A Star Is Born (2018)
Where to Watch
- Eagle-eyed viewers have noticed a hidden easter egg referencing Bradley Cooper's previous film in the background of the opening scene.
- Bradley Cooper originally wanted a completely different ending for the film, but test audiences preferred the one we see today.
- The original script for A Star Is Born was written over a decade before production finally began in 2018.
A Star Is Born is a 2018 American musical romantic drama film directed by Bradley Cooper in his directorial debut, and starring Cooper alongside Lady Gaga in her first leading film role. The film follows Jackson Maine, a famous country-rock musician battling alcoholism and hearing loss, who discovers and falls in love with Ally, a talented singer-songwriter performing in a drag bar who has given up on her dreams of musical stardom. Jackson brings Ally into the spotlight, launching her career, but as her star rises, his personal demons and declining health threaten to destroy them both.
A Star Is Born is the fourth film adaptation of this story, following versions in 1937, 1954, and 1976, and Bradley Cooper's version was praised for finding genuine emotional truth in a narrative that could have felt overly familiar. Cooper and Lady Gaga performed all of their own music live on camera, including at real festivals like Coachella and Stagecoach, giving the concert sequences an authenticity rarely achieved in musical films. Lady Gaga's performance silenced skeptics who questioned whether the pop star could act, with her naturalistic, emotionally raw portrayal earning her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
The original song "Shallow," performed by Cooper and Gaga, won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and became a massive global hit. Cooper's portrayal of Jackson's addiction was praised for its empathy and authenticity. A Star Is Born earned $436 million worldwide on a $36 million budget and received eight Academy Award nominations.
