The Night Before

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2:22

Poster for

The Night Before

R

2015

1h 41m

Holiday

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

69%

Tomatometer

156 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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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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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

Whatever, it was light, at times stupid, but entertaining and I was never bored.

Sep 1, 2017

Full Review

Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

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.

Apr 30, 2016

Full Review

Jake Wilson

Sydney Morning Herald

In The Night Before, which Levine directed and co-wrote, sweetness and crudity mingle from the outset.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 9, 2015

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

A raunchy party movie that lacks the requisite laughs or heart to make it a holiday classic

Rated: 1.5/4

Apr 25, 2022

Full Review

Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

A stoner comedy that is nuttier than Grandma's fruitcake but just as sweet.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 3, 2021

Full Review

Víctor López G.

Espinof

Another wild comedy from Rogen and friends filled with drugs, scatological humor and a surprising softness able to warm even the most anti-christmas hearts.

Rated: 7/10

Jan 12, 2021

Full Review

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Dawson H.

Solid dumb funny Xmas movie

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/29/25

Full Review

James E

If you like Christmas and Seth Rogan movies, this is an easy win for a good time.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/05/25

Full Review

G R

Hilarious. I have seen it 20 times.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/23/25

Full Review

Koi P

Humorous, creative, and fun cast.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/08/25

Full Review

Marc Z

A slow start and a little disjointed but turns out to be very funny. There is a lot of sex and drug humor, but the movie is a friendship tale at its heart. Seth Rogen is not actually the star but he is the funniest part of the movie by far. Jonathan Gordon-Levitt is the star and the straight man but his performance does not match up to Rogen's. Anthony Mackie is good as the steroid successful athlete. he is pretty funny. The supporting cast is quirky and funny. I don't love this movie but I did enjoy it. Don;t expect it to become a Christmas tradition but definitely worth watching at least once- even in June.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/03/25

Full Review

Hollis Q

I will be watching this every year

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/03/25

Full Review

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Jonathan Levine

Director

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Ethan

Seth Rogen

Isaac

Anthony Mackie

Chris

Jillian Bell

Betsy

Lizzy Caplan

Diana

The Night Before: Official Clip - A Christmas Miracle

2:14

The Night Before: Official Clip - Sleigh Ride Car Chase

3:04

The Night Before: Official Clip - Toy Store Runaway

1:26

The Night Before: Official Clip - We Did Not Kill Jesus!

2:12

The Night Before: Official Clip - Looking Into Your Soul

2:40

The Night Before: Official Clip - This Baby is a Mistake

2:16

The Night Before: Official Clip - Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself

1:45

The Night Before: Official Clip - You Bled in My Drink!

3:09

The Night Before: Official Clip - The Talking Nativity

2:55

The Night Before: Official Clip - The Weed of Christmas Present

2:32

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The Night Before: Red Band Trailer 2

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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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