I Saw the TV Glow
Updated: 12/10/2025, 3:21:19 PM Wikipedia source
I Saw the TV Glow is a 2024 American psychological horror film written and directed by Jane Schoenbrun. The film stars Justice Smith and Jack Haven as two troubled high school students whose connection to their favorite television show drives them to question their reality and identities. The supporting cast includes Helena Howard, Lindsey Jordan, Conner O'Malley, Emma Portner, Ian Foreman, Fred Durst, and Danielle Deadwyler. Actress Emma Stone and her husband, comedian Dave McCary, are among the film's producers under their Fruit Tree company. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 18, 2024. It was given a limited theatrical release by A24 in the United States on May 3, with its theatrical release expanding to Canada and nationwide in the US on May 17. It received positive reviews from critics and five nominations at the 40th Independent Spirit Awards, including Best Feature. The film marks the second entry in what Schoenbrun refers to as their Screen Trilogy, following the film We're All Going to the World's Fair (2021) and preceding an upcoming novel titled Public Access Afterworld.
Infobox
Directed by
Jane Schoenbrun
Written by
Jane Schoenbrun
Produced by
mw- Sam Intili Sarah Winshall Emma Stone Dave McCary Ali Herting
Starring
Justice Smith Jack Haven[a] Helena Howard Lindsey Jordan Conner O'Malley Emma Portner Ian Foreman Fred Durst Danielle Deadwyler
Cinematography
Eric K. Yue
Edited by
Sofi Marshall
Music by
Alex G
Productioncompanies
Fruit Tree Smudge Films Hypnic Jerk
Distributed by
A24
Release dates
January 18, 2024 (2024-01-18) (Sundance) May 3, 2024 (2024-05-03) (United States)
Running time
100 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Box office
$5.4 million
Tables
· Reception › Accolades
Astra Midseason Movie Awards
Astra Midseason Movie Awards
Award
Astra Midseason Movie Awards
Date of ceremony
July 3, 2024
Category
Best Picture
Recipient(s)
I Saw the TV Glow
Result
Nominated
Best Actor
Best Actor
Award
Best Actor
Date of ceremony
Justice Smith
Category
Nominated
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actor
Award
Best Supporting Actor
Date of ceremony
Jack Haven
Category
Nominated
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Award
Best Screenplay
Date of ceremony
Jane Schoenbrun
Category
Nominated
Best Indie
Best Indie
Award
Best Indie
Date of ceremony
I Saw the TV Glow
Category
Nominated
Champs-Élysées Film Festival
Champs-Élysées Film Festival
Award
Champs-Élysées Film Festival
Date of ceremony
June 26, 2024
Category
Audience Award for Best American Independent Feature
Recipient(s)
I Saw the TV Glow
Result
Won
Fangoria Chainsaw Awards
Fangoria Chainsaw Awards
Award
Fangoria Chainsaw Awards
Date of ceremony
October 2024
Category
Best Limited Release
Recipient(s)
I Saw the TV Glow
Result
Won
Best Supporting Performance
Best Supporting Performance
Award
Best Supporting Performance
Date of ceremony
Jack Haven
Category
Nominated
Best Cinematography
Best Cinematography
Award
Best Cinematography
Date of ceremony
Eric K. Yue
Category
Nominated
Best Score
Best Score
Award
Best Score
Date of ceremony
Alex G
Category
Nominated
Gotham Awards
Gotham Awards
Award
Gotham Awards
Date of ceremony
December 2, 2024
Category
Best Director
Recipient(s)
Jane Schoenbrun
Result
Nominated
Outstanding Lead Performance
Outstanding Lead Performance
Award
Outstanding Lead Performance
Date of ceremony
Justice Smith
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Supporting Performance
Outstanding Supporting Performance
Award
Outstanding Supporting Performance
Date of ceremony
Jack Haven
Category
Nominated
Chicago Film Critics Association
Chicago Film Critics Association
Award
Chicago Film Critics Association
Date of ceremony
December 12, 2024
Category
Best Film
Recipient(s)
I Saw the TV Glow
Result
Nominated
Best Director
Best Director
Award
Best Director
Date of ceremony
