May December

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2:26

May December

R

Released Nov 17, 2023

1h 53m

Drama

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

324 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, Gracie Atherton-Yu and her husband Joe (twenty-three years her junior) brace themselves for their twins to graduate from high school. When Hollywood actress Elizabeth Berry comes to spend time with the family to better understand Gracie, who she will be playing in a film, family dynamics unravel under the pressure of the outside gaze. Joe, never having processed what happened in his youth, starts to confront the reality of life as an empty-nester at thirty-six. And as Elizabeth and Gracie study each other, the similarities and differences between the two women begin to ebb and flow. Set in picturesque and comfortable Savannah, Georgia, May December is an exploration of truth, storytelling, and the difficulties (or impossibility) of fully understanding another person.

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Critics Consensus

Swaddling its difficult fact-based story in a blanket of campy humor, May December is a seductively discomfiting watch.

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Audience Says

May December benefits from a really talented cast, although its unorthodox approach to a reality-inspired story may frustrate some viewers.

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Christina Newland

iNews.co.uk

A combination of rollicking, darkly delicious entertainment and brilliantly rendered character study, this has the making of a modern classic.

Rated: 5/5

Sep 18, 2024

Full Review

Steph Green

Empire Magazine

May December is not just a skilful satire of suburban propriety; it’s a unique and uncanny affair about the nature of performance itself.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 18, 2024

Full Review

Stephen Romei

The Australian

Complex, intelligent, thought-provoking filmmakers are back in fashion.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 3, 2024

Full Review

Clotilde Chinnici

Loud and Clear Reviews

All in all, May December proves to be a compelling film, one that invites the audience to look beneath the surface and sit with the uncomfortable truth we may find there.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 15, 2024

Full Review

Yasmine Kandil

Discussing Film

To the viewer, May December presents broken characters riddled with variations of pain and guilt, leaving it up to those watching what forgiveness or acceptance they deserve.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 2, 2024

Full Review

Ray Pride

Newcity

Simmering and summering, Haynes’ take is as much implication as demonstration, a variation on tabloid material that makes bittersweet and sinister and aromatic flavors, like the great distillations in twentieth-century Atom Egoyan.

Rated: 10/10

Jul 4, 2024

Full Review

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Justin

Great movie about psychology, and the acting is superb.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/03/23

Full Review

Jessika Johnson

Charles Melton is my favorite part of this film. The way he is the stand out in a film with an A-List cast like this oh Im hopping on that Charles Melton best supporting actor Oscar campaign. I have too many thoughts but dont know where to start. One of my favorite watches of the year. Natalie Portman is amazing as always.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/01/23

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Robyn K

Film kind of boring and slow - with no let up. Always nice to see, however, the two female leads and observe their acting.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/21/23

Full Review

cav

May December was very interesting to watch, kept you wondering exactly what all the underlying problems of the 3 main characters were. Very well acted by all the players.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/19/23

Full Review

Daniel G

A drama that had the feel of a suspense. Very clearly states