Looking for Mr. Goodbar

You don't need another crime-drama recommendation list — Looking for Mr. Goodbar speaks for itself. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Diane Keaton leads a cast that carries the story without ever feeling mechanical. Put it on tonight and see for yourself.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Looking for Mr. Goodbar is worth clearing space for. Looking for Mr. Goodbar treats its mystery as a means, not an end in itself. A short, unhappy affair with a married man leads a dedicated schoolteacher into the alcohol-and-drug fueled underworld of singles’ bars, where she begins to engage in a pattern of dangerous sexual activity. Diane Keaton and Tuesday Weld lead a cast that gives the tension real weight. It hit screens in 1977. Looking for Mr. Goodbar is at its best in the quiet scenes between the plot beats, where the character work actually happens. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Crime and mystery fans will find exactly what they are after in Looking for Mr. Goodbar. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Diane Keaton's performance is the kind that shows up on best-of lists years later. If you have been looking for something to fill the gap left by a recently finished story, this is a reliable answer.

Looking for Mr. Goodbar was released in 1977, directed by Richard Brooks. The full 136-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.