Celebrity poster

Celebrity

"A funny look at people who will do anything to get famous... or stay famous."

Movie R 1998 1h 53m 6.0 /10
Directed by Woody Allen

Lee is a once promising writer whose career has stalled and whose personal life feels stuck. He divorces his quiet wife Robin and begins a new gig as an entertainment reporter, chasing stories in Manhattan's glitziest circles. From one lavish party to the next, he flirts with a string of empty... Read more

Stream Now

Where to Watch "Celebrity"

Stream with Subscription
Rent or Buy

Netflix
Disney+
Max
Hulu
Paramount+
Peacock
Apple TV+

Streaming availability last verified: February 03, 2026

About Celebrity

Lee is a once promising writer whose career has stalled and whose personal life feels stuck. He divorces his quiet wife Robin and begins a new gig as an entertainment reporter, chasing stories in Manhattan's glitziest circles. From one lavish party to the next, he flirts with a string of empty romances and starts to question the value of his work. In parallel, a powerful TV producer named Tony falls for Robin and drags her into the orbit of fame, where sunshine and cameras mask deeper tensions. The satire follows Lee's growing sense that success is a mask, and it skewers the vanity and fever of the celebrity scene.

Released in 1998, the film was directed by Woody Allen and written by Allen himself, featuring a tight ensemble cast. It stands as an original screenplay rather than a formal adaptation, built around Allen's eye for anxieties and media culture.

Critics offered mixed notices, with some praising the sharp look at celebrity culture and the way the cast handles the film's sly mood, while others found the tone uneven or fragmented. The movie probes ambition and dissatisfaction, asking whether fame can substitute for genuine connection in a glossy world today.

The film is notable for featuring a young Leonardo DiCaprio in one of his early screen roles, a detail fans often mention when tracing his rise. It also captures late 90s Manhattan glamour and Woody Allen's brisk satirical bite, giving viewers a window into the era's pop culture preoccupations today.

Details

Release Date
September 07, 1998
Runtime
1h 53m
Rating
R
User Ratings
499 votes
Type
Movie
Genres
Drama, Comedy
Country
United States
Studio
Sweetland Films +1 more
Budget
$12,000,000
Box Office
$5,078,660
External Links
View on IMDB

Official Trailer

Cast

Hank Azaria

Hank Azaria

David

Kenneth Branagh

Kenneth Branagh

Lee Simon

Judy Davis

Judy Davis

Robin Simon

Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio

Brandon

Melanie Griffith

Melanie Griffith

Nicole Oliver

Famke Janssen

Famke Janssen

Bonnie

Michael Lerner

Michael Lerner

Dr. Lupus

Joe Mantegna

Joe Mantegna

Tony Gardella

Bebe Neuwirth

Bebe Neuwirth

Nina - the Hooker

Winona Ryder

Winona Ryder

Nola

Director: Woody Allen

Frequently Asked Questions

Celebrity is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. You can also rent or buy it on Apple iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, and Amazon Video.

Yes, Celebrity is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

Yes, you can rent on Apple iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, and Amazon Video or buy on Apple iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, and Amazon Video.

With a rating of 6.0/10 from 499 viewers, Celebrity is a mixed bag - check out reviews to see if it's right for you.

Lee is a once promising writer whose career has stalled and whose personal life feels stuck. He divorces his quiet wife Robin and begins a new gig as an entertainment reporter, chasing stories in Manhattan's glitziest circles. From one lavish party to the next, he flirts with a string of empty ro...

Celebrity stars Hank Azaria, Kenneth Branagh, Judy Davis, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Melanie Griffith.

Celebrity was directed by Woody Allen.

Celebrity was released on September 07, 1998.

Celebrity is a Drama and Comedy film.

Celebrity is a fictional story created by Woody Allen; it's not based on a specific true event. The plot follows a writer's life in Manhattan as he climbs into the world of celebrity culture.

Kenneth Branagh plays Lee Simon, a writer who divorces his wife and becomes an entertainment journalist. His experiences drive the film's look at fame and personal life in Manhattan.

Lee Simon is played by Kenneth Branagh and Robin Simon is played by Judy Davis. Together, they anchor the couple at the center of the story as the writer's personal and professional worlds collide.

Leonardo DiCaprio portrays Brandon in Celebrity. His character is part of the celebrity circle that the film follows as it moves through Manhattan's party world.