The Late Shift (1996): cast, story & where to watch
1996 · Film · ★ 6.6
Released in 1996, The Late Shift is a comedy, drama and tv movie film directed by Betty Thomas, running about 95 minutes. “Two heads fighting for the late night crown - One head's gotta roll.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. David Letterman vies with Jay Leno and his manager to succeed Johnny Carson, retiring from "The Tonight Show."
Who’s in it. The Late Shift stars John Michael Higgins as David Letterman, Kathy Bates as Helen Kushnick, Daniel Roebuck as Jay Leno and Bob Balaban as Warren Littlefield, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.6/10, The Late Shift has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and HBO Max and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Late Shift page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Late Shift tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Late Shift (1996)?
- In US, The Late Shift is available to stream on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and HBO Max, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Late Shift worth watching?
- The Late Shift holds an audience score of 6.6 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, drama and tv movie. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Late Shift?
- The Late Shift stars John Michael Higgins, Kathy Bates, Daniel Roebuck, Bob Balaban and Ed Begley Jr..
- When was The Late Shift released?
- The Late Shift was released in 1996, with a runtime of about 95 minutes.