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Netflix has set release dates for Jay Kelly, the latest film by acclaimed writer-director Noah Baumbach. The film, starring George Clooney and Adam Sandler, will debut in theaters on November 14, 2025, and subsequently in Netflix on December 5.
Scoped by Netflix as a “heartbreaking comedy,” Jay Kelly is about a guy known by everyone — except for him. The enigmatic logline, “Everybody knows Jay Kelly…but Jay Kelly doesn’t know himself,” establishes a character study that squarely finds its home in Baumbach’s comfort zone: thoughtful drama laced with a dash of biting humor and emotional depth.
George Clooney stars as the title character in his first collaboration with Baumbach. Adam Sandler, who co-starred with Baumbach in The Meyerowitz Stories (2017), returns for what is set to be another earthy, dramatic turn. The film’s stellar ensemble cast also features Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Riley Keough, Patrick Wilson, Greta Gerwig, Jim Broadbent, Alba Rohrwacher, and Emily Mortimer, who co-wrote the screenplay with Baumbach.
This is Baumbach’s fourth feature directorial at Netflix, after his critically acclaimed titles The Meyerowitz Stories, Marriage Story (2019), and White Noise (2022). His collaboration with the streamer has established him as one of the leading voices of modern cinema, blending depth with humor and nuance. Marriage Story alone earned six nominations at the Academy Awards, of which Laura Dern won an award.
Principal photography for Jay Kelly took place in New York City, London, and Tuscany with Oscar-winning cinematographer Linus Sandgren (La La Land) directing. Sandgren’s first work with Baumbach adds a visually striking touch to the familiar directorial themes.
The film is being made by Baumbach along with David Heyman (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Marriage Story) and Amy Pascal, who recently joined Amazon MGM to produce Amazon’s next Bond movie. It is the kind of collaboration of such big-ticket producers that reveals Netflix’s continued bet on prestige filmmaking.
While plot twists remain under wraps, the coupling of Clooney, Sandler, and Baumbach with an A-list supporting cast turns Jay Kelly into one of 2025’s most anticipated films. With its theatrical run topped by a subsequent streaming stint, Netflix once more places its bets on awards-season gold.
