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(500) Days of Summer

(500) Days of Summer is a 2009 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Marc Webb in his feature directorial debut.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

(500) Days of Summer is a 2009 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Marc Webb in his feature directorial debut. It stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel as Tom and Summer, and follows their relationship in a nonlinear structure as Tom reflects on their 500 days together.

Plot

The story follows Tom Hansen as he looks back on his relationship with Summer Finn, moving back and forth across their 500 days together. The film contrasts Tom’s expectations about love with Summer’s more skeptical view.

Production

The film was directed by Marc Webb and written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber. It was produced by Mark Waters and marked Webb’s first feature film as a director.

Release and reception

(500) Days of Summer was released in 2009 and received a PG-13 rating in the United States. It opened in U.S. theatres on August 7, 2009, with streaming availability reported later in 2013.

Cast

The principal cast includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Tom and Zooey Deschanel as Summer. Supporting cast members listed by streaming and database sources include Geoffrey Arend, Chloë Grace Moretz, Matthew Gray Gubler, and Clark Gregg.

Key facts

  • The film uses a nonlinear narrative to present Tom’s relationship with Summer.
  • Marc Webb made his feature directorial debut with the film.
  • Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Tom, and Zooey Deschanel plays Summer.
  • The film is described as a romantic comedy-drama and was released in 2009.
  • Tom works as a greeting-card writer and becomes fixated on Summer after she joins his workplace.
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Canadian context

The film received Canadian media coverage at release, including a CBC News review noting its Toronto opening and later rollout to other Canadian cities.[8]

Frequently asked questions

What is (500) Days of Summer about?
It follows Tom’s relationship with Summer over 500 days, told in a nonlinear way as he reflects on what happened between them.
Who directed (500) Days of Summer?
Marc Webb directed the film, which was his feature directorial debut.
Who wrote the film?
Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber wrote the screenplay.
Who stars in the film?
Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as Tom, and Zooey Deschanel stars as Summer.
When was it released?
The film was released in 2009; one source lists its U.S. theatrical release as August 7, 2009.
What genre is it?
It is generally described as a romantic comedy-drama, with some sources also listing comedy and romance.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/500_Days_of_Summer
    Supports: Release year, country, director, writers, cast, nonlinear structure, basic film overview
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/500_days_of_summer
    Supports: Plot summary, MPAA rating, genre, theatrical release date
  3. Disney+ — https://www.disneyplus.com/en-fi/browse/entity-00d02322-3b21-4663-ae22-c2c4a2db3f9f
    Supports: Runtime, genre, plot description, cast, release year
  4. AllMovie — https://www.allmovie.com/movie/500-days-of-summer-am342
    Supports: Director, writers, producer, nonlinear structure, cast, release year
  5. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1022603/
    Supports: Plot synopsis and cast
  6. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/500-days-of-summer
    Supports: Runtime, MPAA rating, plot description, theatrical release date
  7. CBC News — https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/500-days-of-summer-1.823046
    Supports: Canadian release context and review coverage
  8. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/70112492
    Supports: Cast and genre labeling