When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
During their travel from Chicago to New York, Harry and Sally debate whether or not sex ruins a friendship between a man and a woman. Eleven years later, and they're still no closer to finding the answer.
Details
Budget
$16,000,000
Rating
7/10 (4173 votes)
Status
Released
Production Companies
Castle Rock Entertainment, Nelson Entertainment
About When Harry Met Sally...
Released in 1989, "When Harry Met Sally..." is a romantic comedy-drama exploring the evolution of a relationship between two individuals over more than a decade. The story begins with Harry and Sally sharing a car ride from Chicago to New York, during which they discuss whether men and women can maintain a platonic friendship without sex becoming an issue. Their paths cross repeatedly over the years, marked by chance encounters in New York City, holidays, and New Year's Eve celebrations.
The film delves into themes of friendship and love, often questioning the boundaries between the two. It tracks Harry and Sally's individual dating lives and their eventual romantic entanglement. Despite the comedic elements, including a memorable diner scene, the narrative also incorporates dramatic aspects as the characters navigate their changing perspectives on relationships and intimacy. The film maintains a lighthearted tone even as it explores deeper questions about male-female dynamics.
"When Harry Met Sally..." has a runtime of 96 minutes and was critically well-received, evidenced by its IMDb rating of 7.7, a Rotten Tomatoes score of 90%, and a Metacritic score of 76/100. It is recognized for its witty dialogue and its portrayal of a long-term friendship developing into love.
Why you might be searching for When Harry Met Sally...
People search for "When Harry Met Sally..." often because of its iconic scenes, particularly the "fake orgasm" moment in a diner. The film's central question about whether men and women can truly be just friends also makes it a memorable and frequently discussed romantic comedy. Its New York City setting and themes of long-term friendship turning into love are also distinguishing elements.
What reviewers are saying
A viewer noted that they had heard a lot about the film, particularly the Katz's Delicatessen scene, but found the time jumps and performances by Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan to be strong points.
Read the full reviewDespite the famous diner scene, one critic felt the film was otherwise a standard romantic comedy, too heavy on dialogue, though they acknowledged the chemistry between the leads.
Read the full reviewAnother reviewer found the film tedious and nonsensical, believing it offered little in the way of humor or compelling character development, and felt it was a waste of 96 minutes.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about finding and identifying movies
You can stream *When Harry Met Sally...* on Netflix. Netflix allows subscribers to watch on various internet-connected devices, including smart TVs, phones, tablets, and game consoles.
*When Harry Met Sally...* is not a true story, but it draws heavily from real-life experiences of its creators. Writer Nora Ephron based Sally on herself and her friends, while Harry was based on director Rob Reiner, who was going through a divorce at the time. The dialogue also incorporated real conversations between Reiner and Billy Crystal, who played Harry.
At the end of *When Harry Met Sally...*, Harry realizes he loves Sally and rushes to a New Year's Eve party to confess his feelings. He lists all the specific reasons he loves her, and they kiss and get married three months later. This ending was a change from earlier drafts where they remained friends, with director Rob Reiner inspired to change it after meeting his second wife.
Yes, *When Harry Met Sally...* is widely considered worth watching, often hailed as a classic romantic comedy. It has a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 76 out of 100 on Metacritic, with many critics and audiences praising the chemistry between Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, Nora Ephron's sharp screenplay, and Rob Reiner's direction.