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The Night Before

Play trailer 2:22 Poster for The Night Before R 2015 1h 41m Holiday Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
69% Tomatometer 157 Reviews 61% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
For the last 10 years, lifelong buddies Ethan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Isaac (Seth Rogen) and Chris (Anthony Mackie) have gathered on Christmas Eve to celebrate the holidays with a bang. As Isaac prepares to become a first-time father, the friends realize that their annual tradition is coming to a sad end. To make it as memorable as possible, they plan a night of debauchery and hilarity by searching for the Nutcracka Ball, the Holy Grail of Christmas parties in New York.
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The Night Before

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Critics Consensus

The Night Before provokes enough belly laughs to qualify as a worthwhile addition to the list of Christmas comedies worth revisiting, even if it isn't quite as consistent as the classics.

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Critics Reviews

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Candice Frederick Reel Talk Online Sep 1, 2017
Whatever, it was light, at times stupid, but entertaining and I was never bored. Go to Full Review Jason Bailey Flavorwire Apr 30, 2016
The people who made the trailers for 'The Night Before' seem to have a better idea of what it should be than the people who made the movie. Go to Full Review Jake Wilson Sydney Morning Herald Dec 9, 2015
3/5
In The Night Before, which Levine directed and co-wrote, sweetness and crudity mingle from the outset. Go to Full Review Mel Campbell ScreenHub Dec 29, 2025
Rather sweetly, it turns familiar, raucous bro-antics into a pageant about accepting the party’s over. … Bearish and exuberant, Seth Rogen’s Isaac gets absolutely off his holiday-sweatered tits [while] US comedy faces show up like sixpences in a pudding. Go to Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Apr 25, 2022
1.5/4
A raunchy party movie that lacks the requisite laughs or heart to make it a holiday classic Go to Full Review Richard Crouse Richard Crouse Feb 3, 2021
4/5
A stoner comedy that is nuttier than Grandma's fruitcake but just as sweet. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mickey B. @Mickerdoo Jun 22, 2026 Has just enough heart to push it into a worthwhile Christmas comedy. Balanced with Rogen’s debauchery filled comedy style. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jun 20, 2026 Funny in 1 hour and 41 minutes. See more Roman I @romanines Jun 17, 2026 Definitely A fun Movie. Performances were good all around, nothing crazy but solid. There were for sure some funny and memorable moments but it all came down to the message that I think a lot of people can relate to. Whether you're a man or a woman, black or white, straight or gay, tall or short, Life changes. Change is hard but friendship lives in the hearts of those we love. See more M G @gennuso Apr 25, 2026 kinda funny Xmas movie See more Zoe B T @Peeker Jan 25, 2026 Irreverent. Many, many laughs baked into this one. Really appreciate that it’s not the typical holiday rom com bs. Bros being bros. Loved the unexpected cast. This just may become a holiday movie that is an annual repeat. See more Mariana T @M.Tezeta Jan 14, 2026 Initially, I gave it a 1.25 rating because I felt there wouldn't be a good plot for such an absurd premise. In the end, the absurdity won me over, and the portrayal is so Christmassy that it envelops you in that spirit (even if it's dark). It's truly a Christmas comedy that will take you out of your comfort zone if you give it a chance. But, in retrospect, I wouldn't watch it again, and I'd say that 3 stars is fair enough to avoid considering it a bad movie or upsetting Christmas purists. See more Read all reviews
The Night Before

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Cast & Crew

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Jonathan Levine

Director

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Ethan

Seth Rogen

Isaac

Anthony Mackie

Chris

Jillian Bell

Betsy

Lizzy Caplan

Diana

Movie Clips

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The Night Before

The Night Before: Official Clip - A Christmas Miracle The Night Before: Official Clip - A Christmas Miracle 2:14 Now Playing The Night Before: Official Clip - Toy Store Runaway The Night Before: Official Clip - Toy Store Runaway 1:26 Now Playing The Night Before: Official Clip - Sleigh Ride Car Chase The Night Before: Official Clip - Sleigh Ride Car Chase 3:04 Now Playing The Night Before: Official Clip - We Did Not Kill Jesus! The Night Before: Official Clip - We Did Not Kill Jesus! 2:12 Now Playing The Night Before: Official Clip - Looking Into Your Soul The Night Before: Official Clip - Looking Into Your Soul 2:40 Now Playing The Night Before: Official Clip - This Baby is a Mistake The Night Before: Official Clip - This Baby is a Mistake 2:16 Now Playing The Night Before: Official Clip - Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself The Night Before: Official Clip - Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself 1:45 Now Playing The Night Before: Official Clip - You Bled in My Drink! The Night Before: Official Clip - You Bled in My Drink! 3:09 Now Playing The Night Before: Official Clip - The Talking Nativity The Night Before: Official Clip - The Talking Nativity 2:55 Now Playing The Night Before: Official Clip - The Weed of Christmas Present The Night Before: Official Clip - The Weed of Christmas Present 2:32 Now Playing View more videos

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The Night Before

The Night Before: Red Band Trailer 2 The Night Before: Red Band Trailer 2 2:22 Now Playing The Night Before: Trailer 1 The Night Before: Trailer 1 2:31 Now Playing View more videos
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The Night Before

The Night Before (2015) The Night Before (2015) The Night Before (2015) Ilana Glazer ias Rebecca Grinch in "The Night Before." (L-R) Seth Rogen as Isaac and Michael Shannon as Mr. Green in "The Night Before." Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Ethan in "The Night Before." (L-R) Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Ethan, Seth Rogen as Isaac and Anthony Mackie as Chris Roberts in "The Night Before." Seth Rogen as Isaac in "The Night Before." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis For the last 10 years, lifelong buddies Ethan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Isaac (Seth Rogen) and Chris (Anthony Mackie) have gathered on Christmas Eve to celebrate the holidays with a bang. As Isaac prepares to become a first-time father, the friends realize that their annual tradition is coming to a sad end. To make it as memorable as possible, they plan a night of debauchery and hilarity by searching for the Nutcracka Ball, the Holy Grail of Christmas parties in New York.
Director
Jonathan Levine
Producer
Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen, James Weaver
Screenwriter
Jonathan Levine, Kyle Hunter, Ariel Shaffir, Evan Goldberg
Distributor
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co
Point Grey
Rating
R (Graphic Nudity|Drug Use|Language Throughout|Some Strong Sexual Content)
Genre
Holiday, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 20, 2015, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 16, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$43.0M
Runtime
1h 41m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS
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