A Star Is Born is a 2018 American musical romantic drama film produced and directed by Bradley Cooper in his directorial debut, from a screenplay he wrote with Eric Roth and Will Fetters. It stars Cooper and Lady Gaga in the lead roles, with Andrew Dice Clay, Dave Chappelle and Sam Elliott in supporting roles. The film follows Jackson Maine (Cooper), an established musician struggling with alcoholism and addiction, who discovers and falls in love with aspiring singer Ally (Gaga) as her career begins to eclipse his own. It is the third remake of the 1937 film, following the 1954 and 1976 adaptations.
A new adaptation underwent a prolonged development process, with various directors and performers attached before Cooper took over as director. Principal photography began in April 2017; the production emphasized authenticity through concert sequences filmed at real music festivals, live-recorded vocals, and a naturalistic visual style that placed the camera close to the performers. The film's original music was developed alongside the screenplay, with songs written and revised during production to reflect the characters' emotional journeys. A Star Is Born premiered at the 75th Venice International Film Festival on August 31, 2018, and was theatrically released in the United States on October 5 by Warner Bros. Pictures.
The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing $439.9 million worldwide against a $36 million production budget. Critics particularly praised Cooper's direction and the performances and chemistry of Cooper and Gaga, while the cinematography, music and Elliott's supporting performance also drew positive notices. The accompanying soundtrack was similarly successful, becoming one of the world's best-selling albums of 2019 and producing the single "Shallow", which topped the charts in multiple countries. The film received eight nominations at the 91st Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Cooper, Best Actress for Gaga and Best Supporting Actor for Elliott, and won Best Original Song for "Shallow". It also received nominations and awards at the Golden Globe Awards, BAFTAs and Grammy Awards, and has since been included in retrospective lists of the best musicals, romance films, and remakes.
Plot 43-year-old Jackson "Jack" Maine, a country rock singer privately battling alcohol and drug addiction, performs at a concert. His primary source of support is Bobby, his manager and older half-brother. After a show, Jack goes out for drinks and visits a drag bar.
There, Jack witnesses a tribute performance to Édith Piaf by 31-year-old Ally, who works as a waitress and singer-songwriter. He is impressed by her performance, and they spend the night talking. Ally discusses her unsuccessful efforts to pursue a professional music career. She shares lyrics she has written, and Jack tells her she is a talented songwriter and should perform her material. Jack invites Ally to his next show. Despite her initial refusal, she attends and, with Jack's encouragement, sings "Shallow" on stage with him. Footage of the performance, recorded by audience members, goes viral, helping launch Ally's career. Jack invites Ally on tour, and they form a romantic relationship.
In Arizona, Ally and Jack visit the ranch where Jack grew up and where his father had been buried. However, they discover that Bobby has sold the land, which has been converted into a wind farm. Angered at the betrayal, Jack attacks Bobby, who subsequently quits as his manager. Before leaving, Bobby reveals that he had informed Jack about the sale, but Jack was too drunk to notice.
While on tour, Ally meets Rez, a music producer and manager who offers her a contract. Although uneasy about the offer, Jack supports Ally's decision to sign the contract. Rez steers Ally away from country music and toward pop. Jack misses one of Ally's performances after he passes out drunk in public. Jack recovers at the home of his best friend George "Noodles" Stone and later makes up with Ally. There, he proposes to her with an impromptu ring made from a loop of a guitar string. They marry that same day at a church, with the ceremony officiated by Noodles's cousin.
During Ally's performance on Saturday Night Live, Bobby reconciles with Jack. Later, Ally and a drunken Jack fight over her growing artistic success. Jack criticizes Ally's new image and music, as her career rises while his declines. At the Grammy Awards, where Ally is nominated in three categories, a visibly intoxicated Jack performs a tribute to Roy Orbison. Later in the evening, she wins Best New Artist. As Ally is giving her acceptance speech, a still-inebriated Jack staggers up to her, publicly wets himself, and passes out. Ally's father, Lorenzo, berates a semi-conscious Jack while Ally attempts to help Jack sober up.
Jack joins a rehabilitation program shortly thereafter. He discloses to his counselor that he attempted suicide at age 12 and reveals his progressively worsening tinnitus. Jack tearfully apologizes to Ally for his behavior. While returning home, Jack admits to Bobby that it was him, not their father, whom he idolized. Ally asks Rez to allow Jack to accompany her on her European tour, but Rez refuses, prompting Ally to cancel the remainder of the tour to care for Jack.
Rez confronts Jack and accuses him of nearly ruining Ally's career, predicting that Jack will eventually relapse and telling him that it is "embarrassing" she is married to him. That evening, Ally lies to Jack and tells him that her record label canceled her tour so she can focus on her second album. Jack promises he will come to her concert that night, but after Ally leaves, he hangs himself in their garage. Grief-stricken after Jack's suicide, Ally is visited by Bobby, who assures her that she is not to blame for his death. The closing scenes reveal a flashback of Jack working on a song about his love for Ally, which he never finished writing. Ally performs it as a tribute to Jack, introducing herself for the first time as Ally Maine.
Cast Bradley Cooper as Jackson "Jack" Maine, an established singer-songwriter struggling with alcoholism. He is Ally's mentor. Lady Gaga as Ally Maine, a singer-songwriter who is discovered by Jack. Andrew Dice Clay as Lorenzo, Ally's father. Dave Chappelle as George "Noodles" Stone, a retired musician and Jack's best friend. Sam Elliott as Bobby Maine, Jack's older half-brother and manager. Rafi Gavron as Rez Gavron, a music producer and Ally's manager. Anthony Ramos as Ramon, Ally's friend. Drena De Niro as Paulette Stone, Noodles's wife. Greg Grunberg as Phil, Jack's driver.
Additionally, Shangela appears as the drag bar MC, Willam Belli as drag queen Emerald, and Ron Rifkin as Jackson's rehab therapist Carl. Barry Shabaka Henley appears as Little Feet, a veteran session musician. Rebecca Field portrays Gail, while Michael Harney portrays Wolfie, a friend of Lorenzo. Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real appear as Jackson's band. Members of the supergroup band include Don Was, Victor Indrizzo, Michael Bearden, Lenny Castro, and George Doering. Eddie Griffin appears as a local preacher and Luenell appears as a cashier. Marlon Williams, Brandi Carlile, Alec Baldwin, Halsey and Don Roy King cameo as themselves.
Production Pre-production Previous remakes of the original 1937 film included the 1954 adaptation starring Judy Garland, and the 1976 rock musical with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson as the leads. Furthermore, the Bollywood romance film Aashiqui 2 (2013) was inspired by A Star Is Born but was not a remake. Warner Bros. originally developed a new adaptation for director Carl Franklin and Will Smith, but Smith passed on the project in favor of starring in the Muhammad Ali biopic Ali (2001). In 2000, Jamie Foxx and Oliver Stone became attached to the project, with Foxx naming R&B singer Aaliyah as his first choice for the female lead. Lauryn Hill and Mariah Carey were also considered for the female lead, and Alicia Keys turned down an offer to play the female lead in the film. In 2002, Smith returned to the project and approached Jennifer Lopez to co-star in a version that would have reversed the story's traditional gender roles, with Lopez as the established star and Smith as the rising performer. Joel Schumacher was subsequently attached to direct, though he expressed uncertainty over whether the project would move forward. The adaptation was subsequently shelved for several years.
In January 2011, Clint Eastwood entered talks to direct a new adaptation with Beyoncé in the lead role. The project was delayed on account of Beyoncé's pregnancy. In April 2012, writer Will Fetters told Collider that the script was inspired by Kurt Cobain. Over the course of the film's development, talks with Christian Bale, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Cruise, Johnny Depp and Smith to play the male lead failed to come to fruition. Eastwood was interested in Esperanza Spalding to play the female lead. On March 24, 2015, Warner Bros. Pictures announced that Cooper was in final talks to make his directorial debut with the film. Beyoncé was again in talks to join, though still unsigned. In order to secure his first directorial commitment, Cooper forwent an upfront salary in favor of a back-end deal; Forbes later estimated that he earned about $40 million from the film.
Cooper acknowledged that he was initially discouraged from directing the film, as the project had undergone a prolonged development process involving multiple filmmakers and stars. Despite warnings from those close to him and recognizing the risks of helming another remake, he remained committed, saying the project "ignited something" in him and reflected a long-standing personal connection to music and songwriting. Cooper had wanted to direct since childhood but had been "terrified" of doing so, and said that turning 40 gave him the sense that it was time to make his directorial debut. During the promotion of American Sniper (2014), Cooper and Eastwood attended an industry event at the Chateau Marmont where Annie Lennox performed "I Put a Spell on You". Inspired by the performance, Cooper suggested reviving A Star Is Born, but Eastwood told him that the project had moved on. Cooper dreamed the film's opening sequence that night and subsequently used the vision when pitching his version to Warner Bros.
A major issue in the development process was Warner Bros.' reluctance to deal with Jon Peters, who held rights to the material dating back to his production of the 1976 film. The studio ultimately reached an agreement with Peters to proceed, and his producer credit was retained due to contractual obligations, although he was not involved in the film's production and did not receive the Producers Guild of America "p.g.a." designation. Peters had previously faced sexual harassment allegations, which he denied. Cooper said he had been unaware of the allegations and explained that Peters's consent was necessary to make the film, adding that "Luckily, Jon wasn't there."
Casting While Clint Eastwood was attached to direct the film with Beyoncé, he approached Cooper about playing the male lead. Cooper declined, later explaining that he felt he was too young for the role and had not lived enough to convincingly portray the character, particularly his alcoholism. After making American Sniper with Eastwood and performing The Elephant Man, Cooper felt prepared to take on the role. In March 2015, Cooper entered final talks to make his directorial debut with the film and was also considering taking the male lead. Cooper said that he had initially planned only to direct the film and wanted an established musician to play Jackson, but the studio declined to make the film with his choice. Variety reported that Cooper had met with Jack White about the role, although Cooper later dismissed reports that White had been in line to play Jackson as "one of those internet things".