Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- blunt
- irreverent
- date night
- adult comedy night
What critics said
Critics broadly found Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s directing debut assured, funny, frank, and emotionally engaging, with Scarlett Johansson’s performance standing out.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jon repeatedly prefers pornography to partnered sex and must confront how his private habits distort his expectations of relationships.
Jon’s gym routine, religious rituals, sexual conquests, and blunt self-image construct a caricature of masculine control.
The film treats pornography, masturbation, and sexual fantasy with unusually direct comic frankness while retaining an emotionally serious perspective.
Jon’s life is organized around his apartment, car, family, church, gym, and nearby dating scene in New Jersey.
Films like Don Jon, and why
Shame
Shares an adult romantic comedy framework, frank sexual themes, and a protagonist whose compulsive habits obstruct emotional intimacy.
The 40-Year-Old Virgin
Combines witty relationship drama with sexual self-discovery and a guarded protagonist learning to form authentic connections.
Ruby Sparks
Uses uncomfortable sexual behavior, romantic idealization, and comedy-drama tonal shifts to examine intimacy and self-deception.
Movie Details
- Director
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt
- Release Date
- 2013-09-12
- Runtime
- 90 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (4688)
Cast
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt
- Scarlett Johansson
- Julianne Moore
- Tony Danza
- Glenne Headly
- Brie Larson
- Lindsey Broad
- Rob Brown
- Jeremy Luke
- Paul Ben-Victor
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, Netflix Standard with Ads, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- JustWatch TV, 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 Don Jon about?
- A swaggering New Jersey womanizer must unlearn his porn-shaped fantasies to discover the vulnerability required for real intimacy.
- What is Don Jon like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Don Jon as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Don Jon violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Don Jon.
- What did critics think of Don Jon?
- Critics broadly found Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s directing debut assured, funny, frank, and emotionally engaging, with Scarlett Johansson’s performance standing out.
- Which films are like Don Jon?
- Films with a similar feel include Shame, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and Ruby Sparks.
- How long is Don Jon?
- Don Jon runs 90 minutes.
- Where can I watch Don Jon?
- In United States, Don Jon streams on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, Netflix Standard with Ads, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
