Frida

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Frida

R

Released Oct 25, 2002

2h 3m

Biography

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

160 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

This is the true story of Frida Kahlo (Salma Hayek) and her husband Diego Rivera (Alfred Molina), the larger-than-life painters who became the most acclaimed artists in Mexican history, and whose tempestuous love affair, landmark journeys to America, and outrageous personalities made them legendary.

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Critics Consensus

Frida is a passionate, visually striking biopic about the larger-than-life artist.

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Edward Porter

The Times (UK)

The screenplay takes a paint-by-numbers approach, but the director, Julie Taymor... supplies visual exuberance in the spirit of the film’s heroine.

Dec 5, 2022

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

A little better than the run-of-the-mill artist picture, probably because the colorful lives of these figures have an interest that for many people exceeds the interest of their work–or at least enhances it...

Rated: 2/4

May 9, 2022

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David Denby

The New Yorker

Smart, willful, and perverse, this Frida is nobody's servant, and the tiny Hayek plays her with head held high. You may want to laugh now and then, but you won't look away.

Jan 7, 2020

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Daisy Leigh-Phippard

Screen Queens

Taymors film doesnt shy away from Fridas struggles and her fierce determination to continue despite them. But it also delves into the real spirit of a painter, and the politics that turn the tides of culture.

Feb 21, 2022

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Felicia Feaster

Creative Loafing

The strangest of birds - a film about a Communist, bisexual, hirsute, maverick artist aimed squarely at a mainstream audience - Frida may, in fact, turn out to be more radical than it first appears.

Feb 4, 2020

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Mattie Lucas

The Dispatch (Lexington, NC)

One can imagine Taymor's glorious vision as a triumph of which Frida herself would approve.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jun 5, 2019

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Chase R.

This movie holds up stylistically even by modern standards. The transition scenes where live scenes blend to paintings and vice versa are beautiful. The final sequence shows the film makers have a love for Frida. Great movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/30/25

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Sam N

Frida isn’t a bad film, but it often floats around the edges of its subject. We learn more about Diego Rivera—the man who painted walls—and the famous figures orbiting her, like Trotsky and Rockefeller, than we do about Frida Kahlo herself. There’s not enough insight into what drives her, what fuels her art, or who she truly is beneath the striking imagery. The most insightful moment comes in a brief exchange—less than 20 seconds—as she talks to Trotsky atop Mayan ruins. But even that is quickly reframed through his interpretation of her story before he shifts the focus to his family, stripping her of agency once again. The direction is lively and visually creative, and Salma Hayek is strong in the lead, but the film never quite digs deep. It feels more like a guided tour of those around her than a portrait of the woman herself.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/22/25

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Bob R

Salma Hayek should have received the Oscar. Enough said.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/18/24

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Tyler S

I could understand why people could like this movie, but it just wasn't for me. Lost interest about halfway through, as it just did not have much to keep me intrigued. If you are a fan of romance and artistry, you'll love this. Just not for me. I also did not seem to learn much about Frida. I will praise the visuals and acting though, was really well done.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

06/25/24

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Corey L

The movie is mostly very mundane and a tedious watch. I can only recommend watching it if you are interested in the life and history of Frida as well as the history of communism. However, even in the depiction of these themes the experience can seem a bit muddled and unclear in intention.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/14/24

Full Review

Everardo C

Cómo espectador a veces sentimos como si la película pasara de un colorido acontecimiento a otro sin tregua, pero a Frida Kahlo le debe haber parecido que su vida también lo hacía

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/26/25

Full Review

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Julie Taymor

Director

Salma Hayek

Frida Kahlo

Alfred Molina

Diego Riviera

Geoffrey Rush

Leon Trotsky

Mía Maestro

Cristina Kahlo

Ashley Judd

Tina Modotti

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Synopsis

This is the true story of Frida Kahlo (Salma Hayek) and her husband Diego Rivera (Alfred Molina), the larger-than-life painters who became the most acclaimed artists in Mexican history, and whose tempestuous love affair, landmark journeys to America, and outrageous personalities made them legendary.

Director: Julie Taymor
Producer: Sarah Green, Salma Hayek, Jay Polstein, Lizz Speed, Nancy Hardin, Lindsay Flickinger, Roberto Sneider
Screenwriter: Hayden Herrera, Clancy Sigal, Diane Lake, Gregory Nava, Anna Thomas
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Ventanarosa Productions, Miramax Films, Handprint Entertainment, Trimark Pictures
Rating: R (Nudity|Language|Sexuality)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 25, 2002, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 11, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $25.8M
Runtime: 2h 3m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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