The Late Shift
“Two heads fighting for the late night crown - One head's gotta roll.”
Synopsis
David Letterman vies with Jay Leno and his manager to succeed Johnny Carson, retiring from "The Tonight Show."
Top Cast
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John Michael Higgins
David Letterman
Daniel Roebuck
Jay Leno
Kathy Bates
Helen Kushnick
Bob Balaban
Warren Littlefield
Ed Begley Jr.
Rod Perth
Peter Jurasik
Howard Stringer
Reni Santoni
John Agoglia
John Kapelos
Robert Morton
Steven Gilborn
Peter Lassally
John Getz
Brandon Tartikoff
Lawrence Pressman
Bob Wright
Sandra Bernhard
Sandra Bernhard
Treat Williams
Michael Ovitz
David Brisbin
Alan Levine
Michael Chieffo
Rick Ludwin
Wendy Cutler
Reporter #2 Letterman Press Conference
Nancy Cheryll Davis
Reporter #2 Carnegie Hall
Paul Elder
Rupert Murdoch
Release History & Theatrical Window
July 24, 1996
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$6M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
Pending
Total global ticket sales
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Betty Thomas
- Screenplay & Story
- George Armitage, Bill Carter
- Original Score
- Ira Newborn
- Original Title
- The Late Shift
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 35m
- Production Budget
- $6M
- Production Studios
- Northern Lights Entertainment, HBO Films
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Betty Thomas
George Armitage, Bill Carter
Ira Newborn
Mac Ahlberg, Daniel L. Turrett
Peter Teschner
Don Carmody, Ivan Reitman
Department Leadership Roster
Betty Thomas
Director
George Armitage
Writer
Bill Carter
Writer
Peter Teschner
Editor
Shari Feldman
Costume Design
Mac Ahlberg
Director of Photography
Ira Newborn
Original Music Composer
Don Carmody
Producer
Garreth Stover
Production Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Late Shift.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Late Shift.
Mid Hunting List
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Late Shift
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Late Shift about?
David Letterman vies with Jay Leno and his manager to succeed Johnny Carson, retiring from "The Tonight Show."
Who directed The Late Shift?
The Late Shift was directed by Betty Thomas.
Who stars in The Late Shift?
The principal cast of The Late Shift includes John Michael Higgins, Daniel Roebuck, Kathy Bates, Bob Balaban, Ed Begley Jr..
When was The Late Shift released and how long is it?
The Late Shift was released in 1996 with a total runtime of 1h 35m.
Who composed the musical score for The Late Shift?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Late Shift was composed by Ira Newborn.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Late Shift?
The Late Shift holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).