The Good Night

The Good Night

Year: 2007

Runtime: 93 min

Language: English

Director: Jake Paltrow

DramaFantasyComedyRomance

Gary, a struggling musician whose career and relationship have stalled, feels increasingly overshadowed by his successful best friend. His life takes an unexpected turn when he encounters Anna, a woman he falls for in his dreams. Their connection exists only in his sleep, prompting Gary to seek a way to deepen his slumber and pursue this ethereal romance. He enlists the guidance of a new age guru in a quest to bridge the gap between his dreams and reality.

The Good Night (2007) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at The Good Night (2007) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a world saturated with glossy perfection and perpetual screen‑lit allure, a quiet desperation hums beneath the surface of everyday life. Gary Shaller drifts through his London apartment, a once‑promising musician now stuck composing empty jingles for commercials while his own creative spark sputters. His relationship with Dora hangs by a thread, their conversations echoing the stagnation that has settled over both his career and his personal world. The relentless comparison to his effortlessly successful best friend, Paul, only sharpens Gary’s sense that something vital has slipped away.

When night falls, Gary’s subconscious opens a door to a mesmerizing, otherworldly realm where a luminous woman named Anna appears, her presence as vivid as a dream‑catcher’s promise. The brief encounters awaken a yearning that pushes him toward the practice of lucid dreaming, a fragile bridge between the ordinary and the extraordinary. Seeking guidance, he turns to an eccentric new‑age guru, Mel, whose off‑beat teachings invite him to explore the limits of sleep and the possibilities of shaping his nocturnal reality.

The film settles into a tone that blends gentle melancholy with a whimsical curiosity, inviting the audience to feel the pull of longing that resides in the spaces between wakefulness and reverie. Through soft lighting, lingering close‑ups, and a soundtrack that oscillates between muted chords and dreamy ambience, the story paints a portrait of a man caught between the desire for authentic connection and the seductive safety of an imagined love. As Gary tiptoes deeper into his nightly odyssey, the line separating reality from the dreamscape begins to blur, leaving him—and the viewer—wondering how far one can chase an ideal before it becomes the only world that feels real.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 09:30

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about dreamy escapism like The Good Night

Characters who retreat into idealized dreams, blurring the line between fantasy and reality.If you liked 'The Good Night' for its exploration of dream worlds as an escape, you'll find similar stories here. This list features movies where characters, often facing a midlife crisis or artistic block, become consumed by a fantasy life, leading to bittersweet consequences. Discover films that blend fantasy, drama, and melancholy with themes of idealization vs. reality.

dreamlikemelancholicyearningintrospectivedisconnectedescapistbittersweetatmospheric

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically follow a protagonist who feels trapped or unfulfilled in their waking life. They discover or create an alternative reality—be it through lucid dreaming, imagination, or a hidden world—that offers everything they lack. The central conflict arises as their obsession with this perfect escape grows, forcing a choice or leading to a collapse between the two worlds, often with a poignant or ambiguous outcome.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here based on their shared focus on the psychological allure of escapism and the bittersweet tension between a disappointing reality and an idealized fantasy. They share a dreamlike mood, a melancholic tone, and a narrative that prioritizes internal, emotional conflict over external action.

Movies about midlife melancholy like The Good Night

Slow, character-driven portraits of dissatisfaction and quiet existential crises.For viewers who appreciated the melancholic and introspective portrayal of midlife crisis in 'The Good Night,' this section gathers similar character studies. These films explore themes of artistic block, relationship dissatisfaction, and the yearning for meaning, all delivered with a slow, thoughtful pace and a medium emotional weight. Find poignant dramas about the quiet struggles of adulthood.

melancholicintrospectivedissatisfactionyearninglonelyquietcontemplativebittersweet

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern revolves around a protagonist in the midst of a quiet, internal crisis. There is rarely a major external event; instead, the story unfolds through their growing awareness of their own dissatisfaction and compromises. The journey is one of introspection, as they grapple with unmet expectations and the gap between their youthful ideals and their current reality, often without a clear or happy resolution.

Why These Movies?

These movies are connected by their shared mood of melancholy and yearning, their slow pacing that emphasizes character reflection, and their central theme of midlife discontent. They offer a similar vibe of quiet despair and emotional realism, appealing to viewers seeking thoughtful, character-centric dramas.

Unlock the Full Story of The Good Night

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Good Night in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Good Night is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Good Night Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Good Night, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Good Night Summary

The Good Night Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Good Night with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Good Night Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Good Night

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape The Good Night. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Good Night

More About The Good Night

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Good Night: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Good Night

Similar Movies to The Good Night

Discover movies like The Good Night that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.