Manhattan (1979)

A divorced New Yorker currently dating a high-schooler brings himself to look for love in the mistress of his best friend instead (imdb)
Cast and Information
Directed By: Woody Allen
Written By: Woody Allen, Marshall Brickman
Starring: Woody Allen, Meryl Streep, Wallace Shawn, Diane Keaton, Michael Murphy, Frances Conroy, Karen Allen, Mariel Hemingway, Tisa Farrow, Anne Byrne Hoffman
Genres: Romance, Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Where to Stream
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Manhattan belongs to 124 collections
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Browse the full list of collections
Stars | User | Rating | |
6 | ![]() |
Ytadel | 9 98th |
A gorgeous love letter to New York City; evocative, funny, charming, and timeless. The opening montage of Manhattan locales set to Gershwin music is quite possibly the finest first four minutes in the history of the medium (although it helps that I love NYC as much as Allen does). Sorry to shake the boat, but I prefer it to Annie Hall.
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Jeb | 99 95th |
Wonderful script, easily one of the best ones in film. Great Romantic Comedy from Allen and one of his best.
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??? | 92 95th |
I rewatched it last night after a long time, from the period where Woody Allen films were nothing more than something very pleasant for me, and was blown away. It's so windy and light that you immerse yourself completely in it, the compositions, the relationships you don't have. It's all fun and games. Somewhere, just before the ending, you realize you're on an emotional roller-coaster. And you don't believe it cause it's all so easy, but you leave happy, nauseous and shaking. Or is it just me?
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MartinTeller | 74 50th |
The cinematography is magnificent, Allen and Keaton are both great, there's a lot of funny lines, and the insights about relationships and maturity and everything are meaningful. But man, the whole Mariel Hemingway thing is just creepy. Are we supposed to approve of his desire to be with an adolescent? Or are we supposed to feel a little bit sorry for him? I guess a case could be made for the latter, but I don't think so. Good movie, but kind of unsettling in ways that it shouldn't be.
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Alex Watkins | 5 91st |
A beautifully shot and highly evocative film. The relationship between Allen and Hemingway is a bit odd, to be sure, but everything else is uniformly excellent. The Allen/Keaton combination shines again as well, providing the movie's key relationship and acting as the basis for all the major character developments. Funny, insightful, touching - all the qualities one expects from a great Woody Allen movie.
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Farzan | 80 75th |
Manhattan is a funny romantic comedy with great direction from Woody Allen. The script is easily the greatest part. The chemistry between Woody and Hemingway was definitely a weird one, but between Streep and Keaton, it was really good.
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frederic_g54 | 9 90th |
Manhattan is a great film, much reminiscent of classic Chaplin films, or even Fellini's. It's filled with funny moments and interesting, full-blown characters you come to care about. The B&W photography, the New York setting (my favorite city) and the vigorous relationship between Keaton and Allen are some of the reasons why I loved this film.
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nandorizzi | 95 97th |
This portrait of existential and intellectual conflict is a fun exercise in cinematic technique. Besides the great story and characters, brings good dose of cynicism, pessimism, nihilism. I love Woody Allen.
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hellsditch | 87 89th |
I knew that I would love the cinematography and the score going in, so those were givens. I'm also a sucker for movies set in New York in the mid to late '70s (funny, 'cause I hate NYC), as well, so it definitely had that going for it, too. But the best part of the movie was definitely Allen's snappy, funny dialogue. And I also enjoyed the message of the film and the fact that all of the neurotics' suffering was clearly their own doing. Oh! And great opening, too. Can't forget that. Wonderful.
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eveelun | 80 78th |
Solid writing, the black and white photography is well done, too. I like it, but I prefer the more energetic and frenetic Annie Hall
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djross | 92 98th |
Woody Allen's most romantic film.
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Pickpocket | 8 82nd |
Everyone should praise United Artists for forcing Woody to release this film (his least favorite movie that he directed). Wonderful movie but in hindsight it is creepy as hell but I still love it and you should too.
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Nathan S | 6 99th |
This feels like the least caricaturized version of the Woody Allen character. A hilarious self-criticism that often has him backed in a corner defending himself. It may not be his outright funniest picture, but it is sensual and romantic, his most personal and sincere achievement. The cinematography is gorgeous.
