--- title: "Call Me by Your Name" year: 2017 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/call-me-by-your-name" fi1m_id: "call-me-by-your-name" imdb_id: "tt5726616" tmdb_id: 398818 wikidata_id: "Q25136757" fi1m_score: 86 critics_score: 93 critics_reviews: 22 published: "2026-09-16" updated: "2026-09-18T08:38:37.610871+00:00" region: "US" 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." --- # Call Me by Your Name (2017) Directed by Luca Guadagnino · 2h 12m · MPA R · Romance, Drama ## Identity Call Me by Your Name - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/call-me-by-your-name - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** call-me-by-your-name - **IMDb ID:** tt5726616 - **TMDB ID:** 398818 - **Wikidata ID:** Q25136757 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5726616/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/398818, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q25136757 **Fi1m score: 86** · Critics 93 from 22 reviews *In a sentence:* All that education, and still no reliable way to ask if someone fancies you > Luca Guadagnino makes first love feel awkward, absorbing and worth the risk, with Timothée Chalamet doing the difficult work. The leisurely pace sometimes becomes indulgent, but we recommend this romance for its attentiveness to embarrassment as much as desire. ## Synopsis It is summer 1983 in Italy. Teenager Elio (Timothée Chalamet) is drawn to Oliver (Armie Hammer), an older graduate student, but wants to find out if the feeling is mutual before he risks saying so. Elio’s father, Mr. Perlman (Michael Stuhlbarg), is part of a family whose conversation turns readily to art and history. Elio can keep up with the talk; understanding Oliver is more difficult. Between their intellectual exchanges and the long summer days, he tries to make himself understood without letting his inexperience show. ## Review Luca Guadagnino gives *Call Me by Your Name* time to let attraction become inconvenient. James Ivory’s screenplay, adapted from André Aciman’s novel, follows a teenage boy whose intelligence offers little help with wanting an older man. Elio can talk about art and history without being any better at understanding Oliver. We recommend it because the performances make that uncertainty matter, though the film occasionally takes longer over a mood than it needs to. Timothée Chalamet plays Elio with an alertness that makes even the quieter exchanges feel risky. His physical expressiveness keeps exposing what the intellectual conversation might otherwise conceal, so the character’s cleverness never makes him seem safely in control. We were embarrassed for him, because his face makes his uncertainty plain while he is trying to sound assured. It is a generous performance, letting us recognise the awkwardness without encouraging us to laugh at the boy. Armie Hammer gives Oliver an ease that makes Elio’s self-consciousness harder to hide. The attraction is convincing, although Oliver is less fully drawn, and the film sometimes relies on Armie Hammer’s presence where another detail of character would help. Michael Stuhlbarg, as Mr. Perlman, brings warmth to the family scenes without making kindness look like an achievement. The people around Elio can seem too well chosen to help him understand his feelings; we occasionally wanted somebody to be less understanding. Sayombhu Mukdeeprom’s wider compositions let us watch how the two men occupy space around each other. Keeping the camera back lets us read their awkwardness for ourselves, without a close-up insisting on its importance. Samuel Deshors’s production design makes the period setting inviting, and helps the conversations about art and history feel at home there. The surroundings can be so pleasant that we stop attending to the people, which is a problem in a romance. Walter Fasano’s editing allows the romance to develop slowly enough for hesitation to become interesting. At 132 minutes, however, the film sometimes gives us more time to understand a feeling we have already understood. John Adams’s music brings a welcome restlessness. Sufjan Stevens’s songs sound close and private, helping when the camera keeps its distance. They suit the film, though occasionally we would rather have been left with the actors, who have already made the feeling clear. For a coming-of-age romance, this is unusually willing to let embarrassment take its time. It also allows pleasure without treating it as something the characters must apologise for, which makes the occasional prettiness easier to forgive. The film takes Elio’s feelings seriously even when he cannot find a sensible way to express them, and that is worth a little patience. Save it for an evening without interruptions; the small changes in his expression deserve