Ma

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1:30

Ma

R

2019

1h 39m

Mystery & Thriller

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

55%

Tomatometer

214 Reviews

64%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Verified Ratings

A lonely middle-aged woman befriends some teenagers and decides to let them party in the basement of her home. But there are some house rules: One of the kids has to stay sober, don't curse, and never go upstairs. They must also refer to her as Ma. But as Ma's hospitality starts to curdle into obsession, what began as a teenage dream turns into a terrorizing nightmare, and Ma's place goes from the best place in town to the worst place on Earth.

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Critics Consensus

Octavia Spencer's performance overpowers many of Ma's flaws, but uneven pacing and a labored story keep this thriller from fully realizing its unhinged potential.

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Sezín Koehler

Bitch Media

[Ma is] an antihero of the highest caliber...The catharsis was glorious.

Mar 13, 2021

Full Review

Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (LAist)

The movie itself is fairly ordinary... [But] when [Octavia Spencer] goes bananas, she pulls the rip-cord. She has all kinds of fun.

Sep 30, 2019

Full Review

Roxana Hadadi

Pajiba

Ma boasts an impressively against-type performance from Octavia Spencer but not much else that is either truly scary or emotionally engaging.

Jun 14, 2019

Full Review

David Day

Horror Movie Talk

This movie didn’t commit any mortal sins, and frankly, it was pretty well done. It’s just forgettable and uninteresting, which adds to the tedium of much of life.

Rated: 6/10

Aug 11, 2025

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…even when the action gets rather too sadistic for comfort, and there’s some nasty stuff here in Ma, Spencer relishes the task of taking her kindly features and seems to enjoy suggesting considerable malice lurking behind that familiar smile…

Rated: 2/5

Oct 16, 2024

Full Review

Calum Cooper

Source (Scotland)

It forsakes the potential of its chaotic set-up in favour of high school drama, past and present, and a shallow anti-bullying message that doesn’t feel nearly as layered as it ought to have been.

Rated: 2/5

Jul 14, 2024

Full Review

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.

Don't make me drink alonnneee

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/15/25

Full Review

Sean

So good, don’t make her drink alone!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/15/25

Full Review

KAREN G

One of the worst movies I’ve ever seen.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

08/31/19

Full Review

!love...Movies

movie was kinda boaring but that main actress did her part all of her supporting actors/actress couldn't pull there own

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/29/19

Full Review

Kenny

The suspense of the movie held me captivated on what is going to happen next.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/19/19

Full Review

Louis

Was crazy and as the movie went on you didnt know what to expect. Went to see with my wife and we were guessing the when movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/15/19

Full Review

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Tate Taylor

Director

Octavia Spencer

Sue Ann

Diana Silvers

Maggie

Juliette Lewis

Erica

McKaley Miller

Haley

Corey Fogelmanis

Andy

Ma: Official Clip - Manipulative Ma

3:06

Ma: Official Clip - Burning the House Down

3:37

Ma: Official Clip - Drugged Drinks

2:41

Ma: Official Clip - Ma's Vengeance

3:04

Ma: Official Clip - Running Over the Past

1:22

Ma: Official Clip - Ma Is Your Mom?

3:01

Ma: Official Clip - You Wanna See Something Cool?

2:24

Ma: Official Clip - Just Like Your Daddy

2:46

Ma: Official Clip - This Is Your One Warning

2:26

Ma: Official Clip - Dog Blood Transfusion

1:10

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Synopsis

A lonely middle-aged woman befriends some teenagers and decides to let them party in the basement of her home. But there are some house rules: One of the kids has to stay sober, don't curse, and never go upstairs. They must also refer to her as Ma. But as Ma's hospitality starts to curdle into obsession, what began as a teenage dream turns into a terrorizing nightmare, and Ma's place goes from the best place in town to the worst place on Earth.

Director: Tate Taylor
Producer: Jason Blum, Tate Taylor, John Norris
Screenwriter: Scotty Landes
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Fuji Television Network (Fuji TV), Dentsu, Wyolah Films, Blumhouse Productions
Rating: R (Sexual Content|Language Throughout|Teen Drug and Alcohol Use|Violent/Disturbing Material)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 31, 2019, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): May 14, 2025
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 20, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $45.3M
Runtime: 1h 39m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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