FILM · 2016 · USA
Café Society
31 archived facts 7 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
All facts (31)
- #001
This was the first film for which Kristen Stewart had to audition to win a role since Twilight (2008).
- #002
This was Woody Allen's first film without co-producer Jack Rollins, who died in 2015 at the age of 100, since Love and Death (1975). Rollins was Allen's longtime manager, and the two worked together for more than 45 years.
- #003
This is the most expensive film Woody Allen has made, with an estimated final cost of 30 million US dollars.
- #004
For the first time since Radio Days (1987), Woody Allen narrates a film without appearing on screen.
- #005
This is Woody Allen's first film shot digitally, using the Sony Cinealta F65.
- #006
Woody Allen said he wanted the film's structure to be like a novel.
- #007
Bruce Willis was originally set to play Phil Stern but was dropped from the cast due to a scheduling conflict with the Broadway production of Misery, and Steve Carell was brought in to replace him.
- #008
This is Woody Allen's first film shot in the 2:00:1 aspect ratio, which is generally used by cinematographer Vittorio Storaro.
- #009
At the Cannes 2016 Opening Night screening of this film, master of ceremonies Laurent Lafitte said, "It's very nice that you've been shooting so many films in Europe, even if you haven't been convicted of rape in the United States." The joke, which left the Palais audience breathless, was perceived as a jab at Woody Allen. (Various, May 2016). It may also have been a reference to Roman Polanski, who fled the United States for Europe in 1977 after pleading guilty to unlawful sex with a minor. Switzerland and Poland refused to extradite Polanski.
- #010
This is the third Woody Allen film to open Cannes, after Hollywood Ending (2002) and Midnight in Paris (2011).
- #011
In one scene, Jesse Eisenberg's character visits Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Kristen Stewart's hands and feet are imprinted there.
- #012
This is the first collaboration between Woody Allen and cinematographer Vittorio Storaro.
- #013
This is the third film starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart together, after Adventureland (2009) and American Ultra (2015).
- #014
Although director Woody Allen has collaborated with many major cinematographers, he had never before worked with cinematographer Vittorio Storaro. They met in a restaurant. Indiewire reported Allen as saying: "We were never on the same schedule. This time we were both free. I called him. And I had the honor of working with this great cinematographer."
- #015
This is Woody Allen's first film not distributed by Sony Pictures Classics since Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008).
- #016
This is the second film collaboration between director Woody Allen and actor Jesse Eisenberg, roughly four years after To Rome with Love (2012).
- #017
Bobby is told to stay with "Uncle," that is, "Phil," as they do not want to overemphasize nepotism. This is a rare instance of the word being used in exactly this sense, since it derives from Catholic popes (who had no sons) making their nephews cardinals.
- #018
Judy Davis was initially announced for the cast but does not appear in the film.
- #019
The film's estimated cost rose from 18 million USD and grew by another 12 million USD, exceeding an estimated 30 million USD by the end of production and going over budget.
- #020
When Ben's history of theft is shown, there is also a subtle homage to The 400 Blows (1959), noting that Ben's criminal life included stealing a typewriter while he was a schoolboy. The film's protagonist, Antoine Doinel, stole a typewriter while at school.
- #021
The film's cast includes four Oscar nominees: Jeannie Berlin, Steve Carrel, Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart.
- #022
This is the second film starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart in which Stewart's character has a relationship with an older man. The first was Adventureland (2009).
- #023
It is one of a group of Woody Allen films that examine the film industry in some way, whether through an actor and/or a writer-director. These films are: Celebrity (1998), Hollywood Ending (2002), Café Society (2016), The Front (1976), Stardust Memories (1980), Play It Again, Sam (1972) and The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985).
- #024
Kristen Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg first appeared together in Adventureland (2009) alongside Ryan Reynolds. In this latest film they appear with Reynolds's wife, Blake Lively.
- #025
It is the second film, after Radio Days (1987), to end during a New Year's celebration at a New York City nightclub.
- #026
The first scene was shot at the villa of Cedric Gibbons, the most famous art director of Hollywood's golden age. He designed the house (with the help of architect Douglas Honnold) and lived there with his first wife, film star Dolores Del Rio.
- #027
Actress Parker Posey and writer-director Woody Allen had previously worked together on Allen's last film, Irrational Man (2015), which was shot in 2015 and first released a year before the release of Café Society (2016).
- #028
This is one of two films released in 2016 with very similar names; Cafe Society (2016) was made for television. Cafe Society (1995) is the story of a society playboy who prefers the shadows and is trapped by a ruthless undercover policeman and his dark political masters. Cafe Society (1939) was actually made in the 1930s.
- #029
Veronica Sybil's (Kristen Stewart) nickname was "Vonnie". The film featured two female characters both named "Veronica", the other played by Blake Lively.
- #030
Jesse Eisenberg plays Lex Luthor in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). Parker Posey played Lex Luthor's assistant Kitty Kowalsky in Superman Returns (2006).
- #031
It is the second collaboration between Woody Allen and Corey Stoll; the previous film was Midnight in Paris (2011).
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