• Comedy
• Drama

Ella McCay 2025

Directed by James L. Brooks, the 2025 film Ella McCay is a political comedy-drama set in 2008 that follows a 34-year-old idealistic lieutenant governor (Emma Mackey) who is unexpectedly thrust into the role of governor when her mentor, Bill Moore (Albert Brooks), joins the presidential cabinet. The narrative, narrated by her secretary Estelle (Julie Kavner), explores Ella's struggle to pass a signature childcare bill for single mothers while navigating a minefield of personal and professional betrayals. Her husband, Ryan (Jack Lowden), becomes a primary antagonist when he leaks a potential scandal involving their private use of a government apartment to the press, attempting to manipulate her for his own political gain. Simultaneously, Ella must manage the return of her estranged, philandering father, Eddie (Woody Harrelson), and support her reclusive brother, Casey (Spike Fearn), who has spent a year isolated in his apartment. Ultimately, the film depicts Ella facing a choice between her integrity and her political career, culminating in a resolution where she stands firm against the self-serving men in her life with the support of her steadfast Aunt Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis). The ensemble cast features Emma Mackey in the title role, supported by veteran actors Jamie Lee Curtis as the grounding Aunt Helen, Woody Harrelson as the problematic Eddie McCay, and Albert Brooks as Governor Bill Moore. Other key performances include Jack Lowden as Ella's husband Ryan, Ayo Edebiri as Susan (Casey’s love interest), Spike Fearn as Ella’s brother Casey, and Kumail Nanjiani as Trooper Nash, Ella’s security detail. Rebecca Hall appears in flashbacks as Ella’s late mother, Claire, and Julie Kavner provides the voice of the narrator while playing Estelle. The film boasts high-level production talent, including a musical score by Hans Zimmer and cinematography by Robert Elswit, marking Brooks' first directorial effort in fifteen years. Despite the high-profile talent involved, the film has faced significant challenges at the box office, opening to a disappointing $2.02 million in the United States and Canada during its December 12, 2025, debut weekend. Industry reports indicate that it grossed approximately $4 million globally against a production budget of $35 million, largely due to stiff holiday competition from blockbusters like Zootopia 2 and Five Nights at Freddy's 2. Critical reception was generally poor, with reviewers describing the plot as "cluttered" and "unfocused," which contributed to its status as a commercial disappointment.As a 20th Century Studios production under the Disney umbrella, Ella McCay is expected to follow a standard theatrical-to-streaming window of approximately 45 to 90 days. While an official digital date hasn't been locked, it is anticipated to arrive on Disney+ and Hulu (in the United States) by late February or March 2026. For international audiences, the film will likely be available worldwide on the Star hub within Disney+ at that same time. Read More

• 2025
• 1 h : 55 min
• 69 views
• 5.151
• PG-13