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Ezra

"To do right by his son, one dad will go the distance."

2024 1h 40m EN
👍
6.9
SOLID
★6.9TMDB · 126
ComedyDrama
Synopsis
Spoiler shield

Stand-up comedian Max Bernal lives with his father Stan while struggling to co-parent his autistic son Ezra with his ex-wife. When forced to confront difficult decisions about their son's future, Max and Ezra embark on a cross-country road trip that has a transcendent impact on both their lives.

“To do right by his son, one dad will go the distance.”

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Cast

Credits

Behind the camera

Director
Tony Goldwyn
Writers
Tony Spiridakis
Languages
English
Countries
United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8
MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 61% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01
2 / 8
ERA

Did you know

Released 2 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
ERA

Did you know

Directed by Tony Goldwyn, shot by Daniel Moder. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
ERA

Did you know

Original score by Carlos Rafael Rivera. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Sabine Hoffman shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
ERA

Did you know

Bobby Cannavale and William A. Fitzgerald and Robert De Niro carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "To do right by his son, one dad will go the distance.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt20315818 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Tony Goldwyn directs. Daniel Moder behind the camera. Carlos Rafael Rivera scores. Sabine Hoffman cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

  • 1Earned back only 61% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
  • 2Released 2 years ago.
  • 3Directed by Tony Goldwyn, shot by Daniel Moder. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
  • 4Original score by Carlos Rafael Rivera. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
  • 5Editor Sabine Hoffman shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
  • 6Bobby Cannavale and William A. Fitzgerald and Robert De Niro carry the top of the cast.
  • 7Marketing tagline: "To do right by his son, one dad will go the distance.".
  • 8IMDB entry: tt20315818 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
  • 9Released under 11 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography
Daniel Moder
Original score
Carlos Rafael Rivera
Editing
Sabine Hoffman
Production design
Dan Leigh
Costume design
Donna Berwick
Makeup / hair
Eldo Ray Estes
VFX supervisor
Mitchell Ferm
Stunt coordinator
Manny Siverio
Runtime
100 min · 1h 40m
Aspect ratio (typical)
1.37:1 (Academy)
Status
Released
Budget
$5,000,000
Box office
$3,046,741
Return
61% of budget
Original language
EN
Certification (US)
R

Also by

Tony Goldwyn

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

  • Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots

    Director Tony Goldwyn‘s “Ezra” is a surprisingly heartfelt family drama that manages to be both funny and emotional in all the right ways. While it can sometimes feel too pedestrian, the story blends a road trip narrative with themes of family dynamics, personal trauma, and the unconditional love between a father and son. Max (Bobby Cannavale) is a stand-up comedian and a father to Ezra (William A. Fitzgerald), a young boy on the autism spectrum. Devoted to his son, Max is fiercely protective of his unique qualities while remaining adamant about not “fixing” him because he believes Ezra is perfect as he is. But when forced to make a tough choice about the boy ‘s future, Max acts rashly, taking Ezra on a cross-country journey without his ex-wife Jenna’s (Rose Byrne) permission. This impulsive move creates both tension and heartfelt moments, as it forces Max to confront the consequences of his actions and the depths of his love for his son. What sets the film apart is its authentic, raw portrayal of autism (the script is written by Tony Spiridakis, whose own experiences with an autistic son give the story an undeniable sense of realism). Fitzgerald (who is also on the spectrum) interacts with a world in a way that feels incredibly true to life because it is. The film captures the little things, like Ezra’s struggles with physical touch and his love for puzzles and memorization, without ever feeling exploitative. This is a film that doesn’t just shine a light on the challenges of autism, but exposes a world of nuance and individuality. You could say it’s educational in that way. Cannavale’s performance as a deeply flawed father who’s totally devoted to his son is impressive. I didn’t know the actor had this much range, and he’s quite good. His character’s anger-management issues and rash decisions add a layer of complexity but it’s clear that every wrong step he takes is driven by love that isn’t always expressed in the healthiest way. Byrne provides a grounding balance to the chaos, portraying a character who is the voice of reason, and Robert De Niro’s role as Max’s father, Stan, is written in a way that’s more meaningful than a series of platitudes that often surround a dad trying to make amends for his past failures. Stan’s attempts to connect with Ezra and support his son are touching, and De Niro’s performance adds a depth to the family dynamics that feels earned and real. The film strikes a perfect balance between drama and humor. There are moments of missteps where you’ll cringe at Max’s choices, but there’s never any doubt about his fierce, unwavering love for his son. This father-son relationship is at the emotional center of the film and serves as a reminder of how love can be messy, complicated, but also transformative. “Ezra” is a story about family and how love isn’t always perfect. It blends humor and heart so well, providing a funny and moving look at fatherhood, redemption, and the bond between generations. By: Louisa Moore / SCREEN ZEALOTS

Production companies

Who made it

  • Closer Media

    Closer Media

    US

  • Wayfarer Studios

    Wayfarer Studios

    US

Key crew

  • ProducerTony Spiridakis
  • ProducerTony Goldwyn
  • Associate ProducerAlex Plank
  • Lighting TechnicianJohn R. Caccamo
  • Executive ProducerJustin Baldoni
  • Executive ProducerBobby Cannavale
  • ProducerWilliam Horberg
  • Executive ProducerManu Gargi
  • Executive ProducerSteve Sarowitz
  • Executive ProducerCarla Raij
  • Executive ProducerLois Robbins
  • ProducerJon Kilik
  • Executive ProducerAndrew Calof
  • Executive ProducerJason Pinardo
  • Executive ProducerZhang Xin
  • Assistant Sound EditorJake O'Brien
  • EditorSabine Hoffman
  • Makeup Department HeadEldo Ray Estes
  • CastingPaul Schnee
  • Set DecorationChryss Hionis
  • Makeup ArtistCarla White
  • CastingKerry Barden
  • Key Hair StylistDaniel Cerone
  • Key Makeup ArtistJacqueline Fundus

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

  • autism
  • road trip
  • parenting
  • divorced parents

Release history · US

When it landed

  • Premiere2023-10-01· Woodstock Film Festival
  • Premiere2024-03-01· Boulder Film Festival
  • Premiere2024-02-28· Sun Valley Film Festival
  • Theatrical2024-05-31R
  • Digital2024-06-25R

Also known as

International titles

  • Inappropriate BehaviorUS
  • עזראIL
  • Dobry ojciecPL
  • Siempre JuntosMX
  • 不当行为CN
  • 埃兹拉CN
  • Standing UpGB
  • Ezra - Viaggio di famigliaIT
  • ازراIR
  • عزراIR
  • Standing UpDE

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