The title of the movie is “Lorne.”

On the movie theater screen, the opening title is Lorne with a period. In publicity posters for the movie, there is no period.

The point, ahem, is that the documentary film, “Lorne,” is about Lorne Michaels. Period.

It’s not about “Saturday Night Live” (“SNL”) and its storied and sometimes controversial cast.

It is about how Lorne Michaels created the show and has kept it going for more than 50 years.

Michaels co-created “NBC’s Saturday Night” with Dick Ebersol and Herb Schlosser in 1975, which became “Saturday Night Live” in 1977.

Michaels has been executive producer of “SNL,” with the exception of approximately 1980 to 1985, when he took a hiatus, until and including the 2025-’26 season.

Michaels was executive producer of the TV show, “30 Rock” (2006-2013), is executive producer of “Late Night with Seth Meyers” and “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” and produced the movies “Mean Girls” (2004), “Wayne’s World” (1992) and “Three Amigos!” (1986).

“Lorne” is directed by Charlie Tyrell (“The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist,” 2026) and Morgan Neville, who directed “20 Feet From Stardom,” (2014; Oscar, documentary feature); director, “Paul McCartney: Man On The Run” (2025), “Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain” (2021) and “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” (2018).

“Lorne” is framed during the course of one week of preparing for “SNL,” the Saturday late-night sketch comedy show with guest host (often a TV star or movie star) and music guest performer or group. The show is telecast 11:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. on NBC-TV.

Michaels, 82, born Lorne Michael Lipowitz, Nov. 17, 1944, in Toronto, Canada, comes off at first as derisive, dismissive and acerbically crotchety as though he perpetually has his knickers in a knot.

Gradually, as depicted in the film, Michaels lets his guard down during what was said to be a year’s worth of interviews.

He’s humanized through his interactions with “SNL” writers and actors, revealed through glimpses of table readings, meetings in his office and the weekly show’s dress rehearsal.

Michaels is a hands-on producer, not unlike a compassionate sports coach who must make the tough decisions for the good of the team.

That team spirit seems evident as we learn more about Michaels’ comedy instincts, friendly but firm banter and rapport with cast and writers through interviews with “SNL” writers, stars and former stars, including Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Colin Jost, Seth Meyers, John Mulaney, Mike Myers, Conan O’Brien, Chris Rock, Maya Rudolph, Andy Samberg, Kristen Wiig, and also his friend Paul Simon.

“SNL”’s Robert Smigel created animation segments depicting Michaels and others. These, along with snippets of some of the show’s classic comedy sketches, funny comments by veteran “SNL” actors and writers, and the cracking wise comments of Michaels, provide lots of laughs and chuckles.

The glimpses of Lorne Michaels, a “Wizard of Oz” behind the curtain; archival footage and the overall glee with which director Morgan Neville imbues the film should satisfy “SNL” fans.

Because of Michaels’ work ethic, driven focus and seeming sense of fair play, “Lorne” could serve as a springboard for a business school graduate level corporate management seminar.

“Lorne” will be chiefly enjoyed by fans of “Saturday Night Live” and fans of former and present members of The Not Ready For Prime Time Players.

As for Lorne Michaels, he was ready and steady, then and now.

Don’t miss this film.

“Lorne,” MPA rated R (Restricted: Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian; features adult material.) for language and a sexual reference; Genre: Documentary; Run time: 1 hour, 41 minutes. Distributed by Focus Features.

Credit Readers Anonymous: “Big Boss Man,” sung by Charlie Rich, is heard over the “Lorne” closing credits. Stay to the very end of the credits for a scene of Lorne Michaels, who has the last word.

At The Movies: “Lorne” was seen in the standard format at AMC Center Valley 16.

Theatrical Movies Domestic Weekend Box Office, May 1-3: “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” starring Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci in their return in the Comedy Drama sequel, $77 million in 4,150 theaters, opening, strutting on the runway past “Michael,” dropping one place to No. 2 after one week at No. 1, with $54 million in 3,955 theaters, $183.8 million, two weeks.

3. “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” dropped one place, $12.1 million in 3,419 theaters, $402.6 million, five weeks. 4. “Project Hail Mary” dropped one place, $8.5 million in 3,017 theaters, $318.3 million, seven weeks. 5. “Hokum,” starring Adam Scott in the Supernatural Horror film, $6.4 million in 1,885 theaters, opening. 6. “Animal Farm,” an Animation movie based on the George Orwell novel, $3.4 million in 2,600 theaters, opening. 7. “Lee Cronin’s the Mummy,” $2.2 million in 2,083 theaters, $27.4 million, three weeks. 8. “Deep Water,” starring Aaron Eckhart and Ben Kingsley in the Disaster Film Thriller. $2.1 million in 1,675 theaters, opening. 9. “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea,” a Japanese Anime Fantasy film sequel, $1 million in 837 theaters, opening. 10. “The Drama” dropped five places, $908,305 in 857 theaters, $46.9 million, five weeks.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of May 3 may be subject to change.

Unreel, May 8:

“Mortal Kombat II,” MPA rated R; 1 hour, 56 minutes. Simon McQuoid directs Karl Urban, Ludi Lin and Jessica McNamee in the Fantasy Action film. The synopsis: The fan favorite champions, now joined by Johnny Cage himself, are pitted against one another in the ultimate battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders.

“The Sheep Detectives,” MPA rated PG; 1 hour, 49 minutes. Kyle Balda directs Bryan Cranston, Nicholas Galitzine, Hugh Jackman, Emma Thompson and Hong Chau and the voices of Patrick Stewart, Regina Hall, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Chris O’Dowd in the Action Comedy. The synopsis: Every night a shepherd reads aloud a murder mystery, pretending his sheep can understand. When he is found dead, the sheep realize at once that it was a murder and think they know everything about how to go about solving it.

“Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft - The Tour Live in 3D,” MPA rated PG-13; 1 hour, 54 minutes. James Cameron directs Billie Eilish, Finneas O‘Connell and the concert band in the Music Documentary. The synopsis: A 3D concert film documenting Manchester, England, concerts by Billie Eilish co-directed by Eilish and James Cameron.

“Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition,” No MPA rating; 1 hour, 46 minutes. Malcolm Venville directs Steve Harris, Bruce Dickinson, Nicko McBrain and the band members, with appearances by Chuck D, Tom Morello, Javier Bardem, Gene Simmons and Lars Ulrich in the Music, Biography Documentary. The synopsis: Spanning five decades, “Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition” charts the heavy metal band’s rise to become one of the biggest bands in music history.

Movie opening date information from Internet Movie Database as of May 3 may be subject to change.

Three Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes