Noah Baumbach‘s latest directorial effort, Jay Kelly, might’ve just recently come out on Netflix, but it’s already receiving awards season buzz for both George Clooney‘s portrayal of the titular character and Adam Sandler’s performance. As the title hints at, the film follows Jay Kelly in a sort of existential crisis. He has become a consolidated actor with a stellar onscreen legacy, but still regrets many of his life choices, including not valuing his relationship with his daughters or being there for his mentor prior to his demise.
Although not everyone can relate to being a movie star, the film does highlight the pitfalls of not balancing one’s professional and personal lives. It’s about finding ways to move forward knowing that you’ve made mistakes along the way, and trying to repair old wounds. The list below is filled with other titles that explore the aforementioned themes, whether it be in a performing arts context or in other areas, proving that, no matter what career you pursue, these challenges can still surge.
1
‘The Meyerowitz Stories’ (2017)
Noah Baumbach’s first collaboration with Adam Sandler was in The Meyerowitz Stories, a family drama about the strained relationships between members of a wealthy New York family. Danny (Sandler), Matthew (Ben Stiller), and Jean (Elizabeth Marvel) struggle to interact with their father, Harold (Dustin Hoffman), who happens to be an eccentric sculptor. As Harold’s work is celebrated through a career retrospective, his son and daughter reunite, uncovering family secrets and coming to terms with childhood resentment.
Much like Jay Kelly, this film explores themes like artistic legacy and how a father’s ego and blind ambition might get in the way of forging meaningful connections with his adult children. The story is told through chapters dedicated to each of the characters’ diverging perspectives on their complicated upbringings, mostly informed by their individual relationships with Harold and how that inadvertently got in the way of the siblings’ connection with each other.
2
‘Sunset Boulevard’ (1950)
Living under the spotlight isn’t always easy, and Sunset Boulevard demonstrates the pitfalls of fame. As Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson), an aging silent film star, struggles to accept that she is no longer in her prime, she enlists the help of a screenwriter (William Holden) to craft her movie comeback. As their creative collaboration makes way for an obsessive relationship, Norma’s jealousy and vanity ultimately lead her to commit murder.
Although Jay Kelly doesn’t depict the extreme lengths someone would go to just to remain a high-profile actor, it does show how all-consuming the business is. In the same way that Clooney’s character puts his familial relationships on the line because of his job, his manager also has to leave his family behind to be at his client’s disposal, many times not being recognized for his efforts. Jay’s encounter with Timothy (Billy Crudup) also shows how cutthroat the industry can be, with the latter resenting the protagonist for landing one of the roles he was auditioning for.
3
‘Tár’ (2022)
In Tár, the titular character, played by Cate Blanchett, is at the top of her game. After making strides in the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, she’s ready to take on her most challenging orchestral arrangement yet, with the live recording of Mahler’s 5th Symphony. Still, in the same way that she’s become a powerful figure within the classical music sphere, she’s also being faced with accusations that could put all her hard work on the line.
Jay Kelly is a titanic movie star, and he is at the point in his career where film festivals are looking to pay tribute in his honor. Fame at this extent comes at a cost, with him often wondering what he could’ve done differently to keep the people he loves close. Although Lydia Tár negatively uses her influence, her actions affect her relationships with those in her inner circle. This film proves that fame and status can be fleeting.
4
‘Somewhere’ (2010)
Somewhere, one of Sofia Coppola’s most touching directorial efforts, also offers a poignant look at how empty and mundane Hollywood can be, and the lingering search for connection when you are a public persona. The film follows Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff), an actor who lives a life of excess and stays at the Château Marmont. When he receives a surprise visit from his 11-year-old daughter (Elle Fanning), he must figure out how he can balance his luxurious lifestyle with spending quality time alongside her.
One of the main struggles Jay Kelly faces is his broken relationship with both of his daughters. He was an absent father for Jessica (Riley Keough), and his idea of bonding with his youngest daughter, Daisy (Grace Edwards), is upended when she decides to spend her last summer before university with her friends in Europe. Somewhere focuses on the father-daughter bond between Johnny and Cleo, and how their connection helps the actor overcome loneliness.
5
‘The Wrestler’ (2008)
Although The Wrestler isn’t focused on the performing arts, it does show an athlete’s urge to sustain his legacy. Randy “The Ram” Robinson (Mickey Rourke) is an aging boxer who is still committed to fighting on the pro-wrestling circuit. Yet, as he faces health issues and is forced to retire, he decides to pivot his attention from the sport to reconnecting with his estranged daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) and starting a relationship with a stripper (Marisa Tomei).
In Baumbach’s latest film, Jay is driven to repair his broken relationship with his family after receiving the news that his beloved mentor (Jim Broadbent) has passed. Although his movie stardom remains strong, he does have a hard time juggling both his career and maintaining relationships with those he cares about. The Wrestler focuses on a man who still has a passion for the ring, despite doctors telling him to let it go. As he chases faded glory, he also has to come to terms with the strained relationship he has with his daughter and his budding romance with Cassidy.
6
‘Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)’ (2014)
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) follows a washed-up actor named Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton) who is placing all of his bets on reviving his career through a Broadway show. He writes, directs, and stars in a play based on Raymond Carver’s short story, but the lead up to his stage debut is less than smooth. Known for playing a superhero called Birdman, the protagonist wants more than anything to step out of the shadow of his most well-known role, and be taken seriously as a performer.
At the beginning of Jay Kelly, audiences grasp at the many moving pieces that go into making an onscreen project. It’s not just about the actors getting ready, but rather the crew getting set up and the managers making sure that everything is good to go. In Birdman, viewers are similarly immersed in the chaos of making a play, with drama going on behind the scenes as well as conflicts raised by Riggan’s ego and mental state.
7
‘Frances Ha’ (2012)
Another Noah Baumbach production makes it to this list. Frances Ha was written by both him and Greta Gerwig, with the latter also starring in it. She plays Frances, a 27-year-old woman who lives in New York with her best friend, Sophie (Mickey Sumner). She apprentices for a dance company, and aspires to make it as a dancer one day. Still, as big as her aspirations are, her abilities aren’t exactly on par with her expectations. Frances also feels lost when Sophie abandons her, having to reevaluate what she wants for herself as well as figure out how she can support herself in an expensive city.
Frances might be in a totally different stage of life than Jay Kelly, but the two of them are equally struggling. She is trying to make her dreams come true and come to terms with a close friendship that has come to an end, whereas Jay has all that he could ever hope for but is still unfulfilled because of sacrifices he made to get to where he is.
8
‘Moneyball’ (2011)
Moneyball is based on a true story, centered on Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt). Despite having the lowest salary constraint in baseball, he is determined to win the World Series. That’s when he resorts to Peter Brand, a recent Yale grad (Jonah Hill) who evaluates players using Bill James’ statistical approach. This tactic provides a surprising advantage, with Brand forming a team of no names who can statistically guarantee him the win he has always dreamed of.
Pitt’s 2011 film shows that it takes a vote of confidence (and maybe a bit of luck) to make it. In Jay Kelly, it is implied that the titular character’s success is largely due to Peter Schneider’s (Jim Broadbent) mentorship. When the latter dies, the protagonist is left to wonder what makes him a star now. He also regrets not extending Peter a helping hand when he needed most, reflecting the casualties of fame.
9
‘Blue Moon’ (2025)
What happens when your former creative partner finds further acclaim working with someone else? Richard Linklater‘s latest feature film, Blue Moon, explores the emotional rollercoaster that Lorenz Hart (Ethan Hawke) experiences on the evening that Oklahoma! debuted. The musical was written by Richard Rodgers (Andrew Scott) and his new lyricist partner, Oscar Hammerstein II (Simon Delaney), so it’s natural to think that Hart would be having the worst night of his life when the production premiered. After all, Rodgers distanced himself from the protagonist because of his alcoholism and unreliability.
As Hart heads to Sardi’s before the curtains close, he grapples with his professional decline and the partnership that once was. He also finds some solace in a “date” with the young and beautiful Elizabeth Weiland (Margaret Qualley). Jay Kelly similarly deals with a lot of regrets about the way he’s handled his personal life, always keeping his profession as a priority.
10
‘Sentimental Value’ (2025)
If you love Baumbach’s Netflix original and are an awards season devotee, Sentimental Value should be next on your watch list. It not only focuses on the fractured relationship that a father has with his eldest daughter, but it also shows how art can bring people together. Directed by Joachim Trier, the film is centered on an aging director named Gustaf (Stellan Skarsgård), who is trying to make his first film in years and wants more than anything to have his daughter Nora (Renate Reinsve) playing the lead.
Given their complicated past and the grief her and her sister have been experiencing since their mother’s death, she instantly refuses her father’s proposition. Gustaf then finds a Hollywood actress on the rise (Elle Fanning) to take on the role, sparking conversations surrounding artistic integrity and the complexities of reconciliation. Gustaf’s struggle to deal with his failure as a parent almost mirrors that of Clooney’s character, even though Sentimental Value and Jay Kelly have contrasting resolutions.
Sentimental Value
- Release Date
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November 7, 2025
- Runtime
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132 Minutes
- Director
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Joachim Trier
- Writers
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Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier
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Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas
Agnes
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