What Just Happened?

Play trailer

What Just Happened?

R

2008

1h 53m

Comedy

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

49%

Tomatometer

140 Reviews

22%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

During the course of an ordinary week in Hollywood, movie producer Ben must navigate his way through shark-infested waters as he struggles to complete his latest projects. A demanding studio boss demands extensive changes to a movie starring Sean Penn, while another chief won't greenlight a project unless star Bruce Willis shaves his beard. Meanwhile, Ben tries to reconcile with his wife and maintain a relationship with his young daughter.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

What Just Happened has some inspired comic moments, but this inside-baseball take on Hollywood lacks satirical bite.

Read Critics Reviews

Paul Byrnes

Sydney Morning Herald

05/24/2009

3.5/5

It's a pungent film about Hollywood power and a useful manual for young producers on how to stay upright in Hollywood or at least, how to lose your soul with grace.

Go to Full Review

Philippa Hawker

The Age (Australia)

05/21/2009

2.5/5

What Just Happened, despite an air of crisis, feels sluggish and plodding.

Go to Full Review

David Stratton

At the Movies (Australia)

05/20/2009

2.5/5

I don't think it's particularly funny and I think that's the problem with the film. I think it wants to be funny.

Go to Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

12/02/2023

2/4

The only appeal is watching the long list of celebrities in the cast poke fun at their industry—a small consolation considering how sharp this film could have been.

Go to Full Review

Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

09/02/2020

What Just Happened is artistically disjointed and lacking in courage. Apparently the stellar cast wanted to make a hard-hitting piece-the various performers worked for scale.

Go to Full Review

Kaleem Aftab

The List

11/04/2018

2/5

The laboured, almost morose storytelling style doesn't help.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

William S

@William104 Jan 6

An absolutely horrible movie. I couldn't even fall asleep to it without a loud phone constantly ringing throughout the show. It's a movie about accepting a movie. Really shows you the fantasy land that some of Hollywood lives in. They couldn't even discern that a phone ringing, loud, and long would not sit well with the viewers. I think this movie was made to spite the audience.

See more

Ann S

@RT39269662 Sep 30

I could not even finish the movie, boring...

See more

N P

@NicSarge 12/10/2024

"What Just Happened" showcased the day-to-day life of a hot shot Hollywood producer down on his luck, whether that be familial, relationally or career wise. It was interesting to see how much weight, busy-ness and a mediator type role a producer plays - that it can get overwhelming, and the film does a good job at portraying that. De Niro plays the titular role endearingly, so the audience can't help but root for him. But, this film, at the end of the day, is aight and may fly past your head sooner rather than later.

See more

alan g

@agenser 04/24/2024

When is hollywood going to realize that DeNiro can't act anymore. Just phoning it in. Waste of time.

See more

Dani G

@RT81139271 02/29/2024

What a waste of time and talent

See more

Alec B

@Alec97 02/28/2024

I think the reason this got such bad reviews is that the movie isn't really a satire despite the fact that it bills itself as one. Its clearly more of a "state of the film industry" (at least as it was in the mid 00s) and it's an admirable attempt at honesty even if it isn't really a compelling one.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Barry Levinson

Director

Robert De Niro

Ben

Sean Penn

Sean Penn

Catherine Keener

Lou Tarnow

John Turturro

Dick Bell

Robin Wright

Kelly

Humboldt County

60%

59%

Humboldt County

Watchlist

Being Flynn

49%

41%

Being Flynn

Watchlist

Synecdoche, New York

69%

71%

Synecdoche, New York

Watchlist

The Weather Man

60%

56%

The Weather Man

Watchlist

A Serious Man

89%

68%

A Serious Man

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

UK Critics Consensus: Local Critics Warm To Changeling; De Niro Delights But What Just Happened Doesn’t

Exclusive Red-band Clip: What Just Happened?

Cannes 2008: Well, Well, Well…If It Isn’t the 2008 Cannes Lineup!

View more photos

Synopsis

During the course of an ordinary week in Hollywood, movie producer Ben must navigate his way through shark-infested waters as he struggles to complete his latest projects. A demanding studio boss demands extensive changes to a movie starring Sean Penn, while another chief won't greenlight a project unless star Bruce Willis shaves his beard. Meanwhile, Ben tries to reconcile with his wife and maintain a relationship with his young daughter.

Director: Barry Levinson
Producer: Robert De Niro, Art Linson, Jane Rosenthal, Barry Levinson
Screenwriter: Art Linson
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Production Co: Linson Films, Tribeca Productions, 2929 Productions
Rating: R (Sexual Content|Language|Some Drug Material|Some Violent Images)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 17, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 25, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.1M
Runtime: 1h 53m

Most Popular at Home Now