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Stain | 100 95th |
Hilarious, touching movie set to a lot of great Gershwin music. Boy am I glad this guy has made a movie a year for his entire career
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Anomaly | 85 85th |
Great, funny romantic comedy. The cinematography and music are excellent, and overall it makes a very enjoyable film. Just a shame about the subplot with Woody grooming that young girl, though.
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2 | TheAguamoose | 90 90th |
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Excellent. It looks great, I particularly liked the scene in the planetarium. The writing is as clever and witty as I've come to expect from Allen. However the fact that no-one in the film really has a problem with 42 year old Isaac dating a 17 year old seems like creepy wish fulfilment.
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Luna6ix | 93 99th |
This movie is completely, utterly, brilliant. I fail to even find the right words for it, it grabbed my heart and did not let go. It left me feeling the same seperation that Allen undoubtedly felt in the end.
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omgfridge | 9 92nd |
Woody Allen is one hell of a screenwriter.
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AtGiza | 98 98th |
One of the most beautifully classic introductions to any movie. The rest is obviously awesome too.
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Okkervil | 90 96th |
"Manhattan" is Woody Allen's zenith and career high point in my opinion. Essentially the perfect romantic-comedy; no cheap jokes, silly gimmicks, or plastic characters. Just great writing, a beautiful score and sensational photography. For me it edges "Annie Hall" as Woody's greatest moment.
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FrankHowley | 85 90th |
One of Allen's most mature films. While not as funny as Annie Hall, the story is well-constructed and the black & white photography is gorgeous. I also prefer Keaton's character in this as it's a much better fit to Allen's. It also has one of my favorite ending lines in movie history.
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loc42 | 90 93rd |
I evaluate this movie as a "personal masterpiece of confession" like of Tarkovsky's "Zerkalo" or Fellini's "8,5" and as sincere and artistic as them. First of all this is both and elegy and praise about the metropolitan individual life and its petty depressions and enchantments, that's why Allen's philosophizing has a similar nature: it is both a grand-narrative and cheesy comedy, that's why it has undertones of "nouvelle vague" and dandy culture so strong, a unique masterpiece.
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2 | hamstercan | 80 87th |
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C'mon dont be so mature!
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Magb | 85 73rd |
This was my first Allen. It's great, but pales just a tad when compared to the not dissimilar Annie Hall.
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1 | svicciarelli | 90 82nd |
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Vintage Allen - infidelity, NY and intellectualism. One to watch every few years. Terrific opening sequence.
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Moribunny | 85 95th |
One of Allen's best, most defining films. If you watch this, Annie Hall, and Play it Again Sam, and are left cold, then Woody Allen is not for you - and I strongly doubt cinema in general is.
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MadMan | 100 97th |
A brilliant, funny, and poignant film that also features Allen's love for the city of New York. Beautifully shot and featuring great performances from its talented cast, this just might be Allen's best film, or at least right up there.
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Dorkovsky | 10 99th |
Its not as funny as Annie Hall and its not as insightful as Crimes and Misdemeanors, but it has the qualities of both and it comes together beautifully. Why I still like Manhattan more than those I can't really explain.
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Cerebrus | 90 93rd |
While not his funniest or most personal (Annie Hall and Deconstructing Harry, respectivly) this is undoubtably Allen's most beautiful.
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1 | Sapphire | 95 95th |
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This is Woody's sweetly romantic love letter to New York City - set amongst a group of bored pseudo intellectuals who have too much money & time on their hands. The great irony is that they put too much importance on trivial things & they wouldn't know happiness if it was staring them in the face. Meryl Streep is particularly good as Woody's coldly gorgeous ex-wife.
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1 | mlightle3 | 85 70th |
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I don't know if I agree that it's Allen's best, but it's up there. The writing is sharp and blink-and-you'll-miss-it witty. I have no complaints about the direction, in fact, I loved the meandering camera's point of view. Also, great ending.
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prowler | 42 39th |
woody allen deserves all that's coming to him
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Freder | 10 14th |
Recently re-watched this and hated it more than ever. Another trip down Woody's self-indulgent lane with not a single likable character in sight. Tripe gussied up with New York photography and Gershwin.
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febraro | 85 80th |
The relationship between Isaac and Tracy completely makes up for the sometimes annoying, though well acted, parts with Diane Keaton.
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1 | fart | 59 31st |
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gay
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Quicky | 72 65th |
I think I actually prefer this one to Annie Hall, though I can't really say why. I love the writing, the black and white cinematography works really well, and the whole story really connected me with the characters. Woody Allen performs wonderfully if you ask me.
