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Entertainment • Film

Tully

Tully is a 2018 American comedy-drama film directed by Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Tully is a 2018 American comedy-drama film directed by Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody. It stars Charlize Theron as Marlo, a mother of three who forms an unexpected bond with a night nanny named Tully, played by Mackenzie Davis. The film is the third collaboration between Reitman and Cody, following Juno and Young Adult.

Plot

The film centers on Marlo, a mother of three who is struggling after the birth of her youngest child. Her brother hires a night nanny named Tully, and the two develop an unexpected friendship.

Production and release

Tully was directed by Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody. It premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and was released in the United States by Focus Features on May 4, 2018.

Cast

The main cast includes Charlize Theron as Marlo, Mackenzie Davis as Tully, Mark Duplass, and Ron Livingston. Theron and Davis play the central mother-nanny pairing.

Reception

Reviews described the film as a comic drama that addresses the pressures of motherhood and the emotional strain on the lead character.

Key facts

  • Premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival.
  • Released in the United States by Focus Features on May 4, 2018.
  • The film is the third collaboration between Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody, following Juno and Young Adult.
  • It follows a mother of three and the night nanny hired to help her with a newborn.
  • The film stars Charlize Theron as Marlo and Mackenzie Davis as Tully.
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Canadian context

The film was released internationally and is relevant to Canadian readers as a widely distributed North American feature by a Canadian-friendly English-language entertainment market; however, no Canada-specific production or setting details are identified in the provided sources.

Frequently asked questions

What is Tully about?
It follows a mother of three who hires a night nanny and forms an unexpected bond with her.
Who directed Tully?
Jason Reitman directed the film.
Who wrote Tully?
Diablo Cody wrote the screenplay.
Who stars in Tully?
The film stars Charlize Theron, Mackenzie Davis, Mark Duplass, and Ron Livingston.
When was Tully released?
It was released in the United States on May 4, 2018.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tully_(2018_film)
    Supports: Director, writer, cast, plot overview, Sundance premiere, and U.S. release date.
  2. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/tully-2018
    Supports: Critical description of the film as a comic drama and thematic focus.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5610554/
    Supports: Plot synopsis and principal cast.
  4. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tully_2018
    Supports: Genre, release date, rating, and synopsis.
  5. Focus Features — https://www.focusfeatures.com/tully
    Supports: Studio synopsis, release date, runtime, cast, and film description.