Opening Night (1977): cast, story & where to watch
1977 · Film · ★ 7.6
Released in 1977, Opening Night is a drama film directed by John Cassavetes, running about 144 minutes. “The Show Must Go On…” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Actress Myrtle Gordon is a functioning alcoholic who is a few days from the opening night of her latest play, concerning a woman distraught about aging. One night a car kills one of Myrtle's fans who is chasing her limousine in an attempt to get the star's attention. Myrtle internalizes the accident and goes on a spiritual quest, but fails to finds the answers she is after. As opening night inches closer and closer, fragile Myrtle must find a way to make the show go on.
Who’s in it. Opening Night stars Gena Rowlands as Myrtle Gordon, John Cassavetes as Maurice Aarons, Ben Gazzara as Manny Victor and Joan Blondell as Sarah Goode, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.6/10, Opening Night has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Criterion Channel and HBO Max and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Opening Night page.
If you liked it. Fans of Opening Night tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Opening Night (1977)?
- In US, Opening Night is available to stream on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and Criterion Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Opening Night worth watching?
- Opening Night holds an audience score of 7.6 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Opening Night?
- Opening Night stars Gena Rowlands, John Cassavetes, Ben Gazzara, Joan Blondell and Paul Stewart.
- When was Opening Night released?
- Opening Night was released in 1977, with a runtime of about 144 minutes.