Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

The Humbling

  • 20142014
  • RR
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
6.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Al Pacino and Greta Gerwig in The Humbling (2014)
As over-the-hill stage actor Simon Axler struggles to find his passion for life again, he finds motivation in the form of a young and lustful lesbian Pegeen Stapleford, but as their relationship heats up Simon has a hard time keeping up with the youthful Pegeen.
Play trailer2:22
2 Videos
37 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Romance

A stage actor who is slowly losing his mind engages in a relationship with a sexually confused younger woman.A stage actor who is slowly losing his mind engages in a relationship with a sexually confused younger woman.A stage actor who is slowly losing his mind engages in a relationship with a sexually confused younger woman.

IMDb RATING
5.5/10
6.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Barry Levinson
  • Writers
    • Buck Henry(screenplay)
    • Michal Zebede(screenplay)
    • Philip Roth(novel)
  • Stars
    • Al Pacino
    • Greta Gerwig
    • Nina Arianda
Top credits
  • Director
    • Barry Levinson
  • Writers
    • Buck Henry(screenplay)
    • Michal Zebede(screenplay)
    • Philip Roth(novel)
  • Stars
    • Al Pacino
    • Greta Gerwig
    • Nina Arianda
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 37User reviews
    • 90Critic reviews
    • 59Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:22
    Official Trailer
    When Are You Going To Tell Your Parents
    Clip 1:17
    When Are You Going To Tell Your Parents

    Photos37

    Al Pacino, Dan Hedaya, and Dianne Wiest in The Humbling (2014)
    Barry Levinson in The Humbling (2014)
    Al Pacino and Greta Gerwig in The Humbling (2014)
    Al Pacino in The Humbling (2014)
    Al Pacino and Nina Arianda in The Humbling (2014)
    Greta Gerwig in The Humbling (2014)
    Greta Gerwig in The Humbling (2014)
    Al Pacino in The Humbling (2014)
    Al Pacino and Greta Gerwig in The Humbling (2014)
    Charles Grodin in The Humbling (2014)
    Al Pacino in The Humbling (2014)
    Kyra Sedgwick in The Humbling (2014)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Al Pacino
    Al Pacino
    • Simonas Simon
    Greta Gerwig
    Greta Gerwig
    • Pegeenas Pegeen
    Nina Arianda
    Nina Arianda
    • Sybilas Sybil
    Charles Grodin
    Charles Grodin
    • Jerryas Jerry
    Mary Louise Wilson
    Mary Louise Wilson
    • Mrs. Rutledgeas Mrs. Rutledge
    Dan Hedaya
    Dan Hedaya
    • Asaas Asa
    Dianne Wiest
    Dianne Wiest
    • Carolas Carol
    Billy Porter
    Billy Porter
    • Princeas Prince
    Li Jun Li
    Li Jun Li
    • Tracyas Tracy
    Lance Roberts
    Lance Roberts
    • Walteras Walter
    Kyra Sedgwick
    Kyra Sedgwick
    • Louiseas Louise
    Victor Cruz
    Victor Cruz
    • Security Guardas Security Guard
    Derrick Arthur
    Derrick Arthur
    • Techieas Techie
    Steve Rosen
    Steve Rosen
    • Stage Manageras Stage Manager
    Andrea Barnes
    Andrea Barnes
    • Nurseas Nurse
    Dylan Baker
    Dylan Baker
    • Dr. Farras Dr. Farr
    Otoja Abit
    Otoja Abit
    • Man in Therapyas Man in Therapy
    Jennifer Regan
    Jennifer Regan
    • Vet Nurseas Vet Nurse
    • (as Jen Regan)
    • Director
      • Barry Levinson
    • Writers
      • Buck Henry(screenplay)
      • Michal Zebede(screenplay)
      • Philip Roth(novel)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    Manglehorn
    5.5
    Manglehorn
    Salomé
    6.3
    Salomé
    Danny Collins
    7.0
    Danny Collins
    Chinese Coffee
    7.1
    Chinese Coffee
    Paterno
    6.5
    Paterno
    Two Bits
    6.1
    Two Bits
    We Are Not Animals
    4.9
    We Are Not Animals
    Misconduct
    5.3
    Misconduct
    People I Know
    5.4
    People I Know
    Stand Up Guys
    6.4
    Stand Up Guys
    You Don't Know Jack
    7.6
    You Don't Know Jack
    Revolution
    5.3
    Revolution

    Storyline

    Edit
    Simon is an aging actor who suffers from bouts of dementia. He is institutionalized after an incident during a Broadway play, then returns home, where he contemplates suicide in Hemingway style. When he embarks upon an affair with an ex-girlfriend's amoral bisexual daughter, Pegeen, his world starts to fall apart. It ends on stage, with even Axler's audience and fellow actors unsure what's real and what's not. —Anonymous
    • female professor
    • bad back
    • impossible love
    • locked out
    • stage play
    • 267 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Suicide is the role you write for yourself.
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for sexual material, language and brief violence
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      It was Al Pacino's idea to make the book into a movie, to the point of convincing Barry Levinson to direct it and approaching together Buck Henry to adapt it.
    • Quotes

      Simon Axler: Three quarters of the things we do in life are mistakes!

    • Connections
      Referenced in Evening Urgant: Vyacheslav Krikunov/Elizaveta Nilova/Polina Gagarina (2015)
    • Soundtracks
      Circlesong 6
      Performed By Bobby McFerrin

      Written By Bobby McFerrin

      Courtesy Of Sony Classical

    User reviews37

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Can Be Quite Funny But Quite Weird As Well
    This film can be quite funny but also quite weird, as it had a certain appeal to me and I ended up liking it. Not everything works here, and I would venture to say it's not for everyone, but I felt the parts of the movie that do work, work well and make it worthwhile.

    Al Pacino and Greta Gerwig are exceptional here, in the lead roles, and play off each other quite well. Pacino portrays Simon, an aging actor who sees his mental capabilities diminishing before his eyes, thus markedly affecting his ability to perform. Following an intentional leap from a stage into an empty orchestra pit, landing face first, followed by a botched suicide attempt, He ends up in a rest and rehab home for 30 days, before being released into the outpatient care of his therapist (Dylan Baker), whom he has sessions with on Skype.

    Gerwig plays Pegeen, who shows up at Simon's front door, one day, and is the daughter of former friends and co-performers of his, many years before. She tells Simon, whom she hasn't seen in many years, that as a child she used to have an enormous crush on him when he would visit their home. Despite declaring she's an avowed lesbian, she begins to boldly seduce Simon and they soon begin a May-December relationship.

    All kinds of quirky characters will come and go throughout the film, such as Sybil (Nina Arianda) who met Simon in rehab and now is stalking him to kill her vile husband. Also, Prince (Billy Porter), who used to be Priscilla and in a relationship with Pegeen before the operation. It's fun to see some veteran screen notables make varying screen time appearances, including Charles Grodin, Dianne Wiest, Dan Hedaya, Kyra Sedgwick, and Mary Louis Wilson.

    It's nice to see the acclaimed filmmaker Barry Levinson (Rain Man, The Natural) back with a movie on screen, with a screenplay from the great Buck Henry (The Graduate), and Mechal Zebede.

    All in all, this film offers something different but, as mentioned it will not appeal to everyone. With the performances of Pacino and Gerwig, as well as solid support, plus some quirky humor, I felt there was enough here for me to enjoy.
    helpful•11
    2
    • larrys3
    • Mar 7, 2015

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 23, 2015 (South Africa)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Italy
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Một Thời Chóng Qua
    • Filming locations
      • St. George Theatre, Staten Island, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Ambi Pictures
      • Hammerton Productions
      • Stonelock Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $399,666
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 52 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

    Related news

    Composer Marcelo Zarvos Channels “Love In All Its Forms” With Score For Denzel Washington’s ‘A Journal For Jordan’ – Hear Two Exclusive Tracks
    Composer Marcelo Zarvos Channels “Love In All Its Forms” With Score For Denzel Washington’s ‘A Journal For Jordan’ – Hear Two Exclusive Tracks
    Dec 16Deadline Film + TV
    Vikings: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Harald
    Vikings: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Harald
    Jun 21ScreenRant.com

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Al Pacino and Greta Gerwig in The Humbling (2014)
    Top Gap
    By what name was The Humbling (2014) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    2022 TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.