Scarlett Johansson’s Directorial Debut Leaves Cannes in Tears with “Eleanor the Great”

Scarlett Johansson stepped behind the camera for the first time—and left the Cannes Film Festival 2025 in emotional ruins. Her directorial debut, Eleanor the Great, premiered on May 20 in the Un Certain Regard category and immediately proved that the actress-turned-director is just as commanding from the director’s chair as she is on screen.

The atmosphere inside the Cannes theater was electric. According to Harper’s Bazaar, MovieWeb, and Reuters, the film was met with a thunderous five-minute standing ovation, punctuated by tears and cheers. “People were weeping in their seats,” reported one festival attendee on X (formerly Twitter). From the front row to the balcony, it was clear: Eleanor the Great had struck a deep chord.

Starring 95-year-old screen veteran June Squibb in the titular role, alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor and Erin Kellyman, the film tells the quiet but deeply affecting story of a woman in the twilight of life rediscovering her voice. With subtle, character-driven storytelling, Johansson crafts a poignant narrative that explores aging, regret, resilience, and dignity. The emotional weight of the story, paired with Squibb’s luminous performance, created a viewing experience that was intimate and devastating.

Johansson and her husband, comedian Colin Jost, attended the premiere, adding a heartfelt layer to the event. In post-screening comments reported by Variety, Johansson emphasized that the project was never about profit. “This was about telling a story that mattered to me. It’s personal, it’s independent, and it’s about life in its rawest, most unfiltered form.”

On social media, praise flooded in. @FilmUpdates highlighted the extended ovation, while @ETGMovieNews pointed to glowing early reviews on Letterboxd, where viewers called the film “achingly beautiful” and “a love letter to the forgotten.” One critic dubbed it “the spiritual cousin of The Straight Story meets Amour.”

Eleanor the Great also earned attention for its place in the Un Certain Regard category, a Cannes section devoted to unique, boundary-pushing works. Johansson’s film fit right in, offering a fresh, humanistic voice in a lineup known for bold creativity.

As critics and fans alike continue to react, one thing is clear: Scarlett Johansson’s leap into directing has begun not with spectacle, but with soul. And if the tears at Cannes are any indication, Eleanor the Great is already one of the year’s most unforgettable cinematic experiences.