The Last Movie Star
An aging screen idol takes an emotionally bruising journey through Nashville as he reckons with lost fame, mortality, and the possibility of becoming more than his legend.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- wistful
- melancholic
- intimate
- quiet evening
- nostalgic movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found Burt Reynolds and Ariel Winter poignant and committed, but judged the surrounding drama overly maudlin and pedestrian.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Vic Edwards is an aging former movie star forced to confront the end of his professional glory and the person beneath the fame.
Burt Reynolds plays Vic in a role widely discussed as a swan song and as an implicit reflection on his own screen legacy.
Vic’s journey with Lil through Nashville and associated encounters externalizes his passage from remembered stardom toward present-day acceptance.
The film’s faded-star premise places Hollywood nostalgia against the unglamorous reality of Vic’s later life.
Films like The Last Movie Star, and why
The Hero
Shared themes of aging, faded celebrity, nostalgia, and a veteran star-centered dramatic performance.
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Both are melancholic dramas about an aging performer confronting mortality, legacy, and diminished relevance.
The Straight Story
Shared focus on late-life reflection, regret, and an older protagonist attempting emotional renewal.
Movie Details
- Director
- Adam Rifkin
- Release Date
- 2018-03-30
- Runtime
- 104 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (124)
Cast
- Burt Reynolds
- Ariel Winter
- Chevy Chase
- Clark Duke
- Ellar Coltrane
- Nikki Blonsky
- Kathleen Nolan
- Juston Street
- Al-Jaleel Knox
- Will Buie Jr.
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- 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 Last Movie Star about?
- An aging screen idol takes an emotionally bruising journey through Nashville as he reckons with lost fame, mortality, and the possibility of becoming more than his legend.
- What is The Last Movie Star like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Last Movie Star as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Last Movie Star violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Last Movie Star as mild.
- What did critics think of The Last Movie Star?
- Critics broadly found Burt Reynolds and Ariel Winter poignant and committed, but judged the surrounding drama overly maudlin and pedestrian.
- Which films are like The Last Movie Star?
- Films with a similar feel include The Hero, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), and The Straight Story.
- How long is The Last Movie Star?
- The Last Movie Star runs 104 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Last Movie Star?
- In United States, The Last Movie Star is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
