Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- witty
- sardonic
- misanthropic
- quiet weekend
- indie movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Alex Ross Perry’s risk-taking, dark humor, sharp portraiture, and intellectually demanding treatment of narcissistic creative personalities.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Philip treats publication, relationships, and other people primarily as extensions of his authorial identity, while Ike embodies a more established version of the same ego.
The story moves beyond Philip to Ashley and other figures, broadening the portrait of creative personalities rather than treating Philip as the only interior subject.
Philip feels displaced by the crowds and noise of New York City, turning the city’s literary and artistic energy into a source of resentment.
The film’s banter and dark jokes attack its characters’ narcissism while retaining enough empathy to expose their weaknesses and inability to connect.
Films like Listen Up Philip, and why
Frances Ha
shared darkly comic portrait of narcissistic artists, brittle relationships, and metropolitan creative culture
Annie Hall
shared neurotic urban comedy, literary self-absorption, and sharp relationship dialogue
The Squid and the Whale
shared acerbic humor, misanthropic character study, and discomfort with creative ego
Barfly
shared black comedy about writers, artistic ambition, and emotionally corrosive self-involvement
Movie Details
- Director
- Alex Ross Perry
- Release Date
- 2014-10-17
- Runtime
- 109 min
- Rating
- 5.8 / 10 (161)
Cast
- Jason Schwartzman
- Elisabeth Moss
- Jonathan Pryce
- Krysten Ritter
- Joséphine de la Baume
- Jess Weixler
- Kate Lyn Sheil
- Dree Hemingway
- Keith Poulson
- Samantha Jacober
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- MUBI, MUBI Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Listen Up Philip about?
- A caustic literary comedy follows a self-absorbed novelist whose pursuit of solitude exposes the damage his ego inflicts on love, friendship, and artistic life.
- What is Listen Up Philip like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Listen Up Philip as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Listen Up Philip violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Listen Up Philip.
- What did critics think of Listen Up Philip?
- Critics broadly praised Alex Ross Perry’s risk-taking, dark humor, sharp portraiture, and intellectually demanding treatment of narcissistic creative personalities.
- Which films are like Listen Up Philip?
- Films with a similar feel include Frances Ha, Annie Hall, The Squid and the Whale, and Barfly.
- How long is Listen Up Philip?
- Listen Up Philip runs 109 minutes.
- Where can I watch Listen Up Philip?
- In United States, Listen Up Philip streams on MUBI, MUBI Amazon Channel.
