At the very end of the 1970s, post office worker Ed Saxberger wrote a book of poetry that nobody cared about. After an eager and flattering fan appears on his doorstep, Saxberger is beckoned into a coterie of young admirers who anoint him a rediscovered genius. The group of downtown bohemians is led by their "tragic heroine," Gloria. Intoxicated by the attention, and Gloria's alluring presence, Saxberger gradually reckons with the authenticity of his newfound poetic circle.

Late Fame poster

Late Fame (2026)

★ 6.3/10 August 7, 2026 97 min

Drama

Director: Kent Jones  ·  Writer: Samy Burch

At the very end of the 1970s, post office worker Ed Saxberger wrote a book of poetry that nobody cared about. After an eager and flattering fan appears on his doorstep, Saxberger is beckoned into a coterie of young admirers who anoint him a rediscovered genius. The group of downtown bohemians is led by their "tragic heroine," Gloria. Intoxicated by the attention, and Gloria's alluring presence, Saxberger gradually reckons with the authenticity of his newfound poetic circle.

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Trailer

Director

Kent Jones Kent Jones

Cast

Willem Dafoe Willem Dafoe Ed Saxberger Greta Lee Greta Lee Gloria Edmund Donovan Edmund Donovan Meyers Clay Singer Clay Singer Brussard Arthur Langlie Arthur Langlie Carmichael Graham Campbell Graham Campbell Sherfey Luca Padovan Luca Padovan Winn Jake Lacy Jake Lacy Literary Agent Clark Johnson Clark Johnson Arnold Stephen Badalamenti Stephen Badalamenti Irv William Hill William Hill Leonard Michael Everett Johnson Michael Everett Johnson Mike the Bodega Clerk

User Reviews (2)

Brent Marchant
Brent Marchant August 31, 2026
★ 8/10

Well-meaning optimists often nudge us to believe that it’s never too late to discover (or rediscover) our respective callings in life (and sometimes they’re right). At a time when many of us may have given up on our dreams or settled for a less complicated way of life, there are those who may nevertheless follow such inspirational advice and find the experience refreshingly rejuvenating. Such is the life of Ed Saxberger (Willem Dafoe), a longtime postal worker nearing retirement who, at one time in his youth, was admired as a gifted aspiring poet in the New York arts scene in the late 1970s. The 17-year-old high school dropout from western Pennsylvania moved to the Big Apple to find his destiny and rose to prominence in a vocation that he never saw coming. But, over time, this venture faded, and he settled into a quiet life of relative seclusion. However, a chance meeting later in li…

CinemaSerf
CinemaSerf September 14, 2026
★ 7/10

As retirement beckons, "Ed" (Willem Dafoe) lives a pretty routine life sorting the mail during the day and meeting his friends in the bar for a game of pool after dinner. Returning home one evening he is approached by the slightly obsequious "Meyers" (Edmund Donovan) who knows that he has quite a literary past and whom is in awe of this erstwhile poet. "Ed" is flattered - it's been quite a while since anyone took any interest in his work, so after a few subsequent chats he agrees to accompany this young man to a local bar where his disparate group of aspiring creatives are just as in awe of "Saxberger". He is not alone is garnering their adulation, though, as the enigmatic actress "Gloria" (Greta Lee) hoves into view and succeeds in tantalising the older man whilst simultaneously winding up her purported boyfriend "Carmichael" (Arthur Langlie). Might these kids have managed to finally br…