attention. *Fi1m score 86, published 16 September 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics greet Call Me by Your Name with strong enthusiasm, praising its patient account of first love and the sensual atmosphere of its Italian summer setting. Praise centres on Timothée Chalamet’s physically expressive performance, which the reviews credit with making uncertainty, desire and hurt legible in small gestures and silences. Guadagnino’s direction also draws broad approval for allowing the relationship to develop slowly, with several critics finding that the warmth and humour make its emotional force more affecting. The differences are chiefly matters of emphasis, though there is a clear dissent. While most reviews find the restraint intimate and absorbing, Paste considers the film emotionally distant, arguing that its long-shot compositions and limited tactile detail hold back the eroticism despite strong lead performances. The spread therefore runs from emphatic praise to a reservation about the very quality others admire: how closely the film lets us experience its characters’ feelings. ## Straight answers **Is Call Me by Your Name worth watching?** *Call Me by Your Name* is worth watching for anyone who wants a first-love romance that takes embarrassment as seriously as desire, and we scored it 86. Timothée Chalamet's alert, exposed performance carries it, though at 132 minutes the film sometimes lingers on a feeling we have already grasped. Save it for an evening without interruptions. **How long is Call Me by Your Name, and what is it rated?** *Call Me by Your Name* runs 2h 12m and is rated R by the MPA in the US. It is a romance and drama film. **Where can I watch Call Me by Your Name in the US?** *Call Me by Your Name* is available to rent from Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV from $3.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service. **How violent or frightening is Call Me by Your Name, and is it suitable for children?** *Call Me by Your Name* is not violent or frightening; its UK 15 certificate reflects sexual content and adult themes rather than anything alarming. It follows a teenage boy's attraction to an older graduate student over a summer in Italy, and it treats pleasure openly and without apology. It is not for children, but older teenagers and adults should find nothing here to flinch from. **How does Call Me by Your Name compare to Happy Together?** *Call Me by Your Name* is the gentler and more inviting of the two, a slow summer romance about the awkwardness of finding out whether attraction is mutual; [*Happy Together*](https://film.one/film/happy-together) is a bruising, fractured account of two men who keep trying and keep hurting each other. Guadagnino's film is the easier evening and the more consistent; Wong Kar-Wai's is the harder-edged and more repetitive. Choose by mood rather than quality. **Is Call Me by Your Name based on a true story or a book?** *Call Me by Your Name* is based on André Aciman's novel of the same name, adapted for the screen by James Ivory; it is not a true story. Our review does not measure the film against the book, and knowing the novel is no requirement. The film stands entirely on its own, carried by its performances rather than any assumed familiarity with the source. **What should I watch after Call Me by Your Name?** After *Call Me by Your Name*, try [*Maurice*](https://film.one/film/maurice) (1987, Fi1m 83): A more formal period romance, equally attentive to the difficulty of admitting desire. Then [*Happy Together*](https://film.one/film/happy-together) (1997, Fi1m 86): A bruising romance in which mutual attraction offers no guarantee of mutual kindness; and [*Weekend*](https://film.one/film/weekend) (2011, Fi1m 86): A brief encounter between two men, with conversation doing the difficult emotional work. ### Reviews we read (31) - **Little White Lies**, Adam Woodward (4/5/5): The film is a stunning, lyrical exploration of love and longing, with the critic noting its sensual motifs and emotional depth. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/call-me-by-your-name) - **Slant Magazine**, Sam C. Mac (4/4): The film excels in exploring how relationships take on larger meanings through art and history, with evocative visuals and strong performances, especially Chalamet's. Guadagnino's reserved form allows the actors' emotional acuity to shine in this coming-of-age story. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/call-me-by-your-name/) - **The i Paper**, Matthew Turner (★★★★★): This is hailed as one of the year's best films and an emotional masterpiece, with exceptional direction that captures the rush of first love through nostalgic atmosphere, gorgeous cinematography and a perfect balance of joy and bittersweetness. Standout elements include the star-making performances, especially Chalamet's expressive portrayal and the profoundly moving father-son speech. [Read](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/call-me-by-your-name-review-99819) - **The Telegraph** (5/5): The review calls it an incomparably lovely period romance as warm and therapeutic as sunlight, with elegance and passion from the Merchant Ivory connection and Guadagnino's best work to date. It highlights the sensual possibilities in a memorable food scene. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/call-name-review-period-romance-warm-therapeutic-sunlight/) - **Time Out**, Joshua Rothkopf (5/5): A triumphant, emotionally intense coming-of-age romance that captures the essence of first love with style and wisdom. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/call-me-by-your-name) - **Empire**, Olly Richards (90/100, inferred): The review calls it a full-hearted romantic masterpiece that is at once light, joyful and emotionally devastating, with deeply affecting central performances. Guadagnino fills every scene with life and the cast, led by Chalamet's raw teenage emotions, makes the silences and small surprises count. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/call-name-review/) - **Los Angeles Times**, Justin Chang (90/100, inferred): Chang hails the film as a new coming-of-age classic and an uncommonly enveloping romance that captures first love with emotional and psychological acuity. He singles out Timothée Chalamet's sensational performance as one of the year's most fully formed screen characters. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-call-me-by-your-name-review-20171122-story.html) - **The New Yorker**, Anthony Lane (90/100, inferred): Lane calls the film an erotic triumph that is emotionally acute and overwhelmingly sensual, evoking the transformations of young love in an enchanted Italian setting. He highlights the intense, heat-filled portrayal of first love and its reflective conclusion on the fleeting nature of romance. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/12/04/call-me-by-your-name-an-erotic-triumph) - **Total Film**, Josh Winning (90/100, inferred): The critic finds it a luminous, sun-kissed Italian love story brimming with warmth, passion and feeling that is utterly unmissable, capturing the pleasures and pains of youth with bracing sensitivity through its slow build and relatable emotional core. The deceptively freewheeling style and powerful final moments arrestingly convey the things that matter. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/call-me-by-your-name-review/) - **Vulture** (90/100, inferred): The critic hails the film as a masterpiece for its startlingly immediate eroticism and vivid capture of midsummer longing in 1983 Italy. Chalamet's performance is singled out as the year's best, with the final shot and sensual atmosphere leaving a profound impact. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2017/11/review-call-me-by-your-name-is-a-masterpiece.html) - **Variety**, Peter Debruge (Critics Pick): Debruge describes the film as a beguiling tale of first love that is ravishingly sensual and recreates the protagonist's transformative summer with intense immediacy. He praises Guadagnino's gift for sensuality and the film's place alongside masters of the form. [Read](https://variety.com/2017/film/reviews/call-me-by-your-name-review-1201966646/) - **Evening Standard**, Charlotte O'Sullivan: The critic praises the film's fluid script, inventive camerawork, Sufjan Stevens songs and especially the performances scooped from the actors' marrow, creating a tone that shifts between comic, romantic, erotic and tragic. The final conversation between the leads moved her to tears that felt oddly uplifting. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/call-me-by-your-name-review-this-erotic-gay-romance-is-a-real-peach-a3669471.html) - **Film Comment**, Molly Haskell: The critic praises the film's non-hysterical, tactile approach to homoeroticism and sensuality in a lush Italian setting. She highlights the authentic performances and the father's moving, empathetic speech as a key grace note. [Read](https://www.filmcomment.com/article/call-me-by-your-name-review-armie-hammer/) - **IndieWire**, David Ehrlich: The review calls the film a queer masterpiece worthy of comparisons to Carol and Moonlight, lauding Guadagnino's direction and the emotional depth of the central relationship. It emphasizes the sensual and intellectual connections between characters in the Italian summer setting. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/call-me-by-your-name-review-armie-hammer-luca-guadagnino-sundance-2017-1201772350/) - **Screen Daily**: An intensely languorous seduction set in sun-dappled Italy, elevated by a supremely touching performance from Timothée Chalamet. