The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth Review: Big Names, Big Questions

This The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth review comes with an honest caveat: the film is unreleased and no critics' reviews exist yet. So this is a grounded look at the premise, the cast and the creative team, and a verdict on how promising it looks. Brad Pitt is back as Cliff, David Fincher is directing, and Quentin Tarantino wrote the script.

That combination alone makes it one of the most intriguing releases of the year. Here is what we know, and what we still need to see.

The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The story picks up in 1977, eight years after the events of Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood. Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) now works as a fixer, solving problems for Hollywood's great and, sometimes, not-so-good. Los Angeles has changed, and so has the way he makes a living.

The plot kicks off when talent agent Karen Crosby (Elizabeth Debicki) phones Cliff on behalf of her client, TV megastar Charlie Peters (Scott Caan). From there, the official description promises a dangerous web of secrets, crimes and betrayals that tests Cliff's ideas about loyalty and survival. We are keeping the rest under wraps.

The film's release date is listed as 25 November 2026, with an IMAX date matching that day. It runs about 141 minutes according to Wikipedia, though one report suggests 140.

What Works in The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth

The strongest card is the pairing of creative voices. Fincher is known for precise, controlled filmmaking, while Tarantino is known for talky, character-driven crime stories. Putting a Tarantino script in Fincher's hands is an unusual match, and it is hard not to be curious.

The premise also looks smart. A fixer is a natural fit for a crime story set inside the film industry. Cliff can move between glamorous sets and shady back rooms, and that gives a crime movie plenty of room for tension and dark humour.

The 1977 setting is another draw. It moves Cliff out of the late-60s glow and into a grittier, more weary Los Angeles. That shift suits a character who has always lived on the edges of the studio system.

• A proven lead: Pitt has already shown he can make Cliff easy to watch.

• A fresh angle on a known character: Cliff is now a fixer, not just a stuntman's shadow.

• A genre mix: The film blends drama, comedy, thriller and crime.

The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth Cast and Performances

The full The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth cast is strong on paper. Here is who plays whom:

• Brad Pitt as Cliff Booth

• Elizabeth Debicki as Karen Crosby

• Scott Caan as Charlie Peters

• Carla Gugino as Toni Peters

• Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Roderick "Hot Rod" Harrison

• Peter Weller as Gus Booth

We cannot judge these performances yet, but the roles tell us something. Debicki plays the agent who sets events moving, and Caan plays a TV star whose problems become Cliff's. Peter Weller as Gus Booth hints at some family history for a character who has mostly been a lone figure.

If you want a taste of Pitt in a different kind of lead role, our Heart of the Beast review covers his survival drama.

Where The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth Stumbles

The biggest unknown is tone. Tarantino's writing and Fincher's directing can pull in different directions, one loose and playful, the other cool and exacting. How well they blend will decide whether the film feels unified or divided.

There is also the question of expectations. A follow-up to a much-loved film, eight years on and in a new format, has a lot to live up to. Sequels built around a supporting character can struggle to carry a full story.

A runtime of roughly two hours and twenty minutes is another risk. Fixer stories work best when they move quickly, and a long film needs enough plot to justify its length. Until the film is out, these remain open questions rather than flaws.

A few details are also unsettled. Sources disagree on the US age rating, with some listings saying R and IMAX showing the film as not yet rated, so check the final certificate before taking anyone younger along.

Is The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth Worth Watching?

On the evidence so far, yes: it looks like a must-see for fans of Pitt, Fincher or Tarantino. The question "is The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth worth watching?" can only be answered fully once critics and audiences have seen it, but the setup is compelling.

The ingredients are all good ones. You get a charismatic lead, a director with a reputation for craft, a writer with a distinctive voice, and a story set in a world that suits all three. Our provisional score reflects that promise, and we will revisit it once the film is out.

If you have not seen Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood, it is worth catching up first. The film is set in the same world, and knowing Cliff's background will help. For more in the same vein, browse our drama movie reviews.

You can read the production background on the film's Wikipedia page.

Who Will Enjoy The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth

• Fans of Brad Pitt and of Cliff Booth in particular, especially anyone who liked his easy-going tough-guy charm.

• Viewers who enjoy crime stories with a dark comic edge and a Hollywood backdrop.

• Admirers of David Fincher or Quentin Tarantino who are curious to see what happens when they combine.