In a strategic awards season move, Searchlight Pictures has confirmed that Bradley Cooper’s latest directorial effort, “Is This Thing On?“ will compete in the drama categories at the upcoming Golden Globes. Stars Will Arnett and Laura Dern will both campaign for consideration in the lead acting categories, positioning the film as a serious dramatic contender.
The decision places the film, which explores the emotional aftermath of a divorce, in a potentially less crowded field. This year’s drama categories are seen as more open, while the comedy or musical race is packed with high-profile titles.
The Film’s Plot and Core Themes
“Is This Thing On?” tells a tender, funny, and emotional story about a longtime couple navigating life after an amicable divorce. The film follows Alex and Tess Novak (played by Will Arnett and Laura Dern) as they attempt to co-parent their two sons while maintaining overlapping friendships.
Alex begins to rediscover himself through an unexpected new hobby in the New York comedy scene, a journey that forces him to confront how he has changed and the parts of his relationship that never will. Meanwhile, Tess confronts the sacrifices she made for their family. The film is described as an intimate and human story that deals with endings, reinvention, and the quiet ache of love lost.
The project is loosely based on the life and experiences of British comedian John Bishop. The film features a strong supporting cast, including Bradley Cooper in a scene-stealing role as Alex’s best friend, Balls. The ensemble also includes Andra Day, Amy Sedaris, Sean Hayes, Christine Ebersole, and Ciarรกn Hinds.
A Strategic Awards Category Placement
While the film’s emotional core makes it a natural fit for drama, the category placement is also a strategically sound decision by Searchlight Pictures. This year’s dramatic lineup at the Golden Globes is rich in prestige but notably less crowded, with only a few titles like Chloรฉ Zhao’s “Hamnet” and Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” expected to dominate.
By contrast, the comedy or musical category is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory. It includes titles such as Yorgos Lanthimos’s “Bugonia,” Noah Baumbach’s “Jay Kelly,” Josh Safdie’s “Marty Supreme,” Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another,” and Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked: For Good.” This crowded field makes the drama category a more viable path for awards recognition.
Showcasing Dramatic Acting Range
The drama category submission is a significant move for the film’s stars. For Will Arnett, long beloved for his comedic work in series like Arrested Development and BoJack Horseman, this positions him as a serious dramatic actor. The role of Alex marks his first leading role in a major drama, and early reviews suggest his performance finds new depth and heartbreak beneath his trademark wit. He was recently honored with the Luminary Award at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival for this work.
For Laura Dern, a five-time Golden Globe winner and Oscar winner for Marriage Story, the lead drama category is familiar territory. She brings what critics call a “fiery truth” to the role of Tess, a woman wrestling with acceptance and independence after years of emotional codependence. The film’s placement improves both actors’ chances of landing nominations.
Bradley Cooper’s Continued Filmmaking Evolution
For director and co-writer Bradley Cooper, “Is This Thing On?” is described as his most vulnerable and introspective work to date. He co-wrote the screenplay with Will Arnett and Mark Chappell. The film trades the grand sweep of his previous film, Maestro, for something more intimate.
If the film earns a Best Picture nomination, Cooper would tie a record with Greta Gerwig. He would become only the second filmmaker in history to have their first three directorial featuresโ“A Star Is Born,” “Maestro,” and now “Is This Thing On?”โnominated for the top prize at the Oscars.
Cooper is no stranger to Golden Globe recognition, having received six nominations throughout his career across acting, writing, and directing. His work on A Star Is Born earned him nominations for both Best Actor and Best Director.
Critical Reception and Release Plans
The film had its world premiere as the closing night selection of the New York Film Festival on October 10. It has been met with positive early reactions, currently holding a 95% score on the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes.
The official synopsis from the site reads:
As their marriage quietly unravels, Alex (Will Arnett) faces middle age and an impending divorce, seeking new purpose in the New York comedy scene while Tess (Laura Dern) confronts the sacrifices she made for their family–forcing them to navigate co-parenting, identity, and whether love can take a new form.
Moviegoers will be able to see the film for themselves when it arrives in theaters across the United States on December 19. The nominations for the 83rd Golden Globes will be announced on December 8, setting the stage for the awards ceremony which will be held on January 11, 2026.
The 83rd Golden Globes will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+ from the Beverly Hilton. Comedian Nikki Glaser, who hosted the 2025 ceremony, will return to host.
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