Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Jewish grandma dramedy touches on hard truths with care.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Eleanor the Great
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
June Squibb is ELEANOR THE GREAT, a 94-year-old Jewish woman who moves from Florida back to New York to live with her daughter (Jessica Hecht) and grandson (Will Price) after the death of Eleanor's lifelong best friend, Bessie (Rita Zohar). Managing her loneliness with activities at the Jewish Community Center, Eleanor is mistaken for a Holocaust survivor and then befriended by a college student named Nina (Erin Kellyman), who's dealing with her own loss.
Is It Any Good?
Plenty will see this film about sidestepping the truth as standard fare—cute enough, maybe even a little thought-provoking—but they'll be missing the bigger picture. In fact, Scarlett Johansson's feature directing debut is remarkable. The story of Eleanor the Great is powerful, as told through the eyes of an overbearing Jewish woman who's mourning the loss of her best friend—who, in her final days, revealed the horrors she endured during the Holocaust. It's a very personal story, with shocking details about Nazi cruelty and the lasting trauma inflicted on the survivors of Nazi hatred.
But this little film is more about the modern Jewish experience in the United States, showing characters embracing the present while navigating how to move forward without forgetting the past. The weight of their collective trauma sits in the rearview mirror, but it never fully disappears. Naturally, thematically, the story connects to grief. How do we move on? By talking about the pain. By sharing our experiences. By being a good friend who listens. Eleanor is a deeply flawed woman, and hanging with her might be tough, but for two hours, Eleanor is pretty great.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the ways in which Jewish traditions and experiences are depicted in Eleanor the Great. How does that contribute to positive representation?
Why is it important to share your feelings and speak about traumatic events? How can you support people who are going through a tough time?
Is Eleanor the Great a faith-based film, or a film about characters of faith? What's the difference, and why does it matter? What other films have you seen that would fit into the two different categories?
Does the film condone lying? Why, or why not? How do you think Eleanor should have handled her awkward situation?
How do characters demonstrate compassion throughout the movie? Why is this an important character strength?
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 26, 2025
- On DVD or streaming : October 28, 2025
- Cast : June Squibb , Erin Kellyman , Chiwetel Ejiofor , Jessica Hecht
- Director : Scarlett Johansson
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Sony Pictures Classics
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Friendship
- Character Strengths : Compassion
- Run time : 98 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : thematic elements, some language and suggestive references
- Last updated : October 6, 2025
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