2025 proved a great year for a few box office behemoths, but for many more, the year was particularly difficult. The likes of Tron: Ares, Edgar Wright‘s The Running Man, and Captain America: Brave New World all turned in poor runs in theaters against tough competition. However, something else that links these three movies is their ability to bounce back and prove popular on their respective streaming charts, with both Tron: Ares and The Running Man currently at the top. For James L. Brooks’ latest directorial effort, Ella McCay, hope for a streaming resurgence is high.
Sadly, Ella McCay was ultimately disappointing at the box office, earning just $4.5 million worldwide against a reported $35 million budget. Nevertheless, the comedy will have a chance to redeem itself when it officially makes its streaming debut on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally starting February 5. If you can’t wait that long to see Sex Education‘s Emma Mackey and Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis in heartwarming action, the film will first be available on digital platforms — including Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home — on January 27. Additionally, the film will be available on Blu-ray from March 3. A synopsis of Ella McCay reads:
“Ella McCay follows an idealistic young woman juggling her less-than-perfect family with her passion for her work. From writer-director James L. Brooks, this fresh and heartwarming comedy is about the people you love and how to survive them.”
‘Ella McCay’ Received Backlash from Critics
Unfortunately, Ella McCay wasn’t just a box office misfire; it also faced backlash from critics upon arrival. With just 23% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the consensus on the site reads, “Well-intentioned but woefully undisciplined, James L. Brooks’ comedy about a woman trying to have it all is so tonally misjudged that it winds up with not much of anything to recommend.”
Jeff Ewing of Collider awarded the movie just 3/10 in his review, saying, “It’s actually a little difficult to say if there’s a better version of Ella McCay buried somewhere inside this movie, given that it’s hard to pin down what the intended target of this movie is at the end of the day.” He added, “It’s transparently a film about a young woman thrust into a huge position, then doesn’t get to spend any time on that because of a barely notable family drama.”
Ella McCay arrives on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally on February 5. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
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December 11, 2025
- Runtime
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115 minutes
- Director
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James L. Brooks
- Writers
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James L. Brooks
- Producers
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Julie Ansell, Richard Sakai, James L. Brooks, Jennifer Brooks, Francine Maisler
