The story of The Intern: Ben's unexpected return
Ben Whittaker isn't your typical intern. At 70 years old, this widower has spent his life working, raising a family, and building a career — only to discover that retirement feels like a slow fade to irrelevance. He's restless. Bored, even. So when he spots an online posting for a senior internship program at an upscale fashion e-commerce startup in Brooklyn, he does something unexpected: he applies. What follows is a fish-out-of-water comedy that doesn't play it safe with generational stereotypes. Instead, it explores what happens when someone with decades of real-world experience crashes into the chaotic, caffeine-fueled world of tech startups and twenty-something entrepreneurs. The company is run by Jules Ostin, a brilliant but perpetually exhausted CEO who's about to learn that experience never gets old.
Behind the making of The Intern: Production, cast, and box office success
Director Nancy Meyers — known for smart romantic comedies like Something's Gotta Give and It's Complicated — wrote, directed, and co-produced The Intern through her production company Waverly Films, alongside RatPac Entertainment and Warner Bros. Pictures. The film marks a deliberate shift in her storytelling. Rather than centering on romance alone, Meyers crafted a script that grapples with digital disruption, workplace culture, and the value of mentorship across generations. The casting of Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway was inspired — a pairing that few filmmakers would've risked. De Niro, at 71, brought gravitas and lived-in authenticity to the role. Hathaway, then in her early thirties, embodied the burnout of a founder who's forgotten how to breathe. Rene Russo rounds out the ensemble. Released in September 2015, The Intern earned $75.8 million globally, a solid return that signaled audiences were hungry for stories about aging, relevance, and second acts. The film earned a PG-13 rating and ran 121 minutes. While critics were mixed — Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 59% fresh rating, and Metacritic scored it 51/100 — the film garnered nine nominations and one win across various awards ceremonies, with particular praise for its screenplay and performances.
What makes The Intern stand out: Performance and heart in a crowded genre
What's striking about The Intern isn't that it's a perfect film — it isn't. The plot hits familiar beats, and some subplots feel underdeveloped. What it does brilliantly, though, is sidestep the cynicism that usually haunts workplace comedies. De Niro's Ben doesn't shuffle around making dad jokes; he's dignified, curious, and genuinely useful. He learns the company's software, he mentors younger employees, he makes coffee runs without complaint — and the film never punishes him for being older. That's rare. I keep coming back to a scene where Ben sits in on a tai chi session with colleagues, fully present, not mocking. It's a small moment, but it encapsulates Meyers' thesis: wisdom and youth aren't enemies. They're complementary. Hathaway, meanwhile, carries the film's emotional weight. Jules is brilliant but brittle — she's built something extraordinary while her personal life crumbles, and she's too proud to ask for help until Ben arrives. The screenplay doesn't lecture about work-life balance; it shows the cost of ignoring it. Critics on platforms like Movie OTT have noted that the film's greatest strength is its refusal to be saccharine. It earns its warmth. The IMDb rating of 7.1/10 across over 304,000 votes suggests audiences connected with something genuine here, even if the critical establishment remained lukewarm.
Where to stream The Intern online
The Intern is available on major OTT services, and you can check the "Where to Watch" widget at the top of this page for current streaming availability in your region. Since licensing agreements shift, Movie OTT tracks which platforms carry this title week to week — whether that's Netflix, Prime Video, or other subscription services. If you're planning a weekend watch, it's worth checking the widget first to confirm it's still available on your preferred platform. The film's 121-minute runtime makes it a perfect Friday-night choice, and its PG-13 rating means it's accessible to a broad audience.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Who directed The Intern?
Nancy Meyers wrote, directed, and co-produced The Intern. She's also known for directing Something's Gotta Give, It's Complicated, and The Holiday. Meyers has built a career around smart, character-driven comedies that center adult relationships and emotional authenticity.
Q: Is The Intern based on a true story?
No, The Intern is an original screenplay written by Nancy Meyers. While the premise of a senior intern at a fashion startup is fictional, the film was inspired by real conversations about workplace culture, mentorship, and the ways older workers are often overlooked in tech-driven industries.
Q: What's the runtime and rating of The Intern?
The Intern runs 121 minutes and is rated PG-13. The film contains some mild language and brief suggestive content, but it's family-friendly and widely accessible.
Q: How much money did The Intern make at the box office?
The Intern earned $75.8 million globally, making it a commercial success despite mixed critical reviews. The film opened in September 2015 and found a solid audience, particularly among older viewers and fans of Nancy Meyers' work.
Q: What awards did The Intern win?
The Intern earned one win and nine nominations across various award ceremonies. While it didn't become an awards-season juggernaut, the film received recognition for its screenplay, performances, and direction — validating what audiences already knew: this was a thoughtfully made film.
Final thoughts on The Intern
If you're looking for a feel-good comedy that doesn't insult your intelligence, The Intern delivers. It's not groundbreaking cinema, but it's warm, funny, and genuinely interested in its characters. De Niro and Hathaway have real chemistry, the New York City setting feels lived-in, and the film's central message — that experience matters, that age doesn't erase relevance — lands without preaching. It's a movie that understands something most Hollywood comedies forget: that the best stories are about people, not premises. Worth your time.
