In this smartly written and snappily directed comedy Emma Thompson stars as legendary late-night talk show host Katherine Newbury, whose world is turned upside down when she hires her first ever female staff writer, who brings fresh eyes and an honest perspective.

Katherine Newbury (Thompson) is a pioneer and legendary host on the late-night talk-show circuit, who after years of declining ratings, finds her show on the network’s chopping block. When she’s accused of being a “woman who hates women”, she puts affirmative action on the to-do list, and hires Molly (Mindy Kaling) as the one woman in Katherine’s all-male writers’ room. Katherine’s decision has unexpectedly hilarious consequences, as her show is upended by Molly’s passionate, unapologetic, at times outright bizarre approach to comedy and to life. By finally opening up to Molly and to her audience, with warmth, vulnerability (and the occasional menopause joke) Katherine reconnects with both the public and those closest to her.

Led by outstanding performances from Thompson and Kaling, Late Night is a hilarious look at what courage means with regards to comedy and how those with the most to lose—in this case, smart, thoughtful women—can find the best jokes whilst at the same time taking on white privilege, entitlement and a culture veering toward crassness and conservatism.

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