Living in Oblivion
A frazzled director tries to survive one disastrous day of shooting an ultra-low-budget movie while the set exposes every absurdity of independent filmmaking.
Overview
A hilarious glimpse into the chaos of low-budget filmmaking, where everything that can go wrong does.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- witty
- irreverent
- anxious
- lazy sunday
- movie night with filmmakers
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a sharp, affectionate satire of indie filmmaking that is also an entertaining independent comedy in its own right.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The entire story unfolds during the shooting of a low-budget movie, with production problems becoming the central dramatic material.
The non-budget set, technical failures, volatile personalities, and impossible working conditions directly satirize independent production.
Director Nick Reve and actors including Nicole Springer and Wolf struggle through competing temperaments and demands on set.
The film turns the rituals, frustrations, and fantasies of movie production into its subject while remaining an independent comedy itself.
Films like Living in Oblivion, and why
The Player
self-reflexive filmmaking satire, eccentric ensemble comedy, and affectionate mockery of cinema production
Day for Night
behind-the-scenes movie-set comedy driven by production chaos and industry satire
Bowfinger
independent filmmaking subject, comic frustration, and sharply observed creative personalities
Movie Details
- Director
- Tom DiCillo
- Release Date
- 1995-07-21
- Runtime
- 90 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (342)
Cast
- Steve Buscemi
- Catherine Keener
- Dermot Mulroney
- Danielle von Zerneck
- James Le Gros
- Peter Dinklage
- Rica Martens
- Kevin Corrigan
- Robert Wightman
- Michael Griffiths
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, Fandor, Fandor Amazon Channel, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel, Cineverse Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, 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 Living in Oblivion about?
- A frazzled director tries to survive one disastrous day of shooting an ultra-low-budget movie while the set exposes every absurdity of independent filmmaking.
- What is Living in Oblivion like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Living in Oblivion as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Living in Oblivion violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Living in Oblivion.
- What did critics think of Living in Oblivion?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a sharp, affectionate satire of indie filmmaking that is also an entertaining independent comedy in its own right.
- Which films are like Living in Oblivion?
- Films with a similar feel include The Player, Day for Night, and Bowfinger.
- How long is Living in Oblivion?
- Living in Oblivion runs 90 minutes.
- Where can I watch Living in Oblivion?
- In United States, Living in Oblivion streams on Philo, Fandor, Fandor Amazon Channel, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel, Cineverse Amazon Channel.