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/call-me-by-your-name-sundance-review/5114034.article) - **Sight and Sound**, Catherine Wheatley: The critic praises the film's passionate and sensual depiction of first love, highlighting Timothée Chalamet's performance and the evocative use of the Italian setting and period details. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/call-me-your-name-luca-guadagnino-radiates-heat-passion) - **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw: The critic finds the film a ravishingly beautiful erotic pastoral about a summer romance between a precocious teen and an older man, saturated with poetic languor and sophisticated sensuality. They single out the father's wise and tender speech for particular praise as a compelling gesture of moral goodness. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/oct/26/call-me-by-your-name-review-luca-guadagnino-armie-hammer) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Boyd van Hoeij: The critic praises the film's intimate and piercingly honest adaptation, highlighting its understated tone and paternal affection in key scenes. Chalamet delivers a breakout performance as Elio, with strong chemistry and sensual direction elevating the queer romance. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/call-me-by-your-name-review-967150/) - **The New York Times**, Manohla Dargis (Critic's Pick): The critic praises Guadagnino's sensual and narrative-driven film as a ravishment of the senses centered on a summer affair between a teenager and a graduate student in Italy. Dargis singles out the languid, sun-drenched atmosphere and the performances for creating an immersive emotional experience. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/22/movies/call-me-by-your-name-review-armie-hammer.html) - **/Film**, Angie Han (10/10): The film beautifully and movingly captures first love in a way rarely seen on screen. Chalamet's star-making performance as the teenager exploring his identity and the immersive, heat-soaked atmosphere are singled out as standout elements. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/call-me-by-your-name-review/) - **HeyUGuys**, Stefan Pape (5/5): The film is a rich, stylish summer romance that triumphs thanks to its lead performance. Chalamet's nuanced and physically expressive turn as the young protagonist exploring new feelings is singled out as exceptionally accomplished. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/call-me-by-your-name-review/) - **NME**, Larry Bartleet (5/5): The critic hails it as a towering achievement and intoxicating romance, praising the slow, sensory unfurling of the relationship and the central performances. He singles out the father's conversation about love and loss as the true climax. [Read](https://www.nme.com/reviews/call-me-by-your-name-film-review-2153331) - **Collider**, Adam Chitwood (A): The critic hails the film as one of 2017's best and an instant queer cinema classic, praising its sensual, hypnotic depiction of first love. Chalamet's breakout performance and the masterful craftsmanship are singled out for particular acclaim. [Read](https://collider.com/call-me-by-your-name-review/) - **The Playlist** (A): Guadagnino delivers a transcendent, landmark film about young love that feels historic for its portrayal of gay male characters. The extended single-take sequence and Chalamet's revelatory performance are highlighted as brilliant achievements. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/armie-hammer-timothee-chalamet-find-love-luca-guadagninos-transcendent-call-name-sundance-review-20170123/) - **Consequence** (90/100, inferred): The critic praises the film as a transcendent and empathetic love story that captures the intoxicating sensations of fleeting youth with remarkable clarity. The direction, performances by Chalamet and Hammer, and the idyllic Italian setting are highlighted for their emotional depth and maturity. [Read](https://consequence.net/2017/11/film-review-call-me-by-your-name/) - **Deadline**, Pete Hammond (90/100, inferred): The critic finds the film deeply affecting in its portrayal of first love during an Italian summer. He singles out its emotional, lyrical quality and sensitive handling of the romance over plot conventions. [Read](https://deadline.com/2017/11/call-me-by-your-name-review-timothee-chalamet-armie-hammer-1202215114/) - **Eye for Film**, Anne-Katrin Titze (90/100, inferred): Guadagnino's film is a mesmerizing and precise exploration of first love and infatuation set against a vividly realized Italian summer. The detailed, universal depiction of longing, doubt and desire through the characters' interactions and the sensual atmosphere is singled out for praise. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/call-me-by-your-name-2017-film-review-by-anne-katrin-titze) - **The Wrap** (90/100, inferred): The critic calls the film masterful and one of the great movie love stories. He singles out the sensuality of the setting and Timothée Chalamet’s delicate, heart-aching performance, especially in the closing credits. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/call-me-by-your-name-film-review-timothee-chalamet-armie-hammer/) - **Den of Geek**, Chloe Catchpole (4/5): The critic calls the film an exquisite portrayal of first love, commending its passionate coming-of-age story, sumptuous cinematography, and standout performances from Chalamet and Hammer. She singles out the father's eloquent monologue as one of cinema's finest. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/call-me-by-your-name-review-2/) - **The Ringer**, K. Austin Collins (80/100, inferred): The critic describes the film as a sumptuous, boyishly intellectual summer romance that avoids tragic self-torture in favor of ephemeral joy and discovery. The sun-drenched setting, intellectual banter, and parents' supportive wisdom are singled out as particularly affecting. [Read](https://www.theringer.com/2017/11/24/movies/call-me-by-your-name-film-review-armie-hammer) - **Paste**, Kyle Turner (4.5): The critic finds the film beautiful on the surface but ultimately reticent and distant, failing to fully embrace the eroticism and intimacy of the source material. The long-shot composition and lack of tactile detail are noted as shortcomings despite strong lead performances. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/call-me-by-your-name/call-me-by-your-name) ## Details - **Director:** Luca Guadagnino - **Director:** Luca Guadagnino - **Screenplay:** James Ivory - **Novel:** André Aciman - **Cinematography:** Sayombhu Mukdeeprom - **Editor:** Walter Fasano - **Music:** John Adams, Sufjan Stevens - **Production design:** Samuel Deshors - **Costume design:** Giulia Piersanti - **Producer:** Rodrigo Teixeira, Marco Morabito, Peter Spears - **Cast:** Timothée Chalamet as Elio; Armie Hammer as Oliver; Michael Stuhlbarg as Mr. Perlman; Amira Casar as Annella; Esther Garrel as Marzia; Victoire du Bois as Chiara; Vanda Capriolo as Mafalda; Antonio Rimoldi as Anchise - **Runtime:** 2h 12m - **Certificate (MPA):** R - **Release (the US):** 19 January 2018 - **Genres:** Romance, Drama - **Also in:** [Best Picture winners](https://film.one/collections/oscar-best-picture.md) (Nominee, 2017); [BAFTA Best Film winners](https://film.one/collections/bafta-best-film.md) (Nominee, 2017); [Golden Globe Best Drama winners](https://film.one/collections/golden-globe-drama.md) (Nominee, 2017) - **Budget:** $4 million - **Box office:** $43 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9AYPxH5NTM ## Where to watch in the US - Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, hd - Apple TV: rent $3.99, hd - Apple TV: buy $7.99, hd - Amazon Prime Video: buy $12.99, hd *Checked 2026-09-16.* Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, IE, IL, IN, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, TH, TR, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## Awards - David di Donatello for Best Director 2019: David di Donatello for Best Director (nominated) - Academy Awards 2018: Best Actor (nominated); Best Original Song (nominated); Best Picture (nominated); Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (won) - European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film 2018: European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film (won) - Dorian Award for Film of the Year 2017: Dorian Award for Film of the Year (won) - Dorian Award for LGBTQ Film of the Year 2017: Dorian Award for LGBTQ Film of the Year (won) ## If you liked this - *Maurice* (1987), Fi1m 83: A more formal period romance, equally attentive to the difficulty of admitting desire. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/maurice.md) - *A Summer's Tale* (1996): Another summer of clever talk that does little to simplify romantic decisions. - *Happy Together* (1997), Fi1m 86: A bruising romance in which mutual attraction offers no guarantee of mutual kindness. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/happy-together.md) - *Weekend* (2011), Fi1m 86: A brief encounter between two men, with conversation doing the difficult emotional work. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/weekend.md) - *The Way He Looks* (2014): A gentler coming-of-age romance that lets curiosity and awkwardness develop at their own pace. --- © 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/call-me-by-your-name