Scarlett Johansson's new movie Eleanor the Great has garnered first reactions, one suggesting it will leave viewers "an absolute sniffling wreck".
The upcoming film marks the Marvel star's directorial debut and focuses on a nonagenarian called Eleanor Morgenstein (June Squibb) who moves to New York City. There, she strikes up an unlikely friendship with a 19-year-old.
The film just made its debut at the Cannes Film Festival, though critics are mostly mixed on the project in first reactions – the movie currently sitting at 67% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes from 12 reviews.
In a very positive verdict, The Washington Post's Jada Yuan wrote on X: "Am an absolute sniffling wreck after watching Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut ELEANOR THE GREAT and seeing June Squibb get her flowers at #cannes2025."
IndieWire's Kate Erbland added: "It’s a little predictable, a little bizarre, a little funny, and very sad, but it’s also an ambitious swing at what movies can still be (and what sort of stars can populate them), a message and an idea that we expect will lead both the director and writer into quite fruitful new chapters."
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Screen International's Fionnuala Halligan suggested that "the New York-set feature wraps the Holocaust and Jewish identity into a broad-stroke, sentimental story of truth and reconciliation".
"Filming with good-intent over narrative rigor, Johansson elicits strong performances from her actors – although they can be indulged at a cost," the review added.
However, in a less positive review, The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw suggested that the film "is misjudged and naive about the implications of its Holocaust theme".
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"Its bland, TV-movie tone of sentimentality fails to accommodate the existential nightmare of the main plot strand, or indeed the subordinate question of when and whether to put your elderly parent in a care home," he added.
Alongside Squibb, Eleanor the Great stars Breaking Bad's Jessica Hecht, Doctor Strange's Chiwetel Ejiofor and Willow's Erin Kellyman.
Eleanor the Great is yet to confirm a release date.
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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.