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KMcNeil | 10 98th |
"Why do you think this is funny? You're going by audience reaction? This is an audience that's raised on television, their standards have been systematically lowered over the years."
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1 | Ranald | 80 73rd |
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Very funny. How can Woody Allen be such a dick and so likeable at the same time?
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NathanDarko | 95 93rd |
Manhattan functioned like a mirror of reality.Relationchips aren't simple, they have so many ups & downs, so many things that are far away from logic or rationality. Allen kept all those colorful facets of life and love in a beautiful, romantic & funny Movie.
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QVT | 90 92nd |
I thought it was gonna be great and it was. A lot of the time, modern black and white feels like a mistake. This, on the other hand, wouldn't have worked in color. Some really hilarious bits too.
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WWallce4prez | 81 77th |
The screenplay just pops as Woody turns out some of his best work. Less erratic and more centered on somewhat normal people, Manhattan is an absolute classic.
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1 | marc01 | 96 91st |
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Another of my favorites.
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1 | xinsight | 88 80th |
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Creepy but great dialog
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1 | Haha | 87 77th |
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One of Allen's best.
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JohnSandwich | 65 52nd |
Great cinematography and some funny Lines, but i found it vaguely annoying a lot of the time,
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nevejas | 62 43rd |
Manhattan lacks the flair and freshness of Annie Hall. Being in a general sense a similar movie sometimes it feels like a distant relative but mostly only as a wimpy cousin that is on your nerves all the time because of neverending complaints. Does it capture the essence of Manhattan? Cant' say. What it does clearly capture though is a limp train of thought that even a superb cast (with the exception of Allen himself) could not steer to anything tangible.
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Bown | 82 63rd |
One of the prettiest movies I've ever seen. I mean god damn.
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billkerwin | 93 91st |
One of Allen's best. It looks a little creepy in retrospect, but it is still tender and sweet and gives us one of his best portraits of the great city.
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PetrosTser | 80 86th |
One of Allen's greatest achievements, this beautifully photographed film never derails (as it happens with "Annie Hall" for example). His humour is at its best and his performance eschews his neurotic themes. The women of the cast are wonderful and Gershwin's compositions are just amazing, perfectly matched with a black and white NY.
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stuie299 | 75 47th |
Stylistically this movie is brilliant with its nostalgically charming romantic set pieces. It even has some genuinely laugh out loud moments. However plotwise it is impossible not to compare this film to Annie Hall and when doing so it most undoubtedly pales in said comparison.
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Calabria | 93 99th |
The best looking comedy I've seen, with some of the funniest pure dialogue. EDIT: Someone recently asked me to name 5 "must watch" movies for them, and this was the only one I could think of. That's saying something right?
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lex | 95 91st |
Manhattan is Woody Allen's most thoroughly wonderful and cinematic picture. The black and white is beautiful and though its not exactly his funniest, in my opinion, it is his finest.
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Ag0stoMesmer | 4 91st |
Quite lovely, despite nudging twee a few times. Moral of the story, I honestly don't know. "... a metaphor for the decay of contemporary culture..." "...you're too easy on yourself...you rationalise everything..."
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1 | msdstc | 80 80th |
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Amazing Cinematography
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karamazov. | 19 20th |
The photography looks like shit, btw.
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MacSwell | 95 97th |
This is Allen's finest tribute to New York. It's witty, well-paced and always feels realistic, treating its central relationship issues with a pleasant lightness which is beautifully complemented by the romantic Gershwin numbers throughout. The ending is sublime and features one of the best final lines of any film. The cast impress, especially Allen and Hemingway (she does a great job offering the film's only sympathetic character), and the black and white photography is exquisite.
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dardan | 36 29th |
Off-key everytime, all the time. Allen can't act, the cinematography is amateurish at best... as is the sound... among many other things wrong in this film, such as once again the continuous, ultimately self-serving and self-indulgent meta-narrative being far from anything noteworthy...
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JPFerguson | 92 97th |
Possibly the most romantic film of all time - a black and white New York landscape set to the tune of 'Rhapsody in Blue' - that still manages to be true to the difficulties and pain of intimate relationships (and with the trademark Allen humour). To me this is the most Allen of Woody Allen films. Hemingway is perfectly cast in her role, a young counterpoint to Keaton and Streep.
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Average Percentile 71.15% from 4938 Ratings | ![]() |