Celebrity

Celebrity

Year: 1998

Runtime: 113 min

Language: English

DramaComedy

After a divorce leaves him searching for direction, writer Lee abandons his literary aspirations and becomes an entertainment journalist. Immersed in the world of Manhattan’s elite, he chronicles the lives of celebrities while grappling with his own sense of purpose. As he observes the allure and superficiality of fame, Lee questions the value of his choices and struggles to reconcile artistic ambition with the pursuit of fleeting recognition.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Celebrity yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Celebrity (1998)

Trace every key event in Celebrity (1998) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Lee meets Nicole Oliver on set

Lee Simon interviews Nicole Oliver on the set in New York City. He flirts with Nola, a young background extra, testing the boundaries of his fame and charm. The encounter marks the beginning of a tangling pursuit of professional success and personal desire.

New York City – on set of Nicole Oliver's film
2

Nicole invites Lee to her childhood home and a provocative pitch

Nicole brings Lee to her childhood home for a private visit. She makes a bold proposition, offering him oral sex in a charged moment. Lee responds by pitching his screenplay, hoping to spark her interest and gain leverage for his career.

Nicole Oliver's childhood home
3

Fashion show and a tense ride home

At a fashion show, Lee's 1967 Aston Martin catches the eye of an orgasmically-sensitive supermodel who invites him home after a night on the town. He begins to drift into a dangerous flirtation, only to distractively crash the car into a store window. The spectacle underscores how his pursuit of glamour destabilizes his life.

New York City – fashion show and nearby streets
4

Robin's Catholic retreat and Tony's introduction

Robin, Lee's ex-wife, attends a Catholic retreat as she copes with their long-ago divorce. At a plastic surgery consultation, she meets TV producer Tony Gardella and reluctantly accompanies him to a film premiere. The budding romance pulls her deeper into celebrity culture and away from the old life she once led.

Catholic retreat; plastic surgery clinic; film premiere (New York City venues)
5

Literary party embarrassment and Bonnie's encouragement

Back at a literary party, Lee delivers a boastful line inspired by a high school reunion and collapses from embarrassment. Bonnie, his editor date, encourages him to finish the novel, sensing a potential comeback. The moment highlights how fragile his ego remains in the glare of public scrutiny.

New York City – literary party
6

Robin falls for Tony and joins his show world

Robin begins a romance with Tony, who hires her to schedule guests for his tabloid talk show. She meets his boisterous extended family and steps further into the celebrity circle. The relationship deepens as she trades personal stability for professional ambition.

Tony's home and TV show set
7

Lee spends a wild day with Brandon Darrow

Lee spends a wild day with the volatile movie star Brandon Darrow, including a hotel-room fracas that nearly lands them in trouble. Brandon invites Lee to join him in a group-sex encounter, but Lee is too preoccupied to commit to the plan. The experience intensifies Lee's collision of sex, fame, and questionable judgment.

Hotel – New York City
8

Robin visits a sex worker; choking scare

Robin visits a sex worker for tips on her own sexuality, hoping to reclaim control. The session takes an odd turn when Robin must help the sex worker avoid choking on a banana. The moment exposes Robin's vulnerability beneath her makeover.

Sex worker's location
9

Lee finishes his novel and pursues Nola

Lee completes his novel and crosses paths with Nola, who invites him to meet later that night. He lies to Bonnie and slips away to see Nola, and they have sex at her apartment. The encounter marks a turning point as his fidelity erodes and success feels hollow.

Nola's apartment
10

Morning embrace and manuscript heartbreak

In the morning, Bonnie moves in with Lee, but he admits he has met someone else. She leaves with the only copy of his novel, and Lee chases her to the pier. She boards a ferry and tosses the manuscript into the water, destroying the tangible symbol of his achievement.

Lee's apartment and the city ferry pier
11

Robin's makeover and wedding plans

Robin has shed her neuroses for a makeover and launches her own celebrity interview program while preparing to marry Tony. The two tracks—career pivot and impending wedding—pull her further into the world of TV fame. Her evolving life signals a new happiness that contrasts with Lee's ongoing turmoil.

New TV studio; wedding venue
12

The wedding decision and a psychic push

Robin runs away from the ceremony, then pauses for a psychic session and reconsiders. After the reading, she decides to go through with the wedding and chooses a happier, more confident path. The moment encapsulates the central theme of reinventing happiness.

Wedding venue
13

Lee's insecurities and the premiere

Meanwhile, Lee's insecurities continue to strain his relationship with Nola. At the premiere of Nicole Oliver's film, Robin appears successful, happily married, and newly pregnant, while Lee remains unsettled. He ends the day still questioning what happiness truly means.

Nicole Oliver's film premiere; New York City

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:58

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Celebrity Summary

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Celebrity Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Celebrity

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Celebrity

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