Marriage Story

{{Infobox film

| image = MarriageStoryPoster.png

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Noah Baumbach

| producer = {{Plainlist|

David Heyman
Noah Baumbach

}}

| writer = Noah Baumbach

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| music = Randy Newman{{cite web |title=Randy Newman Scoring Noah Baumbach's Next Feature {{!}} Film Music Reporter |url=http://filmmusicreporter.com/2019/07/17/randy-newman-scoring-noah-baumbachs-next-feature/ |website=Film Music Reporter |access-date=July 18, 2019 |date=July 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718033936/http://filmmusicreporter.com/2019/07/17/randy-newman-scoring-noah-baumbachs-next-feature/ |archive-date=July 18, 2019 |url-status=live}}

| cinematography = Robbie Ryan

| editing = Jennifer Lame

| studio = Heyday Films

| distributor = Netflix

| released = {{Film date|2019|8|29|Venice|2019|11|6|United States|2019|11|15|United Kingdom|2019|12|6|Netflix}}

| runtime = 137 minutes{{cite web|title=Marriage Story BBFC|url=https://bbfc.co.uk/releases/marriage-story-2019|website=British Board of Film Classification|access-date=February 5, 2019|archive-date=February 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205182342/https://bbfc.co.uk/releases/marriage-story-2019|url-status=dead}}

| country = {{Plainlist|

United States{{cite web|title=Marriage Story - AFI Fest|url=https://fest.afi.com/2019/galas-2019/marriage-story/#elevent|website=American Film Institute|access-date=December 6, 2019|archive-date=January 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122170031/https://fest.afi.com/2019/galas-2019/marriage-story/#elevent|url-status=live}}
United Kingdom{{cite web |title= Marriage Story (2019) |url= https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/5da78b62833cf |website= British Film Institute |access-date= January 13, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200113171354/https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/5da78b62833cf |archive-date= January 13, 2020 |url-status= dead }}

}}

| language = English

| budget = $18 million{{cite web |title= Making of 'Marriage Story': How Noah Baumbach Crafted His "Love Story About Divorce" |url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/making-marriage-story-how-noah-baumbach-crafted-his-love-story-divorce-1250713 |last= Ford |first= Rebecca |website= The Hollywood Reporter |date= November 5, 2019 |access-date= November 26, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191113003050/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/making-marriage-story-how-noah-baumbach-crafted-his-love-story-divorce-1250713 |archive-date= November 13, 2019 |url-status= live }}

| gross = $2.3 million{{Cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt7653254/ |title=Marriage Story (2019) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=January 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221211618/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt7653254/ |archive-date=December 21, 2019 |url-status=live }}

}}

Marriage Story is a 2019 drama film written and directed by Noah Baumbach, who also produced the film with David Heyman. It stars Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver as a couple going through a bi-coastal divorce complicated by custody issues surrounding their son. Laura Dern, Alan Alda, Ray Liotta, Julie Hagerty, and Merritt Wever appear in supporting roles.

Announced in November 2017, with the cast joining that same month, the film was shot in New York City and Los Angeles between January and April of the following year. Netflix released the film, which premiered at the 76th Venice International Film Festival on August 29, 2019, and began a limited theatrical release on November 6, followed by digital streaming on December 6.

The film received critical acclaim, particularly for Baumbach's direction and screenplay, and the performances of Johansson, Driver, and Dern. Among its numerous accolades were six nominations at the 92nd Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Driver), Best Actress (Johansson), Best Original Screenplay, and Best Original Score. For her performance, Dern won the Academy Award, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award, BAFTA Award and Critics' Choice Movie Award, all in the Best Supporting Actress category.

Plot

Charlie Barber, a successful theater director in New York City with his own theater company, is helming a play that stars, as usual, his wife of ten years, Nicole, who is a former teenage movie actress. The couple is experiencing marital troubles and sees a mediator, who suggests they each write down what they love about one another, but Nicole is too embarrassed to read hers aloud, and they decide to forgo counseling.

When Nicole is offered a starring role in a television pilot in Los Angeles, she decides to leave Charlie's company and go to live with her mother in West Hollywood, taking their son, Henry, with her. Thinking the separation will only be temporary, Charlie remains in New York, as his play is moving to Broadway. Despite the couple agreeing to split amicably and forgo lawyers, Nicole—encouraged by her producer—hires Nora Fanshaw, a high-profile family lawyer, who gets Nicole to open up about how she gradually felt neglected by Charlie and how he rejects her ideas and desires. Nicole also suspects that Charlie slept with Mary Ann, his stage manager.

Excited by the news that he has won a MacArthur Fellowship grant, Charlie visits Nicole's family in LA, and she serves him with divorce papers. He meets with Jay Marotta, a brash and expensive lawyer who urges Charlie to fight dirty, but Charlie returns to New York without hiring Jay. After receiving a phone call from Nora, who warns him to get a lawyer soon or risk losing custody of Henry, Charlie returns to LA and hires Bert Spitz, an empathetic older lawyer who favors a civil and conciliatory approach.

On Halloween, which Charlie spends in LA, Henry mentions to Charlie that Nicole wants to stay in California permanently. Charlie calls Nicole and angrily interrogates her, and Nicole reveals she hacked his emails and found proof of his affair with Mary Ann.

Bert counsels Charlie to rent an apartment in LA to strengthen his custody case. To avoid going to court, Bert and Charlie meet with Nora and Nicole. Nora says Charlie refused to respect Nicole's wishes to move back to LA and claims Henry would prefer to stay with his mother rather than fly back and forth between coasts. Bert advises Charlie to give in on this point, but Charlie does not want to be separated from his son, so he fires Bert.

Using the first installment of his fellowship grant, Charlie hires Jay. In court, Nora and Jay argue aggressively on behalf of their clients, leading to a series of character assassinations. Nora highlights Charlie's emotional distance and past infidelity, while Jay exaggerates Nicole's drinking habits and threatens criminal action for hacking Charlie's emails. Meanwhile, Nicole and Charlie try to remain friendly out of court and share time with Henry, who is increasingly annoyed by the back-and-forth.

Disillusioned with the legal process, the couple decide to meet in private, but their good intentions do not keep the discussion from escalating dangerously. Nicole scathingly claims that Charlie has now fully merged with his own selfishness, and Charlie confesses that he wishes Nicole was dead. Charlie breaks down in tears and apologizes, and Nicole comforts him. Shortly after their argument, they reach an agreement and finalize the divorce. However, Nora negotiates slightly better terms for Nicole behind her back, causing Nicole to feel uncomfortable.

The following Halloween, Charlie again comes to LA. He learns Nicole has a new boyfriend and is nominated for an Emmy Award for directing an episode of her television series. He informs her that he has taken a residency at UCLA and will therefore be living in LA for a while. While everyone is changing into their costumes, Charlie discovers Henry reading the list of things Nicole loves about Charlie that she wrote during mediation. Henry asks Charlie to read the rest aloud to him, and Charlie does so, becoming emotional as Nicole, unnoticed, watches from the doorway. After trick-or-treating, Nicole offers to let Charlie take Henry home, even though it is her night. She notices Charlie's shoe is untied, and, as his arms are full carrying Henry, ties it for him before he leaves.

Cast

{{Cast listing|

Scarlett Johansson as Nicole Barber
Adam Driver as Charlie Barber
Laura Dern as Nora Fanshaw, Nicole's lawyer
Alan Alda as Bert Spitz, Charlie's first lawyer
Ray Liotta as Jay Marotta, Charlie's second lawyer
Julie Hagerty as Sandra, Nicole's mother
Merritt Wever as Cassie, Nicole's sister
Azhy Robertson as Henry Barber, Nicole and Charlie's son
Wallace Shawn as Frank, a member of Charlie's theater group
Martha Kelly as Nancy Katz, the court-appointed evaluator
Mark O'Brien as Carter Mitchum, the scientific consultant on Nicole's TV show
Mickey Sumner as Beth, an actor in Charlie's theater group
Matthew Shear as Terry, an actor in Charlie's theater group
Brooke Bloom as Mary Ann, the stage manager of Charlie's theater group
Robert Smigel as Nicole and Charlie's mediator
Sarah Jones as Carol, one of the producers of Nicole's TV show
Carlos Jacott as Dennis, one of the producers of Nicole's TV show
Dean Wareham as the cinematographer of Nicole's TV show
Bashir Salahuddin as the director of Nicole's TV show
Lucas Neff as Pablo, a flirty grip
Tunde Adebimpe as Sam, Cassie's husband
Kyle Bornheimer as Ted, a lawyer at Marotta's firm
Pilar Holland as the law receptionist who turns Charlie away
Rich Fulcher as Judge Neil Tilden

}}

Matthew Maher, Gideon Glick, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Raymond J. Lee, Mary Wiseman, and Becca Blackwell appear in the film as unnamed actors in Charlie's theater group.

Production

The premise for the film first came to Baumbach in 2016, while he was in post-production on The Meyerowitz Stories. He began to research the subject and met with three-time collaborator Driver to discuss the role. In November 2017, it was announced Driver, Johansson, Laura Dern, Merritt Wever, and Azhy Robertson were set to star in the film, with David Heyman producing under his Heyday Films banner, and Netflix producing and distributing.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/noah-baumbach-adam-driver-scarlett-johansson-laura-dern-1202617696/|title=Noah Baumbach Casts Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Laura Dern in Next Film|website=Variety|first=Justin|last=Kroll|date=November 17, 2017|access-date=February 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209150124/http://variety.com/2017/film/news/noah-baumbach-adam-driver-scarlett-johansson-laura-dern-1202617696/|archive-date=February 9, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tracking-board.com/adam-driver-scarlett-johansson-eyed-for-noah-baumbachs-next-movie-exclusive/|title=Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Laura Dern to star in Noah Baumbach's Next Movie|website=Tracking-Board|date=November 17, 2018|access-date=February 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109080247/http://www.tracking-board.com/adam-driver-scarlett-johansson-eyed-for-noah-baumbachs-next-movie-exclusive/|archive-date=January 9, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.backstage.com/resources/detail/productionlisting/untitled-noah-baumbach-project-86510/|title=Untitled Noah Baumbach Project|website=Backstage.com|access-date=February 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213195059/https://www.backstage.com/resources/detail/productionlisting/untitled-noah-baumbach-project-86510/|archive-date=February 13, 2018|url-status=live}} In March 2018, Kyle Bornheimer joined the cast of the film,{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/03/steps-kyle-bornheimer-star-abc-comedy-pilot-1202336071/|title='Steps': Kyle Bornheimer To Star In ABC Comedy Pilot|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|date=March 12, 2018|access-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612165100/https://deadline.com/2018/03/steps-kyle-bornheimer-star-abc-comedy-pilot-1202336071/|archive-date=June 12, 2018|url-status=live}} and that June it was announced that Ray Liotta had also been cast.{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/ray-liotta-on-shades-of-blue-working-with-jennifer-lopez-and-woody-allen-2018-6|title=Ray Liotta on working with Jennifer Lopez, why he's only been in one Scorsese movie, and not believing the Woody Allen sexual misconduct allegations|website=Business Insider|first=Jason|last=Guerrasio|date=June 12, 2018|access-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612162316/http://www.businessinsider.com/ray-liotta-on-shades-of-blue-working-with-jennifer-lopez-and-woody-allen-2018-6|archive-date=June 12, 2018|url-status=live}}

Principal photography began on January 15, 2018, and lasted 47 days through April 2018. Filming took place in both New York City and Los Angeles.{{cite web|url=https://www.backstage.com/news/casting/laura-dern-more-join-secret-netflix-project/|title=Laura Dern + More Join Secret Netflix Project|website=Backstage|first=Rebecca|last=Welch|date=January 10, 2018|access-date=February 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213135249/https://www.backstage.com/news/casting/laura-dern-more-join-secret-netflix-project/|archive-date=February 13, 2018|url-status=live}}

Speaking of writing the film, given his 2013 divorce from actress Jennifer Jason Leigh, as well as his parents' divorce (which served as inspiration for his earlier film The Squid and the Whale), Baumbach said: {{blockquote|I have a real connection to the material ... [but] I was also at a time in my life where many of my friends were getting divorced. I saw it as an opportunity to do something more expansive, so I did a lot of research. I interviewed a lot of my friends, and friends of friends, and then also lawyers, judges, mediators.{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/08/marriage-story-noah-baumbach-venice-film-festival-netflix-interview-1202705582/ |title='Marriage Story' Was Personal for Noah Baumbach & Tells a More "Expansive" Tale of the Pain of Divorce — Venice |date=August 28, 2019 |access-date=2019-09-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829175136/https://deadline.com/2019/08/marriage-story-noah-baumbach-venice-film-festival-netflix-interview-1202705582/ |archive-date=2019-08-29 |url-status=live}}}} Following the film's release, Baumbach said, "I showed [Leigh] the script and then I showed her the movie a little bit ago. She likes it a lot."{{cite web|url=https://people.com/movies/noah-baumbach-ex-wife-jennifer-jason-leigh-likes-marriage-story/|title=Noah Baumbach Says Ex-Wife Jennifer Jason Leigh Likes His Divorce Drama Marriage Story 'a Lot'|website=People|first=Alexia|last=Fernandez|date=November 19, 2019|access-date=November 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191120154938/https://people.com/movies/noah-baumbach-ex-wife-jennifer-jason-leigh-likes-marriage-story/|archive-date=November 20, 2019|url-status=live}}

= Music =

Randy Newman composed the film's score—his second for Baumbach, following The Meyerowitz Stories (2017).{{Cite web |date=2019-12-03 |title=Randy Newman's sweet, song-like music sings in 'Toy Story 4' and 'Marriage Story' |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2019-12-03/randy-newman-composer-score-toy-story-4-marriage-story |access-date=2022-05-29 |website=Los Angeles Times |archive-date=May 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511162431/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2019-12-03/randy-newman-composer-score-toy-story-4-marriage-story |url-status=live }} The score was recorded at 20th Century Fox Studios's Newman Scoring Stage (named in honor of Newman's uncles Alfred and Lionel) using a 40-piece chamber orchestra with limited instruments.{{Cite magazine |date=2019-10-10 |title=Marriage Story: Let Randy Newman's Score Gently Break Your Heart |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/10/marriage-story-randy-newman-score-interview |access-date=2022-05-29 |magazine=Vanity Fair|first=Yohana|last=Desta}}

The film's soundtrack album was released by Lakeshore Records. "What I Love About Nicole", the first track of the album, was released as a single on November 1, 2019. This was followed by the digital release of the album on November 15,{{Cite magazine |last=Newman |first=Melinda |date=2019-11-15 |title=Randy Newman May Have Mellowed, But He's Still Taking on the Biggest Challenges of His Career |url=https://www.billboard.com/culture/tv-film/randy-newman-marriage-story-toy-story-oscars-interview-8543522/ |access-date=2022-05-29 |magazine=Billboard}} and its physical release on December 13.{{Cite web |last=Tangcay |first=Jazz |date=2019-11-22 |title=Randy Newman on Hitting the Romantic Notes of 'Marriage Story' (Exclusive Featurette) |url=https://variety.com/2019/artisans/awards/randy-newman-marriage-story-noah-baumbach-1203412714/ |access-date=2022-05-29 |website=Variety |archive-date=May 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220529152314/https://variety.com/2019/artisans/awards/randy-newman-marriage-story-noah-baumbach-1203412714/ |url-status=live }}

Release

File:Marriage Story at Paris credit Marion Curtis.jpg in New York City]]

Marriage Story had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on August 29, 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/venice-film-festival-unveils-lineup-1226894|title=Venice Film Festival Unveils Lineup (Updating Live) |website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Ariston|last=Anderson|date=July 25, 2019|access-date=July 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725092852/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/venice-film-festival-unveils-lineup-1226894|archive-date=July 25, 2019|url-status=live}} It was screened at the Telluride Film Festival on August 31,{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/08/telluride-film-festival-2019-lineup-ford-vs-ferrari-judy-full-list-of-movies-1202706577/|title=Telluride Film Festival: 'Ford V Ferrari', 'Judy', 'Motherless Brooklyn', Weinstein-Inspired Drama 'The Assistant' Among Premieres Headed To 46th Edition – Full List|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Pete|last=Hammond|date=August 29, 2019|access-date=August 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829155107/https://deadline.com/2019/08/telluride-film-festival-2019-lineup-ford-vs-ferrari-judy-full-list-of-movies-1202706577/|archive-date=August 29, 2019|url-status=live}} the Toronto International Film Festival (where it was first runner-up for the People's Choice Award{{cite web |last1= Hammond |first1=Pete |title='Jojo Rabbit' Wins Toronto's Grolsch People's Choice Award; Best Picture Oscar Predictor? |url=https://deadline.com/2019/09/jojo-rabbit-wins-torontos-grolsch-peoples-choice-award-best-picture-oscar-predictor-1202735101/ |website=Deadline |date=15 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915191920/https://deadline.com/2019/09/jojo-rabbit-wins-torontos-grolsch-peoples-choice-award-best-picture-oscar-predictor-1202735101/ |archive-date=2019-09-15}}) on September 8,{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/toronto-film-festival-joker-ford-v-ferrari-hustlers-lineup-1203275868/|title=Toronto Film Festival: 'Joker,' 'Ford v Ferrari,' 'Hustlers' Among Big Premieres|website=Variety |first=Brent |last=Lang |date=July 23, 2019|access-date=July 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723140739/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/toronto-film-festival-joker-ford-v-ferrari-hustlers-lineup-1203275868/|archive-date=July 23, 2019|url-status=live}} the New York Film Festival (where it served as the Centerpiece selection) on October 4,{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/07/noah-baumbach-directed-marriage-story-set-as-new-york-film-festival-centerpiece-1202656947/|title=Noah Baumbach-Directed 'Marriage Story' Set As New York Film Festival Centerpiece|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Mike Jr.|last=Fleming|date=July 30, 2019|access-date=July 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730160742/https://deadline.com/2019/07/noah-baumbach-directed-marriage-story-set-as-new-york-film-festival-centerpiece-1202656947/|archive-date=July 30, 2019|url-status=live}} and the BFI London Film Festival on October 6.{{cite web|url=https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/lff/Online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=034B6DFF-5D40-4F96-9EA0-0C3DA419EA8B&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::context_id=9EFAAF70-46E7-49B4-BEC0-A4D7168BF71C|title=Marriage Story|website=BFI London Film Festival|access-date=August 29, 2019|archive-date=December 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191225144953/https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/lff/Online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=034B6DFF-5D40-4F96-9EA0-0C3DA419EA8B&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::context_id=9EFAAF70-46E7-49B4-BEC0-A4D7168BF71C|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/the-aeronauts-a-beautiful-day-in-the-neighborhood-london-film-festival-1203316694/|title='Jojo Rabbit,' 'The Aeronauts,' Netflix Titles Feature in London Film Festival Lineup|website=Variety|first=Robert|last=Mitchell|date=August 29, 2019|access-date=August 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829105255/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/the-aeronauts-a-beautiful-day-in-the-neighborhood-london-film-festival-1203316694/|archive-date=August 29, 2019|url-status=live}}

Netflix gave the film a limited release in theaters beginning on November 6, 2019, before making it available for streaming on December 6.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/netflix-dates-marriage-story-laundromat-fall-films-1234853|title=Netflix Dates 'Marriage Story,' 'Laundromat' and Other Fall Award Films|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Pamela|last=McClintock|date=August 27, 2019|access-date=August 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827170440/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/netflix-dates-marriage-story-laundromat-fall-films-1234853|archive-date=August 27, 2019|url-status=live}}

=Home media=

The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray by The Criterion Collection on July 21, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.criterion.com/films/30554-marriage-story|title=Marriage Story (2019) The Criterion Collection|website=The Criterion Collection|access-date=May 24, 2020|archive-date=June 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622005854/https://www.criterion.com/films/30554-marriage-story|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Kasey |date=2022-07-22 |title=Every Netflix Movie in the Criterion Collection |url=https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/every-netflix-original-movie-released-in-the-criterion-collection/ |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=What's on Netflix |language=en |archive-date=July 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722110607/https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/every-netflix-original-movie-released-in-the-criterion-collection/ |url-status=live }}

Reception

=Box office=

Although Netflix does not publicly disclose the theatrical grosses of all of its films, IndieWire estimated Marriage Story grossed around $160,000 from five theaters over its opening weekend (and a total of $200,000 over its first five days). The site wrote that "normally, these (estimated) numbers would be disappointing," but, "given the theaters and more limited seating, as well as awareness of imminent streaming access within the month", it was sufficient for Netflix.{{cite web |last=Brueggemann |first=Tom |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/11/box-office-amazon-honey-boy-netflix-marriage-story-1202188521/ |title=Amazon's 'Honey Boy' Tops Netflix's 'Marriage Story' In Select Theaters |website=IndieWire |date=November 10, 2019 |access-date=November 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110194039/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/11/box-office-amazon-honey-boy-netflix-marriage-story-1202188521/ |archive-date=November 10, 2019 |url-status=live }} Playing at 16 theaters the following weekend, the film made an estimated $140,000,{{cite web |last=Brueggemann |first=Tom |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/11/waves-a24-box-office-arthouse-1202190157/ |title='Waves' Makes Box Office Splash as Amazon and Netflix Stay Quiet |website=IndieWire |date=November 17, 2019 |access-date=November 17, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117190609/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/11/waves-a24-box-office-arthouse-1202190157/ |archive-date=November 17, 2019 }} and then it made $340,000 from 85 theaters its third weekend.{{cite web |last=Brueggemann |first=Tom |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/11/box-office-dark-waters-arthouse-openers-1202191841/ |title='Dark Waters' Leads Tepid Arthouse Openers at Crowded Box Office |website=IndieWire |date=November 24, 2019 |access-date=November 24, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191125113120/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/11/box-office-dark-waters-arthouse-openers-1202191841/ |archive-date=November 25, 2019 }} Expanding to 130 theaters for its fourth weekend of release, the film made $360,000, for a month-long running total of $1.2 million.{{cite web |last=Brueggemann |first=Tom |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/12/holiday-box-office-harriet-jojo-rabbit-two-popes-1202193331/ |title='Harriet,' 'Jojo Rabbit,' and 'Parasite' Reap Holiday Box Office Bounty |website=IndieWire |date=December 1, 2019 |access-date=December 1, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191201182642/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/12/holiday-box-office-harriet-jojo-rabbit-two-popes-1202193331/ |archive-date=December 1, 2019 }} The following weekend, despite being released digitally onto Netflix that Friday, the film made an estimated $300,000 from 120 theaters, and then $120,000 from 80 theaters the following week.{{cite web |last=Brueggemann |first=Tom |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/12/box-office-oscar-contenders-uncut-gems-bombshell-malick-a-hidden-life-1202197382/ |title='Uncut Gems' and 'Bombshell' Soar, Malick's 'A Hidden Life' Drags |website=IndieWire |date=December 15, 2019 |access-date=December 15, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215210213/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/12/box-office-oscar-contenders-uncut-gems-bombshell-malick-a-hidden-life-1202197382/ |archive-date=December 15, 2019 }}{{cite web |last=Brueggemann |first=Tom |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/12/box-office-portrait-of-a-lady-on-fire-the-amazon-aeronauts-1202195343/ |title=Neon's 'Portrait of a Lady on Fire' Grabs Arthouse Crowd, Amazon's 'The Aeronauts' Deflates |website=IndieWire |date=December 8, 2019 |access-date=December 8, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208200822/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/12/box-office-portrait-of-a-lady-on-fire-the-amazon-aeronauts-1202195343/ |archive-date=December 8, 2019 }} In all, Marriage Story grossed an estimated $2 million at the North American box office, and $333,686 in other territories, for a worldwide total of $2.3 million.

