Bradley Cooper's Comedy-Drama 'Is This Thing On?' Starring Arnett and Dern Closes 2025 New York Film Festival

The comedy-drama feature, 'Is This Thing On?', directed by Bradley Cooper, served as the closing selection for the 63rd New York Film Festival (NYFF). The festival ran from September 26th through October 13th in 2025. The film, which involved a collaboration with Searchlight Pictures, celebrated its worldwide debut on October 10th at Alice Tully Hall. With a scheduled wide theatrical release across the United States set for December 19, 2025, the picture garnered generally positive reception from festival attendees.

Bradley Cooper took the helm as director for this project, marking his third feature-length endeavor following his acclaimed works, 'A Star Is Born' and 'Maestro'. The narrative centers on Alex and Tess Novak, a married couple portrayed by Will Arnett and Laura Dern, respectively. Their relationship, seemingly after 26 years together, reaches a critical juncture where separation becomes inevitable. This decision to part ways, described with a sense of 'amicable sorrow,' prompts both individuals to reassess their personal identities and commitments, particularly concerning the shared responsibility of raising their two sons.

The screenplay was a collaborative effort, penned by Cooper, Arnett, and Mark Chappell. The core inspiration for the story draws directly from the real-life experiences of British comedian John Bishop. Arnett’s character, Alex, finds himself navigating a midlife crisis coupled with divorce, leading him to seek a new purpose within New York City's stand-up comedy circuit. Reportedly, he often began performing at the Comedy Cellar partly to circumvent the 15 dollar cover charge. This mirrors Bishop’s own journey, who initiated stand-up routines following his separation from his wife in 2000 as a coping mechanism for his challenges.

Beyond the leading duo, the ensemble cast features notable actors including Andra Day, Christine Ebersole, Ciarán Hinds, Sean Hayes, and even former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning. Will Arnett, widely recognized for his work on 'Arrested Development,' served multiple roles: lead actor, co-writer of the script, and producer through his company, Lea Pictures. He shared production duties with Cooper and Weston Middleton. John Bishop also holds a credit on the project as an executive producer.

Film critics have highlighted Cooper's directorial approach, describing it as possessing a 'beautifully lived-in' quality. This style reportedly allows the actors the space to fully inhabit their complex characters, resulting in a film that is simultaneously 'wrenching and heartfelt, funny and tender.' The movie is framed as both an homage to the vibrant New York comedy scene and a nuanced exploration of dissatisfaction that can surface later in life. The entire runtime clocks in at 121 minutes, with principal photography wrapping up in New York City in April 2025.