Eleanor the Greatreceives a US release date as its star, 95 years old, gears up for an Oscar campaign.From Scarlett Johanssonin her directorial debut, with a script written by Tory Kamen, the drama stars June Squibb as the titular Eleanor Morgenstein, a nonagenarian Floridian who, after losing her best friend, moves back to New York City and forms an unlikely friendship.
In addition to Squibb in the lead role, the film also stars the Oscar-nominatedChiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave), Emmy-nominated Jessica Hecht, and Erin Kellyman.
Now, Sony Pictures Classics has announced thatEleanor the Greatwill be released in theaters in the United States and Canada on September 26. Another awards-season hopeful, Paul Thomas Anderson’sOne Battle After Anotherstarring Leonardo DiCaprio, is also currently scheduled for that same date, as isThe Strangers – Chapter 2.
What Eleanor The Great’s Release Date Means For The Movie
It Has Awards Season Hopes
Eleanor the Great’s release date is just ahead of awards season, indicating thatit has hopes of being recognized.There is especially optimism that its lead star, the incomparable June Squibb, now 95 years old, could be nominated again and perhaps finally win her first Academy Award after a prolific 65-year career. She earned her first Oscar nomination forNebraskain 2013.
Eleanor the Greatpremiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festivalthis past May in theUn Certain Regardsection, which is reserved for films with unusual styles or non-traditional stories. Reviews were somewhat mixed, indicated by its 60% Rotten Tomatoes score, thoughthere is much praise for June Squibb’s nuanced and moving performance, with some calling it Oscar-worthy.
Eleanor the Greatis also the latest step in Scarlett Johansson’s career, who has always been adept at navigating both blockbuster film franchises and intimate indie dramas. Just asJurassic World Rebirthis lighting up the box office, Johansson’s directorial debut, a heartwarming human drama, is set to hit theaters in a few months.
Our Take On Eleanor The Great’s Release Date
It Would Be Great To See June Squibb Win An Oscar
It would be great to see June Squibb win an Oscar, more than a decade after her pitch-perfect supporting performance inNebraskaearned her first nomination. At 95 years old, a win forEleanor the Greatwould be a crowning achievement for a performer who has spent decades delivering underappreciated performances, often in supporting roles. Now, with a strong lead performance and an Oscar campaign to come, Squibb’s moment feels long overdue and richly deserved.
