Blue Moon is a 2025 American biographical comedy-drama film directed by Richard Linklater and written by Robert Kaplow, reportedly inspired by the letters of Elizabeth Weiland to Lorenz Hart. The film stars Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley, Bobby Cannavale and Andrew Scott. Its plot follows Hart as he reflects on himself on the opening night of Oklahoma!, a new musical by his former colleague Richard Rodgers.
Blue Moon had its world premiere at the main competition of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival on February 18, 2025, where it won the Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance for Scott.[4] At the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, it was nominated for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Actor for Hawke. At the 98th Academy Awards, Kaplow was nominated for Best Original Screenplay and Hawke for Best Actor.[5]
It was theatrically released in the United States by Sony Pictures Classics on October 17, 2025, and received positive reviews from critics.
Plot
On March 31, 1943, Lorenz Hart slips away from the opening night of Oklahoma!, the new hit Broadway musical his former creative partner Richard Rodgers has written with Oscar Hammerstein II. Hart arrives at Sardi's restaurant, where preparations are underway for the opening night celebration.
The talkative, cynical, and newly sober Hart holds court with the bartender Eddie, who tries not to serve him liquor, and enlisted sergeant piano player Morty who is on leave. They commiserate with Hart as he complains about the sensational success of Oklahoma!, which he declined to write, and the state of his own career. Declaring himself "omnisexual", Hart attempts to flirt with a flower delivery boy, and reveals his infatuation with Elizabeth Weiland,[6] a Yale art student and aspiring production designer. After months of correspondence and an unconsummated weekend with the 20-year-old Elizabeth, 47-year-old Hart believes this is the night to fully win her love.
Elizabeth arrives for the party, where Hart plans to shower her with gifts and even a card trick. Meanwhile, he recognizes E. B. White sitting nearby, and seeks out his opinions as a fellow writer, who reveals that he's working on a first novel, for children. Later, Hart intrigues White with the story of a mouse who keeps coming back to his 19th floor apartment. White asks if he'd named the mouse and Hart comes up with "Stuart," White even wanting to know if that's with a 'u' or a 'w', thus suggesting that the famed lyricist also inspired a famous title character's name.
Arriving with Hammerstein and a crowd of well-wishers, Rodgers pulls Hart aside to suggest collaborating again on a revival of one of their earlier shows. Hart pitches his idea for a grand musical about Marco Polo, but his struggles with alcohol and depression have strained their songwriting partnership of over twenty years. In the restroom, Hart tells Morty the story of his failed proposal to his former muse, who did not love him or at least "not that way".
As rave reviews pour in for Oklahoma!, Hart tries to congratulate Rodgers, who knows him too well not to recognize his disdain for the show. Despite their friendship, Rodgers remains wary of his old partner's drinking and unreliable ways, as it becomes clear that Hart's new idea is fueled by his unrequited feelings for Elizabeth. Finding comfort with Eddie in their mutual love of Casablanca, Hart signs an autograph for Elizabeth's friend, an aspiring director. Hart swallows his jealousy to congratulate Hammerstein, who is planning another musical with Rodgers and introduces his critical young protégé.
Hart pulls Elizabeth into the coat room for more intimate conversation, as she confides in him about her trysts with a fellow student. Hart is heartbroken to hear that even though the boy has abandoned her, Elizabeth is hopelessly smitten. She explains that she loves Hart, but "not that way", and he is further hurt when she mentions his semi-closeted reputation. As promised, Hart introduces Elizabeth to his former partner, but is dismayed when Rodgers gives her his private number and whisks her away to his own party.
The lonely Hart prepares to leave as Morty plays one of his greatest hits, but stays for a drink with Eddie as the staff close the restaurant, regaling them with yet another of his stories. Seven months later, Hart drunkenly collapses in the street and dies a few days later in hospital, while Rodgers and Hammerstein go on to become Broadway's greatest partnership.
Cast
- Ethan Hawke as Lorenz Hart
- Margaret Qualley as Elizabeth Weiland
- Bobby Cannavale as Eddie
- Andrew Scott as Richard Rodgers
- Jonah Lees as Morty Rifkin
- Simon Delaney as Oscar Hammerstein II
- Cillian Sullivan as Stephen Sondheim
- Patrick Kennedy as E. B. White
- John Doran as Weegee
- Anne Brogan as Frieda Hart
- David Rawle as George Roy Hill
Production
A biopic of songwriter Lorenz Hart written by Robert Kaplow was reported in June 2024 with Richard Linklater attached as director and producer, alongside John Sloss.[7] Later that month, Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley, Bobby Cannavale and Andrew Scott joined the cast and Sony Pictures Classics were reported to have acquired worldwide distribution rights in addition to joining the project as co-financier.[8] Linklater and Hawke had discussed making the film together in the previous decade but Linklater felt Hawke was not old enough at that time, with Linklater saying in 2025 that he had worked on the film for twelve years. For the role, Hawke shaved his head for Hart's comb-over to be placed on top. To demonstrate Hart's diminutive stature compared to Hawke, the production used what Hawke described as "old stagecraft".[9][10]
"Rick [Linklater] would say: I need you got to have more lines in your face. I'm like: We'll fake it. He said, No, we won't fake anything. We'll wait. He's so patient. He could have just went and hired a different actor or whatever. But he didn't. He just waited."[9]
Principal photography took place over 15 days on a soundstage in Dublin, Ireland.[11][12] Regular Linklater collaborator Graham Reynolds composed the score.[13]
Release and reception
Blue Moon premiered at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival on February 18, 2025.[14] The film was released in a limited theatrical release on October 17, 2025, before a wide release on October 24.[15][16]
It was screened in the Icon section of the 2025 Stockholm International Film Festival on November 9, 2025.[17]
Box office
The film made $554,321 on its first wide release weekend at the United States and Canada box office.[18]
Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 90% of 199 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "While not the flashiest Richard Linklater film, Blue Moon boasts a wonderful performance by Ethan Hawke as he embodies a man hanging on by a thread while the audience hangs on to every word said."[19] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 78 out of 100, based on 42 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[20]
Peter Bradshaw in The Guardian reserved particular praise for Ethan Hawke, noting he gives a "terrific performance." Bradshaw awarded the film four stars out of five.[21] Tara Brady of The Irish Times gave the film an unremarkable review stating: "Blue Moon features a luminous ensemble and arguably a career-high performance from Ethan Hawke, yet it’s hobbled by an aesthetic gamble so distracting, so patently absurd, that it nearly sinks the enterprise."[22]
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