The Dinner (2017): Film Guide and Cast
Learn the premise, cast and unsettling family conflict behind the 2017 drama directed by Oren Moverman.
The Dinner (2017): Film Guide and Cast
The Dinner (2017) is a psychological drama directed by Oren Moverman and adapted from Herman Koch's novel. Richard Gere, Steve Coogan, Laura Linney and Rebecca Hall star as two couples meeting at an upscale restaurant to confront a grave incident involving their sons. The film turns a formal evening meal into an argument about family loyalty, accountability and what parents are prepared to excuse. It is not the same film as Olivia Wilde's 2026 dinner-party comedy The Invite.
What is The Dinner about?
Two brothers who have a troubled relationship agree to dinner with their wives. Stan is a successful politician; Paul is a former teacher whose perspective is often combative and unstable. As the courses arrive, it becomes clear that their children are implicated in a serious act and that the adults may have very different ideas about how to respond.
The movie uses the meal as a dramatic container, repeatedly forcing private resentments into public conversation. There is less interest in whether the characters enjoy the food than in how social rituals delay what they must confront. The central question is moral rather than procedural: does protecting your family justify protecting someone from consequences?
Cast and characters
Richard Gere plays Stan Lohman, Steve Coogan plays Paul Lohman, Laura Linney plays Claire Lohman and Rebecca Hall plays Katelyn Lohman. Their different relationships to the boys and to one another shape the discussion. The wider cast includes Chloë Sevigny, while the primary dramatic pressure rests on the two couples.
Moverman wrote the screenplay and directed the film. Tribeca's festival archive describes a 120-minute American drama and records the film among its 2017 programming. When searching for credits, include the year because other movies and programs share the title The Dinner.
How does it relate to Herman Koch's book?
Koch's novel provided the core scenario of two families dealing with their children's wrongdoing over dinner. The 2017 version is an American adaptation, not the only screen adaptation of the novel. Earlier European versions exist, so a discussion of differences should name which film is being compared rather than treating all adaptations as interchangeable.
Reading the book can make the narration and moral ambiguity more apparent, while the film expresses conflict through performance, editing and changes in perspective. It is reasonable to enjoy one version more than another without assuming either reproduces the other word for word.
Tone and themes
Expect an uncomfortable character drama, not a light restaurant comedy. The film invites viewers to consider whether social status, parental love and fear of public judgment alter people's ethical choices. It deliberately withholds easy reassurances. Viewers seeking the nervy, humorous relationship confrontations of The Invite may recognize the closed-room pressure, but the stories and tone are distinct.
Before renting or streaming, verify the 2017 release year and Oren Moverman credit inside the store. A general search for “The Dinner” is unusually likely to bring back unrelated movies, TV episodes or restaurant media.
Related reading
For a comedy-drama built around a different uncomfortable dinner, compare The Invite (2026). The Invite (2026): What to Know About Olivia Wilde’s Film
Frequently asked questions
Is The Dinner (2017) based on a book?
Yes. It adapts Herman Koch's novel The Dinner.
Who directed The Dinner?
Oren Moverman wrote the screenplay and directed the 2017 film.
Who are the four principal actors?
Richard Gere, Steve Coogan, Laura Linney and Rebecca Hall.
Is The Dinner the same as The Invite (2026)?
No. Both use a dinner setting, but The Dinner is a 2017 psychological family drama, not Olivia Wilde's 2026 comedy-drama.