Manhattan

94%

Tomatometer

70 Reviews

92%

Audience Score

50,000+ Ratings

Director Woody Allen's love letter to New York City stars Allen as frustrated television writer Isaac Davis, a twice-divorced malcontent facing middle age alone after his wife, Jill (Meryl Streep), leaves him for a woman. Isaac is dating fresh-faced Tracy (Mariel Hemingway), a high school girl he knows is wrong for him, and begins to wonder if he and brainy writer Mary (Diane Keaton), the mistress of his best friend, Yale (Michael Murphy), might make a better couple. Read More Read Less

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Manhattan

What to Know

Critics Consensus

One of Woody Allen's early classics, Manhattan combines modern, bittersweet humor and timeless romanticism with unerring grace.

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Critics Reviews

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John Pym

Sight & Sound

Allen has always had difficulty harmonising his comic talents and the skittering form of his films: Manhattan is a temporary resolution gratefully received.

Jul 31, 2018

Full Review

Stanley Kauffmann

The New Republic

What George M. Cohan did with the Stars and Stripes in 1919, Allen is doing with neurosis in 1979: waving it, telling us that as long as we're proud of it, we're all pretty damned OK. That's the real romance of Manhattan.

Jan 9, 2018

Full Review

Tara Brady

Irish Times

A pretty and problematic picture that leaves a sour taste in the mouth.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 14, 2017

Full Review

Photoplay Staff

Photoplay

Except for its striking black-and-white photography, Manhattan would seem a sequel to Annie Hall. Cast and content rate superlatives. A landmark film, destined to become a classic.

Nov 16, 2023

Full Review

Dilys Powell

Punch

The film, shot in deeply satisfying black and white, has the nervous tension and the romantic excitement of a beloved city.

Oct 2, 2023

Full Review

Brandon Judell

Huffington Post

By the way, Isaac's wife, played by Meryl Streep, has left him to become a lesbian. This wasn't that popular a move back in 1979. In fact, Meryl did it before New York magazine even had a "Lesbian Chic" cover.

Jun 15, 2021

Full Review

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Audience Reviews

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Yvonne L Michael Murphy in Manhattan was ill-suited; in my opinion, he is not an actor. He lets his fellow actors consistently take the lead and do all of the speaking. He appears to have nothing to offer. Any person on the street can fill that position. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/24/24 Full Review Tim M Another quick-witted Woody Allen screenplay on the uncertainty and insecurities of romantic relationships, Manhattan is more thematically timeless than not. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 04/18/24 Full Review Nawt W Exceptional blocking and amazing work with shadows and silhouettes. The direction and cinematography probably absolve the movie of the myriad things I have issues with. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/08/24 Full Review Discover G It was the longest 90 minutes I've ever spent Rated 1/5 Stars • Rated 1 out of 5 stars 11/07/23 Full Review Adrian B True classic, stand up comedy guy from Gaslight club of 1962 had grown up to the silver screen proportion in black and white. A flair of big apple romance, with Allen's direction and hillarious comic details in dialogues, gets acted very well by entire cast. One of the master's best for sure. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/17/23 Full Review geordie b This is a mini-masterpiece and one of the high points from a decade filled with high points. Woody Allen has never been better & Diane Keaton, Meryl Streep & Mariel Hemingway are all better than him. Stunning black-and-white cinematography and amazing Gershwin music make for a truly cinematic experience. It is one of the most beautiful & gloriously romantic movies ever made. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/18/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Manhattan

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Cast & Crew

Woody Allen Director Woody Allen Isaac Davis Diane Keaton Mary Wilkie Mariel Hemingway Tracy Michael Murphy Yale Meryl Streep Jill

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Manhattan

Manhattan (1979)

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Movie Info

Synopsis Director Woody Allen's love letter to New York City stars Allen as frustrated television writer Isaac Davis, a twice-divorced malcontent facing middle age alone after his wife, Jill (Meryl Streep), leaves him for a woman. Isaac is dating fresh-faced Tracy (Mariel Hemingway), a high school girl he knows is wrong for him, and begins to wonder if he and brainy writer Mary (Diane Keaton), the mistress of his best friend, Yale (Michael Murphy), might make a better couple.

Director: Woody Allen
Producer: Charles H. Joffe
Screenwriter: Woody Allen, Marshall Brickman
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: Jack Rollins and Charles Joffe
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 14, 1979, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Mar 10, 2017
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 13, 2015
Runtime: 1h 36m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm