---
title: "Being the Ricardos"
year: 2021
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/being-the-ricardos"
fi1m_id: "being-the-ricardos"
imdb_id: "tt4995540"
tmdb_id: 517088
wikidata_id: "Q105907125"
fi1m_score: 61
critics_score: 57
critics_reviews: 26
published: "2026-10-03T02:00:58.552261+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-03T02:01:31.239478+00:00"
region: "SA"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Being the Ricardos (2021)

Directed by Aaron Sorkin · 2h 12m · Drama, History

## Identity

Being the Ricardos

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/being-the-ricardos
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** being-the-ricardos
- **IMDb ID:** tt4995540
- **TMDB ID:** 517088
- **Wikidata ID:** Q105907125
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4995540/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/517088, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105907125

**Fi1m score: 61** · Critics 57 from 26 reviews

*In a sentence:* Lucille Ball has a comedy programme to make, but first everyone would like a word

> Nicole Kidman makes Lucille Ball’s perfectionism worth watching, but Aaron Sorkin keeps explaining what her performance already tells us. *Being the Ricardos* is an uneven backstage drama, most engaging when it attends to the work.

## Synopsis

Lucille Ball (Nicole Kidman) works on *I Love Lucy* with her husband and fellow performer, Desi Arnaz (Javier Bardem). She wants the comedy right, down to the physical business that makes a scene funny, and her perfectionism leaves little room for compromise. Vivian Vance (Nina Arianda) and William Frawley (J.K. Simmons) are part of the same production, with their own concerns alongside those of its central couple. As demands on the programme compete with pressures on their marriage, the couple struggle to keep their working partnership separate from their private lives.

## Review

Aaron Sorkin is interested in the labour behind *I Love Lucy*: the decisions that make a physical gag work and the stubbornness of the person making them. *Being the Ricardos* is a decent drama about that labour, repeatedly interrupted by a less persuasive account of a marriage. Nicole Kidman gives it a reason to keep watching. Too often, though, the writing insists on explaining what she has already made clear.

As Lucille Ball, she is most convincing when she is thinking about comedy. Her precision can look severe, which is useful in a film about someone who cannot stop examining how a joke works. We laughed at the grape-stomping recreation, and were grateful for the chance; her physical timing supplies the pleasure missing from so much of the talk. These passages let us appreciate the skill without another speech about how much it matters.

Javier Bardem gives Desi Arnaz enough charm to make the partnership plausible, even when the screenplay makes it hard to feel close to either of them. He brings some welcome looseness to a film full of people determined to finish their points. Nicole Kidman is sharper and more guarded beside him. Their performances suggest private habits and grievances that the dialogue too readily turns into arguments for our benefit.

Nina Arianda’s Vivian Vance has a presence of her own, without needing the film to keep telling us why she matters. J.K. Simmons makes William Frawley’s grouchiness welcome company. Together they make the production feel populated by colleagues, with interests extending beyond the troubles of its central couple. We would have liked more room for these performers to interrupt the solemnity.

The competing crises are the larger problem. Aaron Sorkin crowds the screenplay, while Alan Baumgarten’s editing has to negotiate shifts that do not bring us much closer to the couple. The flash-forwards are particularly disruptive, taking us away from the performers when we have begun to care about what they are doing. A backstage drama can accommodate private unhappiness and professional conflict, but this one keeps returning to explanation when it needs to let a scene develop.

Jeff Cronenweth’s cinematography is too murky for our taste, adding a heaviness the dialogue hardly needs. Jon Hutman’s production design offers visual polish, but the surroundings feel too arranged to persuade us that work routinely happens here. Daniel Pemberton’s music does little to soften that stiffness, though the dialogue leaves it little room to help. The actors supply most of the warmth.

We do not need a film about a comedian to be constantly funny, and taking her work seriously is the right instinct. The difficulty is how seldom the film allows that work to tell us enough on its own. At 132 minutes, the repeated emphasis becomes tiring. Consider it for Nicole Kidman and the business of making television, provided a substantial amount of explanation will not spoil the evening.

*Fi1m score 61, published 3 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

The consensus on Being the Ricardos is mixed, with praise clustering around the performances rather than Aaron Sorkin’s handling of the story. Most critics admire Nicole Kidman’s portrayal of Lucille Ball’s exacting professionalism, particularly when the film shows her working through a comic routine. Javier Bardem and the supporting cast also draw praise. Even several sceptical reviews find something engaging in the backstage pressures and the couple’s relationship.

The spread is wide, and Sorkin’s writing is the main dividing point. Variety finds the compressed storytelling intoxicating and the marriage deftly drawn; The Guardian finds the dialogue self-important and the comedy exhausting. Reservations elsewhere centre on competing storylines, clumsy pacing and a shortage of warmth or humour. Kidman is not universally admired either: Collider considers her portrayal a weakness, while praising Bardem. The disagreement is less about the subjects’ potential than whether Sorkin allows them enough life beyond his dialogue.

## Straight answers

**Is Being the Ricardos worth watching?**

*Being the Ricardos* is worth considering for Nicole Kidman’s performance and its attention to making television comedy; we score it 61 out of 100. We find the backstage work more engaging than the marriage drama, but crowded crises and dialogue that explains too much make its 132 minutes feel long.

**How long is Being the Ricardos, and what is it rated?**

*Being the Ricardos* runs 2h 12m. It is a drama and history film.

**Where can I watch Being the Ricardos in Saudi Arabia?**

*Being the Ricardos* is not on any streaming or rental service in Saudi Arabia at the moment. It is available in 49 other countries; change your country at the top of the page to see where. Availability is checked daily.

**How violent or frightening is Being the Ricardos, and is it suitable for children?**

*Being the Ricardos* has a UK 15 certificate, so it is not suitable for children under 15. The certificate indicates adult material, but we cannot give a specific warning about violence or frightening scenes from the information available; our review focuses on marital pressures, professional conflict and the film’s talk-heavy approach.

**How does Being the Ricardos compare to All About Eve?**

*Being the Ricardos* is the weaker choice beside [*All About Eve*](https://film.one/film/all-about-eve), which we recommend for sharper backstage dialogue and more enjoyable verbal sparring. The former is most engaging when Nicole Kidman attends to the practical work of comedy; the latter offers a cruelly funny theatre satire, though its flashback structure can also feel stiff.

**What should I watch after Being the Ricardos?**

After *Being the Ricardos*, try [*All About Eve*](https://film.one/film/all-about-eve) (1950, Fi1m 90): Backstage rivalry with sharper dialogue and performers allowed to enjoy delivering it. Then [*Topsy-Turvy*](https://film.one/film/topsy-turvy) (1999, Fi1m 88): Another exacting look at comic work, with more patience for the making; and [*Centre Stage*](https://film.one/film/center-stage) (1991, Fi1m 82): A performer’s public image and private life receive a more searching examination.

### Reviews we read (26)

- **Variety**, Owen Gleiberman (Critics Pick): Gleiberman finds the film’s compressed, fast-paced Sorkinese style intoxicating and its portrait of a marriage deft and romantic. He especially praises Nicole Kidman’s performance, which captures both Lucille Ball’s comic precision and her off-camera glamour and sharpness. [Read](https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/being-the-ricardos-review-nicole-kidman-javier-bardem-jk-simmons-aaron-sorkin-1235127922/)
- **Empire**, Olly Richards (80/100, inferred): Richards finds the film a compelling biopic and one of Aaron Sorkin’s best works. He praises its layered portrayal of Lucy and Desi’s relationship and the wider television industry. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/being-the-ricardos/)
- **Little White Lies**, Leila Latif (3/4/3): Latif finds the film energetic but ultimately forced and anticlimactic. She especially praises Javier Bardem’s performance as Desi Arnaz, while criticizing Nicole Kidman’s prosthetic makeup. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/being-the-ricardos)
- **Radio Times**, Kevin Harley (4/5): The review finds the film delightful, with Sorkin’s script supplying heart and humour. It particularly praises Nicole Kidman’s quick, sharp portrayal of Lucille Ball. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-prswxj/being-the-ricardos/)
- **The New Yorker**, Richard Brody (75/100, inferred): Brody finds the film an ambitious, often inspired portrait, though he says its resolution leaves questions unanswered. He especially praises its depiction of Lucille Ball’s imaginative creative process and physical-comedy genius. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/being-the-ricardos-reviewed-aaron-sorkin-honors-the-serious-business-of-lucille-balls-comedic-genius)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Justin Chang (70/100, inferred): Chang finds the film glibly entertaining but overly tidy and not always convincing in its portrayals. He especially praises Kidman’s assured performance and the scenes showing Ball’s sharp comic instincts at work. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-12-07/being-the-ricardos-review-nicole-kidman-lucille-ball-i-love-lucy)
- **The i Paper**, Francesca Steele (70/100, inferred): The critic finds the film smart and ultimately successful, despite its overstuffed script. Kidman’s portrayal stands out, with the prosthetics doing little to distract from her performance. [Read](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/being-the-ricardos-review-film-movie-nicole-kidman-javier-bardem-lucille-ball-aaron-sorkin-1344022)
- **Sight and Sound**, BFI (65/100, inferred): The review finds the film clunky but engaging, with a tone far removed from the sitcom it depicts. It praises the performances and highlights revealing exchanges about the pressures surrounding the show. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/being-ricardos-clunky-engaging-look-behind-scenes-1950s-sitcom-i-love-lucy)
- **RogerEbert.com** (64/100, inferred): The review's verdict and specific praise or criticism are unavailable because the page would not load. No assessment can be reliably summarized from the supplied text. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/being-the-ricardos-movie-review-2021)
- **The New York Times**, Manohla Dargis (64/100, inferred): The page is inaccessible, so the critic’s verdict cannot be established. Its specific praise or complaint is also unavailable. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/08/movies/being-the-ricardos-review.html)
- **IndieWire**, Kate Erbland (C): Erbland finds the film an awkward, joyless portrait weighed down by Sorkin’s worst habits. She praises Kidman’s brief flashes of Lucille Ball’s comic genius, especially in the grape-stomping recreation. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/being-the-ricardos-review-aaron-sorkin-nicole-kidman-1234681911/)
- **Slant Magazine**, Jake Cole (2/4): The review argues that Sorkin’s formulaic, didactic approach undermines the film. It praises Nicole Kidman’s performance and the scenes showing Ball’s perfectionism at work on I Love Lucy. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/being-the-ricardos-review-aaron-sorkin-nicole-kidman/)
- **Screen Daily**, Stephen Whitty (45/100, inferred): The standfirst suggests Sorkin’s drama is less charming than its subject. The accessible text offers no further detail about what the critic praises or faults. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/being-the-ricardos-review/5165395.article)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, David Rooney (40/100, inferred): Rooney finds the film engrossing but overly shaped by Sorkin’s familiar habits, which leave it emotionally underpowered. He praises the performances, especially Kidman’s precise portrayal of Lucy Ball’s demanding professionalism and private sorrow. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/being-the-ricardos-nicole-kidman-javier-bardem-1235057429/)
- **The AV Club**, Jesse Hassenger (35/100, inferred): Hassenger finds the film frustratingly flattened by Sorkin’s familiar storytelling and ultimately centerless. He praises Kidman and Bardem’s charisma, but says the makeup and rigid script limit their performances. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/nicole-kidman-and-javier-bardem-can-t-act-around-the-so-1848163432)
- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (35/100, inferred): Bradshaw finds the film ingeniously structured but exhausting and mannered, making its comedy feel like hard work. He praises its vehement performances and its recognition that Ball’s strength was physical comedy, while faulting Sorkin’s self-important dialogue. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/dec/07/being-the-ricardos-review-nicole-kidman-makes-light-comedy-look-like-hard-work-in-lucille-ball-biopic)
- **Vulture**, Jason Bailey (30/100, inferred): Bailey finds the film lifeless and dramatically false, faulting its scattered storytelling and Sorkin’s direction. He praises Nina Arianda’s portrayal of Vivian Vance and the supporting cast, especially J.K. Simmons. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/movie-review-aaron-sorkins-being-the-ricardos.html)
- **Eye for Film**, Amber Wilkinson (75/100, inferred): The review finds the film an engaging, character-focused account, though it notes some weak production values. It particularly praises Nicole Kidman’s capture of Lucille Ball’s forthright energy and fearlessness. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/being-the-ricardos-2021-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson)
- **NME** (75/100, inferred): The review finds the film cleverly written and ultimately admiring of Lucille Ball. It especially praises Nicole Kidman for capturing Ball’s essence, while noting an anachronistic reference to “gaslighting.” [Read](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/being-the-ricardos-review-nicole-kidman-lucille-ball-3112964)
- **Paste**, Andy Crump (3.9): Crump finds the film weighed down by Sorkin’s excessive contextualizing and uneven tone. He praises Nicole Kidman’s confident, sensitive portrayal of Ball, which cuts through the film’s shortcomings. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/aaron-sorkin/being-the-ricardos-review)
- **Den of Geek**, Don Kaye (2.5 out of 5): Kaye finds the film overstuffed and ultimately hard to love, despite its talented cast and sharp dialogue. He singles out the distracting flash-forwards and competing crises for obscuring the story and its characters. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/being-the-ricardos-review-i-love-lucy/)
- **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (C-): Goldberg finds the film unfocused, overloaded with storylines, and weakened by Nicole Kidman’s portrayal of Lucille Ball. He praises the sharp dialogue and supporting cast, especially Javier Bardem’s charismatic performance. [Read](https://collider.com/being-the-ricardos-review-nicole-kidman-lucille-ball-movie/)
- **/Film**, Josh Spiegel (3 out of 10): The critic finds the film exhausting, unfunny, and poorly served by Sorkin’s direction. J.K. Simmons earns praise for his casting and grouchy portrayal of William Frawley. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/679868/being-the-ricardos-review-an-exhausting-and-unfunny-look-at-one-of-the-funniest-people-ever/)
- **Consequence**, Liz Shannon Miller (25/100, inferred): Miller argues that Sorkin fundamentally misunderstands Lucy and Desi, leaving the film unable to capture what made them special. She particularly faults its treatment of Lucy and its grasp of comedy. [Read](https://consequence.net/2021/12/being-the-ricardos-review-aaron-sorkin/)
- **HeyUGuys** (25/100, inferred): The critic finds the film contrived despite its promising premise and superficial beauty. They praise its visual polish but fault its artificial atmosphere and underexplored themes. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/being-the-ricardos-review/)
- **The Wrap** (15/100, inferred): The critic finds the film dreary and overloaded, blaming Aaron Sorkin’s writing and direction despite strong performances from some cast members. They single out the murky cinematography and clumsy pacing as further problems that keep the story from becoming a compelling portrait of the couple. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/being-the-ricardos-film-review-nicole-kidman-aaron-sorkin-i-love-lucy/)

## Details

- **Director:** Aaron Sorkin
- **Director:** Aaron Sorkin
- **Writer:** Aaron Sorkin
- **Cinematography:** Jeff Cronenweth
- **Editor:** Alan Baumgarten
- **Music:** Daniel Pemberton
- **Production design:** Jon Hutman
- **Costume design:** Susan Lyall
- **Producer:** Jason Blumenthal, Todd Black, Steve Tisch
- **Cast:** Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball; Javier Bardem as Desi Arnaz; J.K. Simmons as William Frawley; Nina Arianda as Vivian Vance; Tony Hale as Jess Oppenheimer; Alia Shawkat as Madelyn Pugh; Jake Lacy as Bob Carroll Jr.; Linda Lavin as Older Madelyn Pugh
- **Runtime:** 2h 12m
- **First release (the UK):** 10 December 2021
- **Genres:** Drama, History
- **Box office:** $450,000
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvrjCdtB0zM

## Where to watch in Saudi Arabia

Not streaming, renting or buying in Saudi Arabia at the last check.

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, TH, TR, UA, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *All About Eve* (1950), Fi1m 90: Backstage rivalry with sharper dialogue and performers allowed to enjoy delivering it — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/all-about-eve.md)
- *Day for Night* (1973): For the pleasures and irritations of making entertainment in a crowded workplace
- *Topsy-Turvy* (1999), Fi1m 88: Another exacting look at comic work, with more patience for the making — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/topsy-turvy.md)
- *The TV Set* (2006): Television production becomes a dry comedy of compromises nobody quite wants to admit
- *Centre Stage* (1991), Fi1m 82: A performer’s public image and private life receive a more searching examination — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/center-stage.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/being-the-ricardos