Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- irreverent
- witty
- raucous
- christmas eve
- holiday party
What critics said
Critics generally found the ensemble and jokes entertaining enough for a worthwhile Christmas comedy, while viewing its clichéd structure and uneven consistency as significant limitations.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Ethan, Isaac, and Chris treat their annual Christmas Eve reunion as a final attempt to preserve a childhood tradition before adulthood changes their lives.
The friends' Christmas Eve search for the Nutcracka Ball unfolds through drug use, reckless decisions, and increasingly surreal comic situations.
The central conflict arises from the friends entering adulthood and confronting the end of their decade-long tradition.
The film combines Christmas party culture with Hanukkah references and a diverse New York social world.
Films like The Night Before, and why
A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas
holiday debauchery, male friendship, drug-fueled comedy, and an episodic night of escalating misadventures
The Hangover
raucous adult comedy, friendship under pressure, and a chaotic quest through a city nightlife landscape
Office Christmas Party
Christmas setting, irreverent humor, emotional friendship dynamics, and a loose night-out structure
Superbad
stoner comedy, adolescent nostalgia, and a comic transition from youthful irresponsibility toward adulthood
Movie Details
- Director
- Jonathan Levine
- Release Date
- 2015-11-20
- Runtime
- 101 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (1884)
Cast
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt
- Seth Rogen
- Anthony Mackie
- Lizzy Caplan
- Jillian Bell
- Mindy Kaling
- Michael Shannon
- Lorraine Toussaint
- Randall Park
- Ilana Glazer
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Night Before about?
- Three lifelong friends chase New York’s ultimate Christmas party in one last reckless attempt to preserve their holiday tradition.
- What is The Night Before like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Night Before as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is The Night Before violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Night Before as mild.
- What did critics think of The Night Before?
- Critics generally found the ensemble and jokes entertaining enough for a worthwhile Christmas comedy, while viewing its clichéd structure and uneven consistency as significant limitations.
- Which films are like The Night Before?
- Films with a similar feel include A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, The Hangover, Office Christmas Party, and Superbad.
- How long is The Night Before?
- The Night Before runs 101 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Night Before?
- In United States, The Night Before streams on Netflix.
