One Night at McCool's

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One Night at McCool's

R

2001

1h 33m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

33%

Tomatometer

97 Reviews

41%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

McCool's bar was hopping that night. Randy (Matt Dillon) worked there, tending bar. Lawyer Carl (Paul Reiser) was there until past closing. Detective Dehling (John Goodman) got there once McCool's became a crime scene. Was it the dead body that tied these men together? Not as tightly as the live wire who was also there that night: the stunning young woman aptly named Jewel (Liv Tyler). A steamy story told from three very different points of view that ultimately become one.

Critics Consensus

Critics say this blend of film noir and screwball comedy seems to think itself more clever and hip than it actually is. Also, the crucial femme fatale role needs a better, more mature actress than Tyler.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Dec 26, 2010

2/5

Disappointing, too violent, and not very funny.

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Dennis Lim

Village Voice

May 2, 2001

Oblivious to its own towering obsolescence.

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Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

Apr 30, 2001

2.5/5

Never fully rises to the occasion, maintaining a goofily even keel throughout but rarely tipping over into all-out froth and nuttiness.

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Guylaine Cadorette

Hollywood.com

Nov 20, 2008

3/5

Scott Nash

Three Movie Buffs

Sep 30, 2005

3/4

Philip Martin

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Jan 29, 2005

B

...a breezy, nasty little film that delivers more than it promises.

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Bryon D.

@RT15347691 Oct 18, 2026

Funny and entertaining. Love all the stars in this one.

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Barry K

@HKBarry Sep 25, 2026

Saw years ago and thought it was great. Funny as hell.

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Antony B

@RT29664284 Aug 5, 2026

A wickedly fun ride, balancing sharp comedy, messy romance, and just enough noir-style mischief to keep things unpredictable. The dialogue has real snap, the characters are wonderfully offbeat, and the shifting perspectives give the story a clever little spark. Funny, stylish, and delightfully chaotic.

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Allison A

@AlissonAnderson32 Jul 28, 2026

One Night at McCool’s is a darkly comic fever dream where bad decisions walk in wearing a perfect smile. A simple night spirals into a tangled web of obsession, desire, and questionable judgment, with every character convinced they’re the hero of their own disaster. The sharp dialogue, outrageous situations, and perfectly chaotic performances make the film a wickedly fun ride. It’s a stylish reminder that sometimes the most dangerous thing in the room isn’t a weapon, it’s the person you can’t stop wanting.

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Richard P

@RichardPicks Nov 22, 2025

It happened One Night at McCool's is a hilarious ride with hints of Rashomon storytelling over brilliant character actor performances.

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Robin O

@RT70734306 Oct 1, 2025

Big laughs with lots of style and quirky character performances

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Harald Zwart

Director

Liv Tyler

Jewel

Matt Dillon

Randy

John Goodman

Detective Dehling

Paul Reiser

Carl

Michael Douglas

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Synopsis

McCool's bar was hopping that night. Randy (Matt Dillon) worked there, tending bar. Lawyer Carl (Paul Reiser) was there until past closing. Detective Dehling (John Goodman) got there once McCool's became a crime scene. Was it the dead body that tied these men together? Not as tightly as the live wire who was also there that night: the stunning young woman aptly named Jewel (Liv Tyler). A steamy story told from three very different points of view that ultimately become one.

Director: Harald Zwart
Producer: Michael Douglas, Allison Lyon Segan
Screenwriter: Stan Seidel
Distributor: USA Films
Production Co: October Films, Further Films
Rating: R (Sexuality|Language|Violence)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 27, 2001, Wide
Release Date (DVD): Nov 5, 2002
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.3M
Runtime: 1h 33m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, SDDS, Surround, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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