=Critical response=

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| footer = The performances of Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver, and Laura Dern garnered widespread critical acclaim, earning them Academy Award nominations for Best Actress, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actress, respectively, with Dern winning her category.

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{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|95|8.8|405|Observing a splintering union with compassion and expansive grace, the powerfully acted Marriage Story ranks among writer-director Noah Baumbach's best works.|ref=yes|access-date=June 30, 2024}} {{Metacritic film prose|94|53|ref=yes|access-date=June 21, 2023}}

Critic Owen Gleiberman of Variety wrote of the film: "At once funny, scalding, and stirring, built around two bravura performances of incredible sharpness and humanity, it's the work of a major film artist, one who shows that he can capture life in all its emotional detail and complexity — and, in the process, make a piercing statement about how our society now works."{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/marriage-story-review-adam-driver-scarlett-johansson-1203317834/|title=Venice Film Review: 'Marriage Story'|last=Gleiberman|first=Owen|date=August 29, 2019|website=Variety|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905011736/https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/marriage-story-review-adam-driver-scarlett-johansson-1203317834/|archive-date=September 5, 2019|access-date=September 9, 2019}} Alonso Duralde of TheWrap praised the acting and Baumbach's screenplay, saying: "One wonders if Baumbach left references to Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) or Two for the Road (1967) on the cutting-room floor, but either way, Marriage Story is a film that deserves to be mentioned in their company. It's devastating, essential, and destined to be remembered long after this awards cycle ends."{{cite web |url=https://www.thewrap.com/marriage-story-film-review-scarlett-johansson-adam-driver-netflix/ |title='Marriage Story' Film Review: Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver Break Apart in Noah Baumbach's Devastating Drama |first=Alonso |last=Durande |work=TheWrap |date=August 29, 2019 |access-date=September 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831011249/https://www.thewrap.com/marriage-story-film-review-scarlett-johansson-adam-driver-netflix/ |archive-date=August 31, 2019 |url-status=live}} In his review for The Hollywood Reporter, Jon Frosch concurred, writing: "Other American films about divorce have portrayed this phenomenon — the legal process driving and shaping the couple's feelings rather than vice versa — but none with the force and clarity of this one [...] It's also funny and, when you least expect it (and most need it), almost unbearably tender, thanks in large part to the sensational leads, who deliver the deepest, most alive and attuned performances of their careers."{{cite web | title='Marriage Story': Film Review - Venice 2019 | website=The Hollywood Reporter | last=Frosch | first=Jon | date=August 29, 2019 | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/marriage-story-review-1234560 | access-date=April 11, 2020 | archive-date=November 20, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191120050146/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/marriage-story-review-1234560 | url-status=live }} Rating the film 5 stars out of 5, Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian called it a "wonderfully sweet, sad and funny film" that serves as a "glorious laugh-out-loud, cry-out-loud portrait of a relationship in its death throes" and praised the performances of the cast.{{cite web | last=Bradshaw | first=Peter | title=Marriage Story review – everything you always wanted to know about divorce | website=The Guardian | date=November 15, 2019 | url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/nov/15/marriage-story-review-noah-baumbach-adam-driver-scarlett-johansson | access-date=April 11, 2020 | archive-date=April 19, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200419172804/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/nov/15/marriage-story-review-noah-baumbach-adam-driver-scarlett-johansson | url-status=live }} Writing for The Washington Post, Ann Hornaday gave the film 3.5 stars out of 4 and praised Johansson and Driver as the "two-person fulcrum around which this funny-sad, happy-harrowing film revolves."{{cite news |last=Hornaday |first=Ann |title=Review - Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson split up, in the funny-sad, happy harrowing divorce dramedy 'Marriage Story' |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 13, 2019 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/adam-driver-and-scarlett-johansson-split-up-in-the-funny-sad-happy-harrowing-divorce-dramedy-marriage-story/2019/11/13/f7282680-030e-11ea-8501-2a7123a38c58_story.html |access-date=April 11, 2020 |archive-date=September 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200906140658/https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/adam-driver-and-scarlett-johansson-split-up-in-the-funny-sad-happy-harrowing-divorce-dramedy-marriage-story/2019/11/13/f7282680-030e-11ea-8501-2a7123a38c58_story.html |url-status=live }}

In a mixed review, GQ{{'}}s David Levesley opined that the film was "fundamentally, a good piece of cinema", but disliked the unacknowledged upper-class privilege that the characters possessed, commenting: "The world of third-wave coffee, delicatessens and Upper West Side therapy has been done to death and does not speak to as much of the human condition as the people wading through it themselves seem to think."{{cite web |last=Levesley |first=David |date=November 16, 2019 |title=Noah Baumbach's Marriage Story needs to check its privilege |url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/noah-baumbach-marriage-story-privilege |website=GQ |access-date=April 11, 2020 |archive-date=April 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411150207/https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/noah-baumbach-marriage-story-privilege |url-status=live }} Armond White of The National Review also panned the film's bourgeois themes and the lead actors' performances, writing: "This story is really about class rivalry clouded by a sex-and-cinema surface. The obnoxious sentimentality of Marriage Story forces a filmmaker's self-righteousness on us [...] It is Johansson and Driver who suffer Baumbach's superficiality. This is his least-bad film only because the quality of the performances [of the supporting cast] is improved."{{cite web |last1=White |first1=Armond |date=November 15, 2019 |title=In Marriage Story, The Ruling Elite Play House |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/11/movie-review-marriage-story-sentimentalizes-class-rivalry-and-narcissism/ |website=National Review |access-date=April 11, 2020 |archive-date=November 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115235826/https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/11/movie-review-marriage-story-sentimentalizes-class-rivalry-and-narcissism/ |url-status=live }}

=Internet memes=

According to Wired, an Internet meme of Adam Driver punching a wall during Charlie and Nicole's argument scene has contributed to "re-contextualizing Charlie and Nicole's fight into something light and silly".{{Cite magazine |last1=Locker |first1=Melissa |date=December 9, 2019 |title=Marriage Story Memes Have Arrived to Get You Through Life's Most Distressing Situations |url=https://time.com/5746384/marriage-story-memes/ |magazine=Time |language=en-US |access-date=September 25, 2022}}{{Cite magazine |last1=Coates |first1=Tyler |date=December 10, 2019 |title=Marriage Story Proves Anything on Netflix Can Be a Meme Now |url=https://www.wired.com/story/marriage-story-meme/ |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |access-date=September 25, 2022}} Driver punching a wall has been repurposed to represent general arguments over trivial matters in which a participant becomes angry and overreacts.{{Cite web |last1=Yeo |first1=Michelle |date=December 9, 2019 |title='Marriage Story' memes are helping the internet cope with their broken hearts |url=https://mashable.com/article/marriage-story-memes |website=Mashable |language=en-US |access-date=September 25, 2022 |archive-date=September 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925045404/https://mashable.com/article/marriage-story-memes |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine |last1=Gonzales |first1=Erica |date=December 17, 2019 |title=The Marriage Story Memes Deserve Just as Many Awards as the Movie |url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/film-tv/a30247497/marriage-story-memes/ |magazine=Harper's Bazaar |language=en-US |access-date=September 25, 2022 |archive-date=September 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925045406/https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/film-tv/a30247497/marriage-story-memes/ |url-status=live }}

=Accolades=

Marriage Story was chosen by the American Film Institute,{{Cite web|url=https://nextbestpicture.com/the-afi-top-10-films-of-2019/|title=The AFI Top 10 Films of 2019|first= Matt|last= Neglia|date=December 4, 2019|access-date=December 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204233746/https://www.nextbestpicture.com/latest/the-afi-top-10-films-of-2019|archive-date=December 4, 2019|url-status=live}} the National Board of Review,{{cite web |url= https://www.indiewire.com/2019/12/national-board-of-review-2019-winners-irishman-1202193897/ |title= National Board of Review 2019: 'The Irishman' Wins Best Film, Adam Sandler Named Best Actor |publisher= National Board of Review |date= December 3, 2019 |access-date= December 3, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191203194830/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/12/national-board-of-review-2019-winners-irishman-1202193897/ |archive-date= December 3, 2019 |url-status= live }} and Time magazine{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5737103/best-movies-2019/|title=The 10 Best Movies of 2019|magazine=Time|first=Stephanie|last=Zacharek|date=November 25, 2019|access-date=December 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191125192431/https://time.com/5737103/best-movies-2019/|archive-date=November 25, 2019|url-status=live}} as one of the ten best films of the year. It received a leading six nominations (including for Best Motion Picture – Drama) at the 77th Golden Globe Awards, with Dern winning Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture.{{Cite web |date= Dec 9, 2019 |author= |title= Golden Globes 2020: Who got nominated? Here's the full list |website= USA TODAY |url= https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2019/12/09/golden-globes-nominations-by-category/2629029001/ |access-date= 2019-12-15 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191209195444/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2019/12/09/golden-globes-nominations-by-category/2629029001/ |archive-date= December 9, 2019 |url-status= live }}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/golden-globes-winners-2020-list-best-actor-actress-picture-awards-a9271126.html|title=Golden Globes 2020 winners: The full list|last=Stolworthy|first=Jacob|website=The Independent|date=January 6, 2020|access-date=January 6, 2020|archive-date=October 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027162002/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/golden-globes-winners-2020-list-best-actor-actress-picture-awards-a9271126.html|url-status=live}} The film received eight nominations at the 25th Critics' Choice Awards,{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/12/the-irishman-leads-2020-critics-choice-awards-nominations.html|title=Martin Scorsese's The Irishman Leads Critics' Choice Awards Nominations|last=Kiefer|first=Halle|date=2019-12-08|website=Vulture|access-date=2019-12-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209141816/https://www.vulture.com/2019/12/the-irishman-leads-2020-critics-choice-awards-nominations.html|archive-date=December 9, 2019|url-status=live}} three nominations at the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards (for the performances of Driver, Johansson, and Dern),{{cite web |url=https://www.sagawards.org/media/news/releases/nominations-announced-26th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards-%C2%AE |title=NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 26TH ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS |date=December 11, 2019 |access-date=December 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212024926/https://www.sagawards.org/media/news/releases/nominations-announced-26th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards-%C2%AE |archive-date=December 12, 2019 |url-status=live }} five nominations at the 73rd British Academy Film Awards,{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/01/bafta-film-awards-nominations-full-list-joker-irishman-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-1202823097/|title=BAFTA Film Awards Nominations: 'Joker', 'The Irishman', 'Once Upon A Time In Hollywood' Lead – Full List|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Nancy|last=Tartaglione|date=January 7, 2020|access-date=January 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108164424/https://deadline.com/2020/01/bafta-film-awards-nominations-full-list-joker-irishman-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-1202823097/|archive-date=January 8, 2020|url-status=live}} and six nominations at the 92nd Academy Awards.{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/01/13/netflix-irishman-oscar-nominations/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210503105146/http://social.techcrunch.com/2020/01/13/netflix-irishman-oscar-nominations/|url-status=live|archive-date=May 3, 2021|title=Netflix gets the most Oscar nods of any studio, with 'Irishman' and 'Marriage Story' nominated for Best Picture|website=TechCrunch|date=January 13, 2020|access-date=2020-01-13}} Dern won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the film.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2020/02/11/laura-dern-caps-long-hollywood-career-with-oscar-win.html|title=Laura Dern caps long Hollywood career with Oscar win|website=The Jakarta Post|access-date=2020-02-12|archive-date=February 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212164146/https://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2020/02/11/laura-dern-caps-long-hollywood-career-with-oscar-win.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/culture/2020/2/9/21130641/oscar-winners-2020-full-list-live-academy-awards|title=Oscars 2020: The full winners list|website=Vox|date=February 9, 2020|access-date=2020-02-10|archive-date=February 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200210132459/https://www.vox.com/culture/2020/2/9/21130641/oscar-winners-2020-full-list-live-academy-awards|url-status=live}} Time Magazine's annual best performances of the year list by Stephanie Zacharek listed Driver's performance as the third best film acting performance of 2019.{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5737198/best-movie-performances-2019/|title=The 10 Best Movie Performances of 2019|magazine=Time|first=Stephanie|last=Zacharek|date=November 26, 2019|access-date=November 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191128063406/https://time.com/5737198/best-movie-performances-2019/|archive-date=November 28, 2019|url-status=live}}