One Night at McCool's

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One Night at McCool's

R

2001

1h 33m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

34%

Tomatometer

103 Reviews

40%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

McCool's bar was hopping that night. Randy (Matt Dillon) worked there, tending bar. Lawyer Carl (Paul Reiser) was there until past closing. Detective Dehling (John Goodman) got there once McCool's became a crime scene. Was it the dead body that tied these men together? Not as tightly as the live wire who was also there that night: the stunning young woman aptly named Jewel (Liv Tyler). A steamy story told from three very different points of view that ultimately become one.

Critics Consensus

Critics say this blend of film noir and screwball comedy seems to think itself more clever and hip than it actually is. Also, the crucial femme fatale role needs a better, more mature actress than Tyler.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

12/26/2010

2/5

Disappointing, too violent, and not very funny.

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Dennis Lim

Village Voice

05/02/2001

Oblivious to its own towering obsolescence.

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Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

04/30/2001

2.5/5

Never fully rises to the occasion, maintaining a goofily even keel throughout but rarely tipping over into all-out froth and nuttiness.

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Guylaine Cadorette

Hollywood.com

11/20/2008

3/5

Film Threat

12/06/2005

3/5

Scott Nash

Three Movie Buffs

09/30/2005

3/4

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Richard P

@RichardPicks Nov 22

It happened One Night at McCool's is a hilarious ride with hints of Rashomon storytelling over brilliant character actor performances.

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Robin O

@RT70734306 Oct 1

Big laughs with lots of style and quirky character performances

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Jesika C

@RT43171184 07/22/2025

All star cast. This film is from a shifting male gaze that is ultimately what the female lead wanted to be seen as. The motives of the characters are solid, if a little basic. The humor is dark and just coming out of the deadpan, sarcastic 90’s. While the story morphing is a little too Roshomon meets Tarantino for most audiences, if you have time to pay attention to this movie you will be rewarded with a great ride.

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Janis E

@JansEd 06/10/2025

I remember watching the opening scenes with an air of indifference, and I remember watching the climax very nearly in hysterics.

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Wirmer F

@RT63183145 05/28/2025

one of the best movies of the early aughts ... unbelievable how all the good ones get ignored by the critics and lost to the audiences this movie is so good

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John T

@JohnnyCToes 03/07/2025

Cool style and lots of laughs in this underrated film

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Harald Zwart

Director

Liv Tyler

Jewel

Matt Dillon

Randy

John Goodman

Detective Dehling

Paul Reiser

Carl

Michael Douglas

Mr. Burmeister

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Synopsis

McCool's bar was hopping that night. Randy (Matt Dillon) worked there, tending bar. Lawyer Carl (Paul Reiser) was there until past closing. Detective Dehling (John Goodman) got there once McCool's became a crime scene. Was it the dead body that tied these men together? Not as tightly as the live wire who was also there that night: the stunning young woman aptly named Jewel (Liv Tyler). A steamy story told from three very different points of view that ultimately become one.

Director: Harald Zwart
Producer: Michael Douglas, Allison Lyon Segan
Screenwriter: Stan Seidel
Distributor: USA Films
Production Co: October Films, Further Films
Rating: R (Sexuality|Language|Violence)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 27, 2001, Wide
Release Date (DVD): Nov 5, 2002
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.3M
Runtime: 1h 33m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, SDDS, Surround, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)