X
  • 2009
  • PG-13
  • Freestyle Releasing
  • 1 h 54 m
  • 2009
  • PG-13
  • Freestyle Releasing
  • 1 h 54 m

Summary Based in real theatrical history, Me and Orson Welles is a romantic, coming-of-age story about a teenage actor who lucks into a role in "Julius Caesar" as it's being re-imagined by a brilliant, impetuous young director named Orson Welles at his newly-founded Mercury Theater in NYC, 1937. (Freestyle Releasing)

Directed By: Richard Linklater

Written By: Robert Kaplow, Holly Gent, Vincent Palmo Jr.

  • 2009
  • PG-13
  • Freestyle Releasing
  • 1 h 54 m
  • 2009
  • PG-13
  • Freestyle Releasing
  • 1 h 54 m

Me and Orson Welles

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 30 Critic Reviews
73
User Score Generally Favorable Based on 22 User Ratings
7.0
My Score
Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Where to Watch

Summary Based in real theatrical history, Me and Orson Welles is a romantic, coming-of-age story about a teenage actor who lucks into a role in "Julius Caesar" as it's being re-imagined by a brilliant, impetuous young director named Orson Welles at his newly-founded Mercury Theater in NYC, 1937. (Freestyle Releasing)

Directed By: Richard Linklater

Written By: Robert Kaplow, Holly Gent, Vincent Palmo Jr.

Where to Watch

Top Cast

View All
View All Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 30 Critic Reviews
73
87% Positive
26 Reviews
13% Mixed
4 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 30 Critic Reviews
73
87% Positive
26 Reviews
13% Mixed
4 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
100
Christian McKay who, as Orson Welles in Me and Orson Welles"gives what I believe is the most exact and uncanny screen portrayal of an historical figure, ever.
By Mick LaSalle FULL REVIEW
88
A real charmer, Me and Orson Welles is the work of a director who takes nostalgia, romantic possibility and the theater seriously, without being a pill about it.
By Michael Phillips FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 22 User Ratings
7.0
59% Positive
13 Ratings
36% Mixed
8 Ratings
5% Negative
1 Rating

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 22 User Ratings
7.0
59% Positive
13 Ratings
36% Mixed
8 Ratings
5% Negative
1 Rating

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
10
freeridearts
Mar 4, 2021
This is a great film. This is a great film. This is a great film. This is a great film.
Report
9
DukeJon
Apr 7, 2013
An enjoyable film packed full of great performances and interesting characters. Unfortunately Zac Efron, who plays the main character, is a very poor actor and he goes a long way in dragging the film down. If they had cast a better actor in his part this film would have been a lot better.
Report
75
In addition to McKay, Danes makes a sassy, sexy Sonja. And Efron more than gets by in his role as the sweet, plucky, starstruck newbie. It's a part that doesn't require much heavy lifting, though.
By Michael O'Sullivan FULL REVIEW
75
Designed primarily for those who are intrigued by theater, curious about Welles, or some combination of both.
By James Berardinelli FULL REVIEW
70
There are moments, especially when Welles is alternating between acting as Brutus and directing everyone else, that it’s possible to forget you’re watching an actor and really believe you’re beholding Orson Welles at work.
By Todd McCarthy FULL REVIEW
63
A lightweight but sincere coming-of-age story.
FULL REVIEW
50
Efron has yet to learn that smiling pretty is merely a component of acting, not its entirety. He makes for a supremely passive lead whose chemistry with Danes is nonexistent.
By Nathan Rabin FULL REVIEW
See All 30 Critic Reviews
9
cabrita
Aug 24, 2012
Once again Linklater proves that he can direct anything. This film is charming and entertaining. It works as a period piece, a biopic of orson welles and a coming of age story as well as a drama. Every aspect and genre in the film works extremely well. This film is made with so much skill it is astounding. Christian Mckay blew me away with his subtle nuances as Orson Welles. The only time the film kind of faltered for me was it's climax which is the play itself.
Report
8
Deathromp
Apr 1, 2011
The bone-deep understanding that your life is so utterly without meaning. That simply to survive you have to reinvent yourself. Because if people canâ
Report
6
CitizenCharlie
May 5, 2011
Who had the larger ego, Orson Welles or Julius Caesar? I have heard about the legendary Orson Welles ego and the film â
Report
6
Bairdo
Sep 22, 2010
Yeah yeah, "magic of the theater" and all that. Too much "Me" and not enough "Orson Welles". No offence to Zac Efron (look, I spelled his name right, there's no k in Zac), but.....yeah ok, a little bit of offence to Zac Efron. Not because of his acting, but because I yawned like I had two beers in me.
Report
See All 6 User Reviews

Details

 View All
Production Company CinemaNX, Isle of Man Film, Framestore, Hart-Lunsford Pictures, Detour Filmproduction, Fuzzy Bunny Films (I)
Release Date Nov 25, 2009
Duration 1 h 54 m
Rating PG-13
Genres
Tagline All's Fair in Love and Theater.
Website http://www.meandorsonwellesthemovie.com/
View All Details

Awards

Austin Film Critics Association
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
• 2 Nominations
Chlotrudis Awards
• 2 Nominations

Related Movies

Singin' in the Rain

99
Universal Acclaim

Playtime

99
Universal Acclaim

City Lights

99
Universal Acclaim

The Rules of the Game

99
Universal Acclaim

Pinocchio

99
Universal Acclaim

Some Like It Hot

98
Universal Acclaim

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

97
Universal Acclaim

American Graffiti

97
Universal Acclaim

Toy Story

96
Universal Acclaim

The Shop Around the Corner

96
Universal Acclaim

A Hard Day's Night

96
Universal Acclaim

Nashville

96
Universal Acclaim

The Philadelphia Story

96
Universal Acclaim

Ratatouille

96
Universal Acclaim

The Lady Eve

96
Universal Acclaim

Do Not Expect Too Much From the End of the World

95
Universal Acclaim

La Dolce Vita

95
Universal Acclaim

Inside Out

94
Universal Acclaim

Sideways

94
Universal Acclaim

Meet Me in St. Louis

94
Universal Acclaim

The Apartment

94
Universal Acclaim

Chimes at Midnight

94
Universal Acclaim

Related News

2024 Movie Release Calendar

2024 Movie Release Calendar

Jason Dietz

Find release dates for every movie coming to theaters, VOD, and streaming throughout 2024 and beyond, updated weekly.

  • movie
Every Zack Snyder Movie, Ranked

Every Zack Snyder Movie, Ranked

Nick Hyman

With the arrival of Zack Snyder's latest Rebel Moon chapter on Netflix, we rank every one of the director's films—from bad to, well, less bad—by Metascore.

  • movie
Every Guy Ritchie Movie, Ranked

Every Guy Ritchie Movie, Ranked

Nick Hyman

We rank every one of the British director's movies by Metascore, from his debut Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels to his brand new film, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.

  • movie
April Movie Preview (2024)

April Movie Preview (2024)

Keith Kimbell

The month ahead will bring new films from Alex Garland, Luca Guadagnino, Dev Patel, and more. To help you plan your moviegoing options, our editors have selected the most notable films releasing in April 2024, listed in alphabetical order.

  • movie
DVD/Blu-ray Releases: New & Upcoming

DVD/Blu-ray Releases: New & Upcoming

Jason Dietz

Find a list of new movie and TV releases on DVD and Blu-ray (updated weekly) as well as a calendar of upcoming releases on home video.

  • movie