based on a super star photographer of his day, this ‘one day in the life of’ piece is utterly engrossing. Outstanding performance by Whishaw, an excellent script and brilliant piece of cinematography. See more Ethan R @Ethan.R98 Dec 9 it doesn’t just show a photographer’s life, but makes you feel the invisible pulse of 70s NYC: raw, creative, vulnerable. the city’s shadows feel alive. See more Read all reviews
Peter Hujar's Day

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Movie Info

Synopsis A film adaptation of the book, Peter Hujar's Day, by Linda Rosenkrantz. It invites audiences into a single day in 1974 with groundbreaking queer photographer Peter Hujar. Set entirely in one room, the film re-creates the conversation between Hujar and Rosenkrantz, recorded on audio tape nearly fifty years ago and later published as a book. Through their freewheeling, intimate exchange, Hujar shares vivid stories of his interactions with literary and cultural icons like William Burroughs, Candy Darling, Susan Sontag and Allen Ginsberg, while also reflecting on the rhythms of everyday life in 1970s New York.
Director
Ira Sachs
Producer
Jonah Disend, Jordan Drake
Screenwriter
Ira Sachs
Distributor
Janus Films
Production Co
One Two Films, Complementary Colors, Blink Productions
Genre
Biography, Drama, History
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 7, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 6, 2026
Box Office (Gross USA)
$256.4K
Runtime
1h 16m
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