Jane Schoenbrun
Category
Nominated
Most Promising Performer
Most Promising Performer
Award
Most Promising Performer
Date of ceremony
Jack Haven
Category
Nominated
Florida Film Critics Circle
Florida Film Critics Circle
Award
Florida Film Critics Circle
Date of ceremony
December 20, 2024
Category
Best Original Screenplay
Recipient(s)
Jane Schoenbrun
Result
Won
Breakout Performance
Breakout Performance
Award
Breakout Performance
Date of ceremony
Jack Haven
Category
Nominated
Black Reel Awards
Black Reel Awards
Award
Black Reel Awards
Date of ceremony
February 10, 2025
Category
Outstanding Independent Film
Recipient(s)
Jane Schoenbrun
Result
Nominated
Independent Spirit Awards
Independent Spirit Awards
Award
Independent Spirit Awards
Date of ceremony
February 22, 2025
Category
Best Feature
Recipient(s)
Ali Herting, Sam Intili, Dave McCary, Emma Stone and Sarah Winshall
Result
Nominated
Best Director
Best Director
Award
Best Director
Date of ceremony
Jane Schoenbrun
Category
Nominated
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Award
Best Screenplay
Date of ceremony
Nominated
Best Lead Performance
Best Lead Performance
Award
Best Lead Performance
Date of ceremony
Justice Smith
Category
Nominated
Best Supporting Performance
Best Supporting Performance
Award
Best Supporting Performance
Date of ceremony
Jack Haven
Category
Nominated
Seattle International Film Festival
Seattle International Film Festival
Award
Seattle International Film Festival
Date of ceremony
May 19, 2024
Category
Feature Film Award
Recipient(s)
I Saw the TV Glow
Result
Won
Seattle Film Critics Society
Seattle Film Critics Society
Award
Seattle Film Critics Society
Date of ceremony
December 16, 2024
Category
Best Picture
Recipient(s)
Nominated
St. Louis Film Critics Association
St. Louis Film Critics Association
Award
St. Louis Film Critics Association
Date of ceremony
December 15, 2024
Category
Best Horror Film
Recipient(s)
Nominated
Best Soundtrack
Best Soundtrack
Award
Best Soundtrack
Date of ceremony
Nominated
Dorian Awards
Dorian Awards
Award
Dorian Awards
Date of ceremony
2025
Category
Film of the Year
Recipient(s)
Nominated
LGBTQ Film of the Year
LGBTQ Film of the Year
Award
LGBTQ Film of the Year
Date of ceremony
Won
Director of the Year
Director of the Year
Award
Director of the Year
Date of ceremony
Jane Schoenbrun
Category
Nominated
Screenplay of the Year
Screenplay of the Year
Award
Screenplay of the Year
Date of ceremony
Nominated
LGBTQ Screenplay of the Year
LGBTQ Screenplay of the Year
Award
LGBTQ Screenplay of the Year
Date of ceremony
Won
Film Performance of the Year
Film Performance of the Year
Award
Film Performance of the Year
Date of ceremony
Justice Smith
Category
Nominated
Supporting Film Performance of the Year
Supporting Film Performance of the Year
Award
Supporting Film Performance of the Year
Date of ceremony
Jack Haven
Category
Nominated
Genre Film of the Year
Genre Film of the Year
Award
Genre Film of the Year
Date of ceremony
I Saw the TV Glow
Category
Nominated
Film Music of the Year
Film Music of the Year
Award
Film Music of the Year
Date of ceremony
Alex G
Category
Nominated
Critics' Choice Super Awards
Critics' Choice Super Awards
Award
Critics' Choice Super Awards
Date of ceremony
August 7, 2025
Category
Best Actor in a Horror Movie
Recipient(s)
Justice Smith
Result
Nominated
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
| Astra Midseason Movie Awards | July 3, 2024 | Best Picture | I Saw the TV Glow | Nominated | |
| Best Actor | Justice Smith | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Jack Haven | Nominated | |||
| Best Screenplay | Jane Schoenbrun | Nominated | |||
| Best Indie | I Saw the TV Glow | Nominated | |||
| Champs-Élysées Film Festival | June 26, 2024 | Audience Award for Best American Independent Feature | I Saw the TV Glow | Won | |
| Fangoria Chainsaw Awards | October 2024 | Best Limited Release | I Saw the TV Glow | Won | |
| Best Supporting Performance | Jack Haven | Nominated | |||
| Best Cinematography | Eric K. Yue | Nominated | |||
| Best Score | Alex G | Nominated | |||
| Gotham Awards | December 2, 2024 | Best Director | Jane Schoenbrun | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Lead Performance | Justice Smith | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Supporting Performance | Jack Haven | Nominated | |||
| Chicago Film Critics Association | December 12, 2024 | Best Film | I Saw the TV Glow | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Jane Schoenbrun | Nominated | |||
| Most Promising Performer | Jack Haven | Nominated | |||
| Florida Film Critics Circle | December 20, 2024 | Best Original Screenplay | Jane Schoenbrun | Won | |
| Breakout Performance | Jack Haven | Nominated | |||
| Black Reel Awards | February 10, 2025 | Outstanding Independent Film | Jane Schoenbrun | Nominated | |
| Independent Spirit Awards | February 22, 2025 | Best Feature | Ali Herting, Sam Intili, Dave McCary, Emma Stone and Sarah Winshall | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Jane Schoenbrun | Nominated | |||
| Best Screenplay | Nominated | ||||
| Best Lead Performance | Justice Smith | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Performance | Jack Haven | Nominated | |||
| Seattle International Film Festival | May 19, 2024 | Feature Film Award | I Saw the TV Glow | Won | |
| Seattle Film Critics Society | December 16, 2024 | Best Picture | Nominated | ||
| St. Louis Film Critics Association | December 15, 2024 | Best Horror Film | Nominated | ||
| Best Soundtrack | Nominated | ||||
| Dorian Awards | 2025 | Film of the Year | Nominated | ||
| LGBTQ Film of the Year | Won | ||||
| Director of the Year | Jane Schoenbrun | Nominated | |||
| Screenplay of the Year | Nominated | ||||
| LGBTQ Screenplay of the Year | Won | ||||
| Film Performance of the Year | Justice Smith | Nominated | |||
| Supporting Film Performance of the Year | Jack Haven | Nominated | |||
| Genre Film of the Year | I Saw the TV Glow | Nominated | |||
| Film Music of the Year | Alex G | Nominated | |||
| Critics' Choice Super Awards | August 7, 2025 | Best Actor in a Horror Movie | Justice Smith | Nominated |
References
- Credited as Brigette Lundy-Paine
- Schoenbrun uses "they/them" pronouns.
- I Saw the TV Glowhttps://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/i-saw-the-tv-glow-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmdiymdm2
- I Saw the TV Glowhttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tttt15574270/
- The Numbershttps://www.the-numbers.com/movie/I-Saw-the-TV-Glow-(2024)
- We're All Going to the World's Fairhttps://variety.com/2022/film/news/jane-schoenbrun-were-all-going-to-the-worlds-fair-1235220775/
- IndieWirehttps://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/jane-schoenbrun-announces-debut-novel-public-access-afterworld-1235012440/
- The New Yorkerhttps://www.newyorker.com/culture/persons-of-interest/jane-schoenbrun-finds-horror-close-to-home
- I Saw the TV Glowhttps://deadline.com/2021/10/a24-emma-stones-fruit-tree-banner-jane-shoenbruns-i-saw-the-tv-glow-1234851361/
- I Saw the TV Glowhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/justice-smith-brigette-lundy-paine-a24-i-saw-the-tv-glow-1235205246/
- I Saw the TV Glowhttps://www.indiewire.com/2022/08/jane-schoenbrun-i-saw-the-tv-glow-a24-cast-phoebe-bridgers-1234755258/
- Schoenbrun, Jane [@janeschoenbrun]https://x.com/janeschoenbrun/status/1546906646714228736
- Schoenbrun, Jane [@janeschoenbrun]https://x.com/janeschoenbrun/status/1559918846672359426
- I Saw the TV Glowhttps://www.nj.com/entertainment/2024/02/see-trailer-for-i-saw-the-tv-glow-an-a24-horror-movie-filmed-in-nj.html
- I Saw the TV Glowhttps://www.cbr.com/i-saw-the-tv-glow-justice-smith/
- I Saw the TV Glowhttps://slate.com/culture/2024/05/i-saw-the-tv-glow-a24-movie-ending-explained-buffy.html
- I Saw the TV Glowhttps://variety.com/2024/film/news/i-saw-the-tv-glow-a24-horror-trans-1235863457/
- Reverse Shothttps://reverseshot.org/interviews/entry/3226/schoenbrun_interview
- Buffy The Vampire Slayerhttps://www.screendaily.com/features/how-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-helped-inspire-sundance-hit-i-saw-the-tv-glow/5190709.article
- Vulturehttps://www.vulture.com/article/jane-schoenbrun-on-i-saw-the-tv-glow-and-buffy.html
- I Saw the TV Glowhttps://www.polygon.com/24153069/i-saw-tv-glow-amber-benson-cameo-fixing-buffy-vampire-slayer
- I Saw the TV Glowhttps://www.avclub.com/i-saw-the-tv-glow-buffy-the-adventures-of-pete-pete-1851533917
- I Saw the TV Glowhttps://www.theverge.com/24159054/i-saw-the-tv-glow-jane-schoenbrun-interview
- I Saw the TV Glowhttps://www.avclub.com/i-saw-the-tv-glow-soundtrack-a24-florist-schoenbrun-1851433691
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2023/12/2024-sundance-film-festival-lineup-movies-1235652869/
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2023/12/berlin-film-festival-saoirse-ronan-danielle-deadwyler-paapa-essiedu-panorama-1235667699/
- I Saw the TV Glowhttps://schedule.sxsw.com/2024/films/2198597
- Monkey Manhttps://deadline.com/2024/02/sxsw-2024-lineup-additions-sydney-sweeney-nicolas-cage-monkey-man-1235817961/
- I Saw the TV Glowhttps://www.indiewire.com/news/trailers/i-saw-the-tv-glow-trailer-jane-schoenbrun-a24-horror-movie-1234957945/
- "Follow the glow 📺 Jane Schoenbrun's groundbreaking horror #ISawTheTVGlow opens in NY/LA theaters May 3, nationwide May 17. Get tickets now"https://x.com/tvglowmovie/status/1781352172845949139
- Ultraman: Risinghttps://www.polygon.com/2024/6/14/24174156/new-movies-i-saw-the-tv-glow-ultraman-rising-netflix-monkey-man
- I Saw the TV Glowhttps://www.eventcinemas.com.au/Movie/I-Saw-The-Tv-Glow#date=2024-08-29
- I Saw the TV Glowhttps://www.eventcinemas.co.nz/Movie/I-Saw-The-Tv-Glow#date=2024-08-29
- I Saw the TV Glowhttps://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a61468573/i-saw-the-tv-glow-uk-release-date/
- I Saw the TV Glowhttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/i_saw_the_tv_glow
- I Saw the TV Glowhttps://www.metacritic.com/movie/i-saw-the-tv-glow/
- I Saw the TV Glowhttps://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/i-saw-the-tv-glow-review-1235877715/
- I Saw the TV Glowhttps://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/i-saw-the-tv-glow-review-1234946004/
- I Saw the TV Glowhttps://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/i-saw-the-tv-glow-is-a-profound-vision-of-the-trans-experience
- I Saw the TV Glowhttps://www.theguardian.com/film/article/2024/may/04/i-saw-tv-glow-movie-trans-teen
- I Saw the TV Glowhttps://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2024-05-02/i-saw-the-tv-glow-review-jane-schoenbrun
- I Saw the TV Glowhttps://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/i-saw-tv-glow-rough-portrait-fanatical-obsession
- I Saw the TV Glowhttps://observer.com/2024/05/i-saw-the-tv-glow-review-moody-interesting-no-fun/
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- Deadlinehttps://deadline.com/2024/12/spirit-awards-nominations-2025-list-1236193844/
- "Here Are Your 2025 Film Independent Spirit Award Nominees!"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBbqa4DXeuA
- "'I Saw the TV Glow' Wins SFCS's Inaugural SIFF 2024 Award"https://seattlefilmcritics.com/2024/05/19/sfcs-siff-award-2024/
- The SunBreakhttps://thesunbreak.com/2024/12/06/seattle-film-critics-society-announce-2024-nominees/
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- "Jane Schoenbrun Teases Potential 'I Saw the TV Glow' Sequel: 'There's Another Side of the Prism I'd Like to Glance Through'"https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/i-saw-the-tv-glow-sequel-jane-schoenbrun-1235006635/
- X (formerly Twitter)https://x.com/sapphicspielbrg/status/1839317305660256705?s=46&t=nvS0DJay8o8RqFJClBNcjQ