Jay Kelly: Release date, where to watch, and what to expect

Jay Kelly hits limited theatres on November 14, 2025, and the movie will arrive on Netflix on December 5, 2025 at 12:01 AM PST (1:30 PM IST). George Clooney plays Jay Kelly, a washed-up movie star who jets off to Europe with his manager Ron Sukenick played by Adam Sandler.

Directed by Noah Baumbach, the film follows their first live action pairing after both voiced roles in Baumbach's 2009 animated film Fantastic Mr Fox.

Clooney draws from his own career dips to show a star facing empty red carpets and forgotten lines.

Sandler steps into drama as the loyal fixer who has postponed his own life for Jay's. Laura Dern joins as the publicist Liz. 

The cast includes Billy Crudup, Riley Keough and Greta Gerwig, Grace Edwards, Emily Mortimer, Stacy Keach, Jim Broadbent, Patrick Wilson and Isla Fisher.

Shot on 35mm film the movie premiered at the Venice Film Festival in August 2025 and earned a Golden Lion nomination. 

Jay Kelly : Plot breakdown and what to expect

Jay Kelly, a weathered Hollywood leading man loosely inspired by George Clooney's own persona, finds himself adrift during a rare hiatus from the spotlight.

His younger daughter, Daisy, is off to Paris for a pre college adventure with friends while his older one remains estranged, deepening his sense of isolation. 

Compounded by the sudden death of a longtime friend and a humiliating run in with a former acting rival, Kelly impulsively ditches his predictable LA routine for a spontaneous European escape.

Under the guise of receiving a lifetime achievement award at a prestigious Italian film festival, Kelly boards a train for an interrailing odyssey across the continent to France.

In truth he's tailing his oblivious daughter to mend their fractured bond, complete with awkward stakeouts and misguided interventions. 

His manager Ron (Adam Sandler) who motivates Clooney in his tough times and is seen juggling a family crisis back home via frantic calls to his understanding wife Lois (Greta Gerwig); the high strung publicist Liz (Laura Dern) who makes sure that Jay kelly doesn't break any contracts and a swarm of assistants, stylists and security guards accompanied him is his sprawling entourage to Paris.

Interwoven flashbacks trace Kelly's Midwestern roots to Tinseltown triumph, haunted by regrets as an absentee dad and unreliable pal.

Amid scenic Italian vistas and encounters with quirky locals, the journey devolves into chaotic hijinks, forcing Kelly to confront the transactional nature of his charmed life.

Noah Baumbach's official statement in La Biennale di Venezia reads-

"Jay Kelly is about a man looking back at his life and reflecting on the choices, the sacrifices, the successes, the mistakes he’s made. When is it too late to change the course of our lives? Jay Kelly is an actor and as such the movie is about identity. How we perform ourselves. Who are we as parents, children, friends, professionals? Are we good? Are we bad? What is the gap between who we’ve decided we are and who we might actually be? What makes a life? Jay Kelly is about what it means to be yourself."

What starts as a celebrity joyride evolves into a poignant quest for authentic connection, blending screwball comedy with wistful introspection on ageing gracefully in the glare of eternal youth.

The trailer launched in September 2025, shows fast clips of plane chaos, train views and emotional breakdowns and self-doubts. Expect funny mishaps and tough moments on lost time and broken ties.

The bonding between Clooney and Sandler is a must-watch. The official synopsis says-

"Jay Kelly follows famous movie actor Jay Kelly and his devoted manager Ron as they embark on a whirlwind and unexpectedly profound journey through Europe. Along the way, both men are forced to confront the choices they’ve made, the relationships with their loved ones, and the legacies they’ll leave behind."

Watch Jay Kelly in select theatres on November 14, 2025 or stream on Netflix from December 5, 2025.

Stay tuned for more such updates!