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Late Fame

Play trailer 2:22 Poster for Late Fame Now Playing 1h 36m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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91% Tomatometer 54 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Ratings
Ed Saxberger, a forgotten New York poet, works in the post office. After an eager and flattering young admirer appears on his doorstep, Saxberger is beckoned into a coterie of twentysomething admirers who anoint him as a rediscovered genius. Intoxicated by the attention -- and by the alluring presence of Gloria, the group's "tragic heroine" -- Saxberger gradually reckons with the authenticity of his newfound poetic circle. This thoughtful, witty film is a wistful yet unromantic look at a lost idea of downtown New York.
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Late Fame

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Critics Consensus

A gentle rumination on art and authenticity, Late Fame's wistful narrative is made lively by Willem Dafoe and Greta Lee's wonderfully complementary performances.

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Justin Chang The New Yorker 2d
The poetry of this movie, in short, is in Dafoe, who gives his finest performance in years -- a long trek from bliss to despair to disillusionment, and finally to the odd contentment and consolation that disillusionment often brings. Go to Full Review Stephanie Zacharek TIME Magazine 4d
Lee’s performance may be the secret key to Late Fame. Gloria is a user, a poseur extraordinaire; her fluttery flamboyance, rooted in insecurity, summons another Gloria, the one from Sunset Blvd. Go to Full Review Peter Travers The Travers Take 5d
3.5/4
Willem Dafoe gives a master class in acting as a forgotten poet who is rediscovered by Gen Z but can’t discover the mind and heart to find himself. Go to Full Review Murjani Rawls Substream Magazine 4d
Ed Saxberger, like other poets, not only chronicled the taste and architecture of the time but also encased it in metaphors that speak beautifully to something we yearn for. It’s better than any amount of praise or the feel of stepping on a red carpet. Go to Full Review Rich Cline Shadows on the Wall 4d
4/5
Director Kent Jones, writer Samy Burch and a terrific ensemble bring colourful characters to life, anchored by a beautiful performance from Willem Dafoe as a man who, like pretty much everyone, has forgotten who he used to be. Go to Full Review Aaron Guttenplan MovieJawn 4d
Ultimately, Late Fame is pleasant enough, yet it lacks the zing of a social satire or the depth of an intricate drama, instead treating the subject of literary rediscovery with a light touch. Go to Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Kent Jones

Director

Willem Dafoe

Actor

Greta Lee

Actor

Edmund Donovan

Actor

Tony Torn

Actor

Jake Lacy

Actor
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Late Fame

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Movie Info

Synopsis Ed Saxberger, a forgotten New York poet, works in the post office. After an eager and flattering young admirer appears on his doorstep, Saxberger is beckoned into a coterie of twentysomething admirers who anoint him as a rediscovered genius. Intoxicated by the attention -- and by the alluring presence of Gloria, the group's "tragic heroine" -- Saxberger gradually reckons with the authenticity of his newfound poetic circle. This thoughtful, witty film is a wistful yet unromantic look at a lost idea of downtown New York.
Director
Kent Jones
Producer
Pamela Koffler, Mason Plotts, Christine Vachon, Danny Roberts, H.S. Naji, Jackie Langelier, Taylor Shung, Ethan Lazar
Screenwriter
Samy Burch
Distributor
Magnolia Pictures
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 7, 2026, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA)
$41.3K
Runtime
1h 36m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.66:1)
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