Saturday Night is a time machine, rewinding to the moment in TV history when Saturday Night Live was a gamble, a last-minute experiment that could’ve crashed and burned before it ever got off the ground. For Gen Xers who grew up on the raw, rebellious energy of the show’s early years, this film is a backstage pass to the making of the very first episode, hosted by none other than George Carlin.
Gabriel LaBelle steps into the shoes of a young Lorne Michaels, capturing the mix of nerves, vision and deadpan wit that made him the architect of late-night comedy. The film unfolds over one breathless week, showing how Michaels wrangled a ragtag band of comedic revolutionaries (the Not Ready for Prime Time Players) and attempted to bring a radical new form of sketch comedy to life. Cory Michael Smith nails Chevy Chase’s effortless smugness while Dylan O’Brien, known for his Mazerunner role, is eerily convincing as the eccentric Dan Aykroyd. But it’s Matt Wood’s John Belushi who commands the screen, radiating the unpredictable, volatile energy that made Belushi both a legend and a tragedy.
Director Jason Reitman and cinematographer Eric Steelberg give the film a grainy, 16mm aesthetic that instantly transports you back to 1975 New York. The dimly lit hallways of 30 Rock, the smoke-filled writers’ room, the makeshift set built in Studio 8H—it all feels lived-in, chaotic and electric. The score features original, eclectic tracks from John Batiste, who also played Billy Preston in the film.
Where Saturday Night truly shines is in its behind-the-scenes authenticity. From the frantic cue card scribbling to the last-second script rewrites, the film captures the barely controlled anarchy of live television. But it also lingers in the quieter moments—the camaraderie, the exhaustion, the whispered doubts that SNL might not make it past episode one. For Gen Xers who remember watching those early seasons in a haze of late-night rebellion, it’s a deeply satisfying reminder of where it all began.
If there’s a flaw, it’s that the film sometimes leans too hard on fan service. Insider references and blink-and-you-miss-it cameos will delight hardcore SNL aficionados but may leave casual viewers feeling a bit lost. And at times, the breakneck pace sacrifices deeper character exploration—especially with women like Jane Curtin and Laraine Newman, who deserve more screen time.
Still, Saturday Night is a fitting tribute to the messy, brilliant, unpredictable origins of SNL. It’s a film that revels in the magic of live comedy—the terror, the triumph, the sheer lunacy of putting on a show with no guarantee it’ll work. For those who grew up with SNL, it’s a nostalgic rush. For everyone else, it’s a fascinating look at how a cultural institution was born out of chaos, sweat, and one very nervous Canadian producer.
RHFC Rating: 8/10 🍿
