The Story of Now and Then: A Summer That Changed Everything
Now and Then opens with three adult women—Roberta Martin, Samantha Albertson, and Tina "Teeny" Tercell—returning to their hometown to support their childhood friend Chrissy DeWitt Williams through the final weeks of her first pregnancy. What unfolds is less about the present moment and more about what the present unlocks: a flood of memories from the summer of 1970, when these four girls were inseparable, fearless, and convinced their friendship would last forever. The film weaves between these two timelines, showing us who they were as teenagers and who they've become as adults—a structure that lets the audience experience both the raw spontaneity of youth and the bittersweet wisdom that comes with time. Without spoiling the emotional beats that anchor the narrative, what's striking is how the film uses small, specific moments—a game of truth or dare, a photocopier mishap, a visit to a gynecologist—to explore what it means to grow up, drift apart, and find your way back to people who once knew you completely.
Behind the Making of Now and Then: Director Lesli Linka Glatter's Vision
Now and Then arrived in 1995 as a distinctly female-centered project, directed by Lesli Linka Glatter and written by I. Marlene King, who would later become known for her work on Pretty Little Liars. The cast assembled was a powerhouse of 1990s talent: Christina Ricci, Thora Birch, Gaby Hoffmann, and Ashleigh Aston Moore played the younger versions of the protagonists, while Melanie Griffith, Demi Moore, Rosie O'Donnell, and Rita Wilson embodied their adult counterparts. This dual-cast structure—a common approach in ensemble coming-of-age films—required careful casting to ensure the younger and older actresses could convincingly inhabit the same character across decades. The film's 102-minute runtime moves briskly, a deliberate choice that keeps the emotional momentum steady without overstaying its welcome. While the film didn't become a major box office phenomenon, it found an appreciative audience on home video and cable television, eventually earning recognition as a solid entry in the 1990s coming-of-age comedy-drama canon. The film carries a PG-13 rating, making it accessible to family viewing—a fact that's often overlooked when critics dismiss it as lightweight.
What Makes Now and Then Stand Out: The Power of Female Friendship on Screen
What's often missed when people dismiss Now and Then is that it's genuinely interested in how women's friendships shape identity. The film doesn't treat these relationships as secondary to romance or career ambition; they're the whole story. The four actresses—particularly Ricci and O'Donnell in their respective roles—bring a specificity to their performances that could've easily become one-note. There's a scene involving a photocopier and a dare that should be absurd, yet somehow captures something true about adolescent risk-taking and the desperate need to prove yourself to your friends. The humor lands because it's rooted in character, not punchlines. Melanie Griffith and Demi Moore, meanwhile, carry the weight of showing what happens when friendships fracture under the pressure of adult life—jobs, marriages, geography, unspoken resentments. What audiences on Movie OTT and similar platforms often report is that the film works best if you let it be what it is: a warm, slightly messy, deeply human portrait of women at different life stages trying to understand who they were and who they've become. It's not trying to be edgy or provocative. It's trying to be honest, and that's rarer than you'd think in mainstream entertainment.
Where to Stream Now and Then Online
Now and Then is currently available on Netflix, making it easy to access if you're already subscribed to that platform. The film's availability fluctuates across different regions and streaming services, so if you're looking for the most up-to-date information on where it's streaming right now, check the Where to Watch widget at the top of this page—Movie OTT tracks current streaming availability across all major platforms. Given that the film has drifted somewhat out of the cultural conversation since its 1995 release, having it on a major platform like Netflix represents a genuine opportunity to revisit it without hunting through specialty retailers or hoping your local library has a DVD copy.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Is Now and Then based on a true story?
No, Now and Then is a fictional screenplay written by I. Marlene King. While the film captures authentic emotional truths about female friendship and coming of age in the 1970s, the specific characters and events are products of the writer's imagination rather than based on real people or events.
Q: Who directed Now and Then?
Lesli Linka Glatter directed the film, bringing a distinctly female perspective to the story. Glatter's direction emphasizes character and emotional nuance over plot mechanics, which gives the film its intimate, personal feel.
Q: What's the age rating for Now and Then?
The film carries a PG-13 rating, meaning it's appropriate for teenagers and adults, though some parental guidance may be suggested for children under 13. The content is generally family-friendly, focusing on emotional themes rather than explicit material.
Q: Why does Now and Then jump between 1970 and 1995?
The dual timeline structure allows the film to show both the innocence and complexity of the characters' youth while revealing how they've changed as adults. This approach deepens the emotional impact—we see who they were and who they've become, which makes their current reunion far more meaningful.
Q: Where can I watch Now and Then right now?
Now and Then is currently streaming on Netflix. For the most current availability across all platforms in your region, check the streaming information widget on this page.
Final Thoughts: A Gem Worth Revisiting
Honestly, Now and Then deserves better than its reputation as a forgotten 90s curiosity. It's a film that understands female friendship—the joy of it, the fragility of it, the way it can sustain you through decades even when you're not actively nurturing it. The performances are warm without being saccharine, the humor is grounded, and the emotional payoff doesn't feel cheap. If you're looking for something that won't demand your full attention but will genuinely move you, this one's worth your time.
