When Harry Met Sally...

Name: When Harry Met Sally...
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Released: July 12, 1989
Duration: 96 min
Rating: 76
Cast: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan

1989

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 182 Ratings

See All

8.3

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8.3	Your Score
8.3	User Score Universal acclaim based on 182 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

When Harry Met Sally

Now Playing: When Harry Met Sally

Movie Details & Credits

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: July 12, 1989 | R

Starring: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan

Summary: Will sex ruin a perfect relationship between a man and a woman? That's what Harry (Crystal) and Sally (Ryan) debate during their travels from Chicago to New York. 11 years and 2,000 miles later, they're still no closer to finding the answer. And they've never ventured past their friendship to discover the love that's right in front of them.Will sex ruin a perfect relationship between a man and a woman? That's what Harry (Crystal) and Sally (Ryan) debate during their travels from Chicago to New York. 11 years and 2,000 miles later, they're still no closer to finding the answer. And they've never ventured past their friendship to discover the love that's right in front of them. Will these two best friends ever accept that they're meant for each other... or will they continue to deny the attraction that's existed since the first moment When Harry Met Sally? (MGM)… Expand

Director: Rob Reiner

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance

Rating: R

Runtime: 96 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Sheila Benson

The summer's uncorseted, unqualified delight. [14 July 1989, Calendar, p.6-1]

Richard Corliss

Like Harry and Sally, the movie is hardworking, spot on; it winepresses its conversation into epigrams. No surprise here.[31 July 1999, p.65]

James Berardinelli

Together, Crystal and Ryan really click. Even though their characters are polar opposites (or perhaps because of it), their interaction has a charm and warmth that most motion picture pairings lack. Read full review

Dave Kehr

From his long experience in television, [Reiner] has learned how to create characters with just enough depth to hold together but not so much that they become too individualized, too stubbornly complex. [12 July 1989, Tempo, p.1]

Roger Ebert

What makes it special, apart from the Ephron screenplay, is the chemistry between Crystal and Ryan. Read full review

David Sterritt

What he forgot to ask Woody [Allen] for was the keen insight into middle-class folkways that marks the best Allen pictures. [28 July 1989, Arts, p.10]

Caryn James

Like the sitcom version of a Woody Allen film, full of amusing lines and scenes, all infused with an uncomfortable sense of deja vu. Read full review

SEE ALL 17 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

cjm868

Nov 3, 2015

Loved this movie. It's a great dissection of why men and women are the way they are. It's got a clever screenplay by Nora Ephron and great direction by Rob Reiner. Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal was a fantastic paring. I would have to say that it's one of the best romantic comedies of all time.Loved this movie. It's a great dissection of why men and women are the way they are. It's got a clever screenplay by Nora Ephron and great direction by Rob Reiner. Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal was a fantastic paring. I would have to say that it's one of the best romantic comedies of all time. In a genre which often produces stale movies this one breaks the mold.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

KristinF.

May 17, 2007

Best Romantic Comedy I have ever seen.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

RTsings

Nov 22, 2020

Best Romantic comedy ever! My favorite movie of all time. Don't understand why this isn't a must see.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

AshrafA.

Jul 23, 2009

Really, really good, a very wonderful movie... better than the overrated Lost in Translation

0 of 0 users found this helpful

StevenF

Aug 23, 2013

The element of surprise is the key factor that makes Harry (Billy Crystal) meeting Sally (Meg Ryan) so spot on, I for one was lead to believe that these two were going to start the film as best friends, but we see various situations where the two run into each other over the course of twelveThe element of surprise is the key factor that makes Harry (Billy Crystal) meeting Sally (Meg Ryan) so spot on, I for one was lead to believe that these two were going to start the film as best friends, but we see various situations where the two run into each other over the course of twelve years, they live their lives with typical progression of occupation, dating and marriage, and perhaps more so now, divorce. But yet their paths continue to cross to the point where they do indeed become each others shoulder to cry on, which by way of default stirs feelings that set the whole random occurrences into motion. Harry is a fast-talking and confident in his successful career role, while Sally also leads quite a mirrored life to Harry, yet their personalities and attitudes are entirely different.
They begin a friendship which tests boundaries and openness from the beginning, and many of the funnier moments of the film come from the various explanations of conversations they had when they last met, but how differently the two remember them. Billy Crystal's comic timing is impeccable, he delivers his lines with ease and promise, showing his skill of handling complex dialogue but still managing to make every word count to something funny. He plays a m,an who has the answers to life and its imperfections, yet doesn't know much as well, the whole aspect of the film challenges friendship and sexual tension, while Meg Ryan plays a character who shows an exterior confidence but also has the soft centre of a human being who wants to be held and loved like anyone else. She has a strong likeable personality that works well with her good looks, easily matching the witty delivery of Crystal, with a few of her very own memorable scenes that continue to print the film into many minds.
We have a strong supporting cast in the form of Carrie Fisher and Bruno Kirby, who play the respective friends of Harry and Sally, these two play pivotal roles in the cause and effect routine of dating and taking it to the next level, the opposite of the two lead characters situation. But like what many others have said, it can feel in many aspects like a sitcom being told in various flashbacks, it sometimes loses its cool when it skips five years ahead or so, more time could have been spent developing these characters as individual entities rather than the two of them facing similar situations.
That aside, this is a strong and likeable romantic film that has witty characters and unorthodox moments, the leads share great chemistry and will never fail to be there for some laughs.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Itsmaya

Aug 27, 2021

It's a good romcom with great dialogues, moments that will make you laugh and actors that just fit right into the characters they play!
The movie was such a good time, and it's completely worth watching these days!!!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

amheretojudge

Sep 4, 2018

a sophisticated love track..

When Harry Met Sally.. When Harry Met Sally is a character driven romantic drama about two platonic friends who struggles to see the affection for each other. The chemistry is decent enough to charm their way out, but fortunately it doesn't need to since itsa sophisticated love track..

When Harry Met Sally..

When Harry Met Sally is a character driven romantic drama about two platonic friends who struggles to see the affection for each other. The chemistry is decent enough to charm their way out, but fortunately it doesn't need to since its writing is the protagonist in itself. The flirty talk, hilarious topics and references, makes the pragmatic conversations thoroughly entertaining and electrifying. Addition to that, Crystal's comic timing and Ryan's support to him, blends in aptly. The structure of the feature is newer and fresh that is respected equally as much as the characters have been. The little nuances like fiddling with the props around the scene and a brief love track narrated by various couple in an interview is just pure delight. Reiner's world is brimmed with such sweet innuendos that makes it utterly pleasing with a big smile on the face that stays with the audience long after the curtain drops. The background score is a bit disappointing along with the sound department although the cinematography (like the phone call between Harry and Sally) play a vital role in storytelling and has fine editing. It is shot with bright and light colors spread across the whole screen that is appealing for the viewers from the first frame. As mentioned earlier, the performance is decent if not anything extraordinary especially by the lead cast Crystal and Ryan. Reiner's execution is unfortunately chalky around the edges but with a sincere heart at the center of it, it sails off the shore safely. Smart and funny conversation, simple and sensible track and, a safer perspective are the high points of the feature. When Harry Met Sally is a sophisticated love track on context of its subjective procedure that even respects the space of audience.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 21 REVIEWS