Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- witty
- tense
- sardonic
- historical drama night
- classic television night
What critics said
Critics found the film competently acted and sharply written, with Nicole Kidman's Lucille Ball and Javier Bardem's Desi Arnaz supplying its strongest qualities despite limitations in capturing the couple's full star power.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz must manage their marriage, careers, and carefully constructed television personas under intense public scrutiny.
The central crisis unfolds around the live filming of I Love Lucy and the professional team responsible for keeping the show on air.
Aaron Sorkin's screenplay emphasizes fast-paced, pithy dialogue during confrontations among Ball, Arnaz, writers, and performers.
The film presents Kidman and Bardem as actors capturing the inner contradictions and stage presence of Ball and Arnaz rather than relying on strict physical mimicry.
Films like Being the Ricardos, and why
The Last of the Blonde Bombshells
shared focus on a famous creative partnership, marital strain, and the pressures of mid-century entertainment culture
Hitchcock
shared biographical drama approach to a volatile entertainment marriage shaped by ambition, public image, and professional collaboration
Mank
shared show-business biography, rapid dialogue, period Hollywood setting, and tension between private relationships and public performance
Movie Details
- Director
- Aaron Sorkin
- Release Date
- 2021-12-10
- Runtime
- 132 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (723)
Cast
- Nicole Kidman
- Javier Bardem
- J.K. Simmons
- Nina Arianda
- Tony Hale
- Alia Shawkat
- Jake Lacy
- Linda Lavin
- Ronny Cox
- John Rubinstein
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- 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 Being the Ricardos about?
- A sharp-edged backstage biography follows Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz as love, television power, and a Communist accusation threaten the empire they built together.
- What is Being the Ricardos like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Being the Ricardos as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Being the Ricardos violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Being the Ricardos.
- What did critics think of Being the Ricardos?
- Critics found the film competently acted and sharply written, with Nicole Kidman's Lucille Ball and Javier Bardem's Desi Arnaz supplying its strongest qualities despite limitations in capturing the couple's full star power.
- Which films are like Being the Ricardos?
- Films with a similar feel include The Last of the Blonde Bombshells, Hitchcock, and Mank.
- How long is Being the Ricardos?
- Being the Ricardos runs 132 minutes.
- Where can I watch Being the Ricardos?
- In United States, Being the Ricardos streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
