Eleanor the Great has debuted with a mixed Rotten Tomatoes score. Helmed by Scarlett Johansson in her directorial debut, with a script written by Tory Kamen, the movie stars June Squibb as the тιтular Eleanor Morgenstein, a 94-year-old Floridian woman who, after losing her best friend, moves back to New York City and forms an unlikely friendship with a 19-year-old college student.

In addition to the Oscar-nominated June Squibb (Nebraska) in the lead role, the cast also includes Erin Kellyman (28 Years Later), Emmy nominee Jessica Hecht (Special), Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave), Rita Zohar, Will Price, Greg Kaston, and more.

Now, ahead of its theatrical release on September 26, Eleanor the Great has debuted with a 67% score from the critics on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie has 42 reviews at the time of writing, so its score is subject to fluctuation as more are published. It doesn’t yet have an audience score, though it should start to take shape once the movie releases in theaters.

Eleanor the Great premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section this past May and also recently screened at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month.

What Eleanor The Great’s Rotten Tomatoes Score Means For The Movie

The movie’s Rotten Tomatoes means that its reviews are leaning mixed, but are mostly positive. For instance, in ScreenRant‘s Eleanor the Great review, Rachel Labonte writes, “June Squibb gives a standout performance in Scarlett Johansson’s melancholy, conventional directorial debut… Eleanor the Great is a solid directorial debut for Scarlett Johansson, but its best element is June Squibb’s wonderfully multifaceted performance.”

Overall, Eleanor the Great‘s reviews are divided – with many praising Johansson’s heartfelt directorial debut and Squibb’s remarkable performance – calling the film tender, moving, and emotionally resonant. Many highlight its themes of grief, forgiveness, resilience, and are predicting awards attention for Squibb. However, its detractors are criticizing the screenplay’s contrivances, tonal imbalance, and handling of its Holocaust themes – arguing that it often veers into sentimentality or exploitation.

Our Take On Eleanor The Great’s Rotten Tomatoes Score

Based on the reviews, Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut shows the stumbles of a first-time filmmaker, yet June Squibb’s extraordinary performance elevates the uneven affair into something far more compelling. At 94 years of age, she delivers a performance brimming with tenderness, humor, and resilience – often overshadowing the movie’s weaker moments and transforming the film into something undeniably heartfelt.

After spending decades in front of the camera and earning two Oscar nominations for Marriage Story and Jojo Rabbit (both in 2020), Johansson’s first film behind the camera could land Squibb in the Oscar conversation once again for Eleanor the Great, with Variety naming her among the early contenders for Best Actress in 2025. It’s a promising sign for both director and star.