A glossy, emotionally bruising star-is-born melodrama with strong performances, big musical set pieces, and a tragic-romantic arc that lands hard even when the script feels familiar. It’s especially effective as a vehicle for charisma, chemistry, and heartbreak.
A Star Is Born
Where to watch: Buy
Movie · Music · Drama
Wed · 2h 16m
Director: Bradley Cooper
Starring: Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Sam Elliott
Overview
Seasoned musician Jackson Maine discovers — and falls in love with — struggling artist Ally. She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer — until Jack coaxes her into the spotlight. But even as Ally's career takes off, the personal side of their relationship is breaking down, as Jack fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons.
Director
Bradley Cooper
Cast
Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Sam Elliott
Curator Review
Verdict
A glossy, emotionally bruising star-is-born melodrama with strong performances, big musical set pieces, and a tragic-romantic arc that lands hard even when the script feels familiar. It’s especially effective as a vehicle for charisma, chemistry, and heartbreak.
Best for
viewers who like music-driven romances with tragic turns
fans of performance-heavy star vehicles
people who enjoy emotional, awards-season melodrama
audiences drawn to addiction-and-fame stories
Skip if
you want subtle, deeply written character studies
you’re tired of familiar showbiz rise-and-fall narratives
you dislike heightened emotional manipulation
you prefer musicals with more original storytelling
Overview
Bradley Cooper’s remake leans into classic Hollywood tragedy with modern polish, and it works best when it trusts the raw chemistry at its center. The concert scenes have real voltage, and the film understands how to make a song feel like confession, seduction, and self-destruction all at once.
Worth noting
Lady Gaga gives the movie its pulse, moving from nervous intimacy to full-scale stardom with impressive ease. Cooper is effective as a damaged, fading musician, though the film is less interested in complexity than in emotional momentum, which can make some of its familiar beats feel broad.
Bottom line
What lingers is the ache: the way love, ambition, addiction, and public image keep colliding until there’s nowhere left to hide. It’s a polished, crowd-pleasing tearjerker that knows exactly how to break your heart, even if you can see the machinery behind it.
Top Letterboxd reviews
stevie (3★) · 11692 likes
The movie ended... and it cut to black.... and the theater was completely silent.... and from the distant back of the theater.... an unseen emotional gay man let out a whimper.... “yas Gaga….”
amanda (2.5★) · 4468 likes
lady gaga's back must hurt from carrying this whole movie
Lucy (3.5★) · 3251 likes
“i thought maybe you’d find it when you came back to you, maybe” i’ve been trying to nail down why i can’t fully enjoy this, but tonight i figured out that there’s definitely more than one reason (some of which i’m still thinking through) a big one is how ally’s character is treated: she’s the only woman in the main cast, and she’s not fully fleshed out at all. we hardly know her first name until the crowd at jackson’s… more
kyle (4★) · 2982 likes
"and the oscar goes to...." *opens envelope* "that rah rah bitch"
Evan (4★) · 2384 likes
Lady Gaga is probably the most talented person on the planet
Themes
fame and celebrity, music industry, romantic tragedy, addiction, self-destruction, ambition, mentorship, public image
Topics
music drama, romantic tragedy, showbiz, addiction, melancholy, awards-season, concert performances, star vehicle, modern remake, emotional