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You've seen the silver hair, the Nespresso commercials, and that signature smirk. But in Jay Kelly, George Clooney’s latest film, he’s doing something weirdly personal. He plays Jay Kelly, a mega-famous movie star. Sound familiar? It’s basically Clooney playing a version of Clooney, and honestly, it’s the most vulnerable he’s looked on screen in years.
Directed by Noah Baumbach, this isn't some glossy Hollywood puff piece. It’s a messy, funny, and kinda heartbreaking look at what happens when the cameras stop rolling and you realize your family barely knows you.
What Jay Kelly Is Actually About
The movie kicked off its life at the Venice Film Festival in August 2025, and by the time it hit Netflix on December 5, 2025, people were already calling it a career-best for both Clooney and his co-star, Adam Sandler.
Here is the gist of the plot. Jay Kelly (Clooney) is a guy who has everything—fame, money, a massive legacy. But he’s also a bit of a disaster. After a literal fistfight in a parking lot with an old acting buddy (played by Billy Crudup), Jay decides to ditch his latest project and chase his youngest daughter, Daisy, across Europe.
He’s not invited. He’s basically stalking her through Italy and France because he’s terrified of being alone.
It’s a "coming-of-age" story for a man who is already 64 years old.
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The Adam Sandler Factor
We need to talk about Adam Sandler as Ron Sukenick. He plays Jay’s manager, and if you liked him in Uncut Gems, you’ll love him here. He’s not doing the "funny voice" thing. He’s playing a guy who has spent his entire life cleaning up Jay’s messes while his own life falls apart.
The chemistry between these two is the heart of the movie. They feel like brothers who have spent too much time in hotel rooms together. At one point, Ron realizes he’s losing his other clients because he’s so obsessed with Jay’s mid-life crisis. It’s brutal to watch.
Why People Are Obsessed With the "Fistfight" Scene
There is this one scene everyone is talking about. Jay meets up with Timothy Galligan (Billy Crudup). Timothy was Jay’s best friend in acting school, but while Jay became a global icon, Timothy ended up bitter and forgotten.
They end up brawling. It’s not a "cool" movie fight. It’s two middle-aged men swinging wildly and looking pathetic. Clooney actually said in an interview with Variety that he was "surprised" by how Baumbach shot it—it was kept a bit of a secret from him to get a real reaction. It’s the moment Jay realizes he’s not the hero of everyone’s story. In fact, to some people, he’s the villain.
A Massive Ensemble Cast
Baumbach always gets the best actors, and Jay Kelly is stacked. You’ve got:
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- Laura Dern as Liz, the publicist who is constantly on her phone trying to kill a viral video of Jay’s parking lot fight.
- Riley Keough as Jay’s eldest daughter, who basically hates him for cheating on her mother years ago.
- Stacy Keach as Jay’s father, an old-school guy who Jay tries to reconnect with in Tuscany.
- Greta Gerwig makes a cameo as Ron’s wife.
The movie feels like a family reunion where everyone is slightly annoyed with each other.
The 2026 Awards Season Buzz
As we sit here in early 2026, the movie is cleaning up. George Clooney just won Best Actor at the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards on January 10, 2026. He beat out Leonardo DiCaprio and Ethan Hawke.
People love seeing "Old George" lean into his age. He’s not trying to be Batman or Danny Ocean here. He’s playing a guy who needs reading glasses and doesn't know how to talk to his kids.
Is There More Clooney on the Horizon?
If Jay Kelly is too "indie" for you, don't worry. The big rumors are true. Clooney confirmed that Ocean’s 14 is actually happening.
The script is done. Warner Bros. approved the budget. They are looking to start filming in late 2026, provided they can get Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Julia Roberts in the same room at the same time. Clooney joked that they’re all "too old" now, but the script is apparently a "Going in Style" type of vibe.
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What You Should Do Now
If you haven't watched Jay Kelly yet, go to Netflix. It’s 132 minutes, and while the first half is a bit slow, the ending in Tuscany is incredibly moving.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch the "Young Jay" flashbacks: Keep an eye out for Charlie Rowe and Louis Partridge. They play the younger versions of Clooney and Crudup, and the casting is freakishly good.
- Check out the soundtrack: Nicholas Britell did the music, and it’s gorgeous. It captures that "lonely in a crowded room" feeling perfectly.
- Wait for the Oscars: The nominations are coming up, and most experts expect Clooney, Sandler, and Baumbach to be all over the ballot.
Honestly, Jay Kelly is the most "human" movie Clooney has made in a decade. It’s worth the two hours just to see him get punched in a parking lot.
To get the most out of the film, pay close attention to the scenes between Jay and his manager Ron in the second act. The dialogue there is where Baumbach's writing really shines, stripping away the celebrity facade to show the codependency that keeps these two men tethered to each other. Once you've finished the movie, look up the Venice Film Festival interviews from late 2025; they provide a lot of context on how much of the script was inspired by Clooney’s real-life experiences with fame.