Mama | Rotten Tomatoes

Mama

PG-13

Released Jan 18, 2013

1 hr. 40 min.

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

List

64%

168 Reviews

Tomatometer

55%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

On the day that their parents die, sisters Lilly and Victoria vanish in the woods, prompting a frantic search by their Uncle Lucas (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and his girlfriend, Annabel (Jessica Chastain). Five years later, miraculously, the girls are found alive in a decaying cabin, and Lucas and Annabel welcome them into their home. But as Annabel tries to reintroduce the children to a normal life, she finds that someone -- or something -- still wants to tuck them in at night.

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Premiered Aug 08

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Critics Consensus

If you're into old-school scares over cheap gore, you'll be able to get over Mama's confusing script and contrived plot devices.

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Sunshine K

The only reason I did not give a 5 star was because of the ending. Overall I really liked the movie. The only thing I would suggest a slightly different ending.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/04/24

Full Review

Estuard F

Me da miedo ocasionalmente

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/03/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Director Andrés Muschietti and Guillermo del Toro produces starring Jessica Chastain Together they weave a dark tale about the horrors of motherhood based on the Argentine short story Twin sisters Lilly and Victoria vanish in the woods, prompting a frantic search by their Uncle Lucas and Chastain as Annabel whom are a rockstar couple Five years later they are found and Lily has become feral living with no resources or food or guardian as it seems Lucas and Annabel decide to adopt them both yet there's an uneasy feeling something else is lurking in the shadows A dark, evil presence has followed them and Lily prefers her over her aunt calling her 'Mama' Her sister is afraid what might happen if she pulls away leading 'Mama' to do sinister things This being is a ghost; more of an emotion bent out of shape, condemned to repeat itself time and time again The movie doesn't reach its potential fully and the actors try their hardest Chastain is the best part in the movie next to Lily along with the enormous reliance on dark shadows and corners Very character driven than most of this kind of genre Most of the scares in here are very effective although the CGI has a lot to be desired A confusing script, some stuff stretches believability, and contrived plotting aside it still works for a PG-13 horror film Creepy images and an unsettling backstory have Del toro and Muschietti tackle maternal issues to scary lengths

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/19/24

Full Review

Benjamin G

One of my fav Horror films! Takes creepy to a new level!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/01/24

Full Review

Nikki K

Could of been so much better... And the ending was dreadful

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/28/23

Full Review

Richard L

It was really good. Takes some thinking to get through the plot but rewarding with patience.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/01/23

Full Review

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Andy Muschietti

Director

Jessica Chastain

Annabel

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau

Uncle Lucas

Megan Charpentier

Victoria

Isabelle Nélisse

Lilly

Daniel Kash

Dr. Dreyfuss

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Mama: Official Clip - Feral Children

2:15

Mama: Official Clip - I Know What You Want

1:43

Mama: Official Clip - Mama and the Kids

2:12

Mama: Official Clip - Daddy is Taken

2:21

Mama: Official Clip - Don't Turn Around

1:25

Mama: Official Clip - Someone's Here

2:50

Mama: Official Clip - Scared the Crap Out of Me

2:07

Mama: Official Clip - Is She Here?

2:03

Mama: Official Clip - She's Mad

3:25

Mama: Official Clip - The Ending

3:21

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Jenny Catchings

Bitch Media

While [Guillermo Del Toro] only takes an executive producer credit here on Mama, I doubt more involvement would have been helpful.

Jan 14, 2021

Full Review

Roxana Hadadi

Punch Drunk Critics

Good acting can't forgive bad effects or narrative choices, and yes, there are a lot of those.

Rated: 2.5/5

Jan 9, 2017

Full Review

Louis Black

Austin Chronicle

Haunting and extremely atmospheric, Mama is a horror film imbued with an unsettling and affecting power.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 1, 2014

Full Review

Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

Hits most of the expected beats of a ghost story of this nature, though the actual design of the titular character is jarring and evocative enough to stay with you well after the credits roll.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 22, 2023

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Following a common trend in supernatural horror, Mama begins with a novel premise and compelling characters, but then slowly digresses into bankrupt genre clichés, rampant exposition, and formulaic boo! moments.

Rated: 2/4

Sep 20, 2022

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

...a little unnerving when it needs to be and creepy throughout.

Rated: 3.5/5

Aug 23, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

On the day that their parents die, sisters Lilly and Victoria vanish in the woods, prompting a frantic search by their Uncle Lucas (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and his girlfriend, Annabel (Jessica Chastain). Five years later, miraculously, the girls are found alive in a decaying cabin, and Lucas and Annabel welcome them into their home. But as Annabel tries to reintroduce the children to a normal life, she finds that someone -- or something -- still wants to tuck them in at night.

Director: Andy Muschietti
Executive Producer: Guillermo del Toro
Screenwriter: Neil Cross, Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: De Milo, Toma 78
Rating: PG-13 (Thematic Elements|Some Disturbing Images|Violence and Terror)
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 18, 2013, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 10, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $71.6M
Sound Mix: Datasat, SDDS, Dolby Digital

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