Monster | Rotten Tomatoes

Monster

R

Released Jan 30, 2004

1h 49m

Biography

Crime

Drama

LGBTQ+

List

82%

Tomatometer

190 Reviews

81%

Audience Score

50,000+ Ratings

Shortly after moving to Florida, longtime prostitute Aileen Wuornos (Charlize Theron) meets young and reserved Selby Wall (Christina Ricci) and a romance blossoms. When a john (Lee Tergesen) attempts to brutalize Aileen, she kills him and resolves to give up prostitution. But supporting herself and her new girlfriend through legitimate means proves extremely difficult, and she soon falls back on old ways. More johns die, and Selby can't help but think her new friend is responsible.

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Critics Consensus

Charlize Theron gives a searing, deglamorized performance as real life serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster, an intense, disquieting portrait of a profoundly damaged soul.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Powerful, painful for mature audiences only.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 26, 2010

Full Review

Empire Magazine

Rated: 4/5

Apr 1, 2006

Full Review

Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

With the exception of Charlize Theron's masterful performance as Wuornos, the film is a misguided mess.

Rated: C

May 4, 2005

Full Review

Edward Porter

Sunday Times (UK)

Patty Jenkins’s film may be lurid, but it has a strong air of realism.

Oct 31, 2022

Full Review

Emilie Black

Cinema Crazed

Monster is an almost masterpiece film and serial killer biography. It's somber and honest while it does not glamorize Aileen Wuornos and gives her a bit of humanity.

Rated: 5/5

Apr 11, 2020

Full Review

Micheal Compton

Bowling Green Daily News

A somber, manipulative movie of the week that has connected with many people, but not this one.

Rated: C+

Nov 16, 2019

Full Review

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Tanya W

Charlize Theron's performance is stellar. Jaw droppingly good movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/03/24

Full Review

Aender S

What a performance by Charlize Theron!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/12/24

Full Review

Kevin P

Theron gives a memorable performance worthy of an Oscar. Ricci was good but was held back by the disjointed character development provided to her.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/03/24

Full Review

Calvin T

The best performance my an actress I've ever seen.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/17/24

Full Review

David H

One of the best movies I've ever seen. Critic rating should be 98%. They're so dumb. Theron's performance as Aileen Wournos must be seen to be believed. She doesn't just act; she actually becomes Wournos in the heartbreaking story of a profoundly damaged soul.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/23/24

Full Review

jwcdood

Aptly titled and not what I would categorize as "entertainment" per se, MONSTER is a deep look into the consequential horrors stemming from childhood abuse, poverty and the influences of the utterly wrong people on the gullible, naive and desperate (God help us all). Charlize Theron's 5 star performance is waaaay beyond over the top with great direction.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/23/23

Full Review

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Patty Jenkins

Director

Charlize Theron

Aileen Wuornos

Christina Ricci

Selby Wall

Bruce Dern

Thomas

Scott Wilson

Horton

Pruitt Taylor Vince

Gene

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Synopsis

Shortly after moving to Florida, longtime prostitute Aileen Wuornos (Charlize Theron) meets young and reserved Selby Wall (Christina Ricci) and a romance blossoms. When a john (Lee Tergesen) attempts to brutalize Aileen, she kills him and resolves to give up prostitution. But supporting herself and her new girlfriend through legitimate means proves extremely difficult, and she soon falls back on old ways. More johns die, and Selby can't help but think her new friend is responsible.

Director: Patty Jenkins
Producer: Sammy Lee, Meagan Riley-Grant, Stewart Hall, Andreas Grosch, Andreas Schmid
Screenwriter: Patty Jenkins
Distributor: Newmarket Film Group
Production Co: K/W Productions, MDP Worldwide, Denver and Delilah Productions, DEJ Productions, Zodiac Productions Inc.
Rating: R
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 30, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $34.5M
Runtime: 1h 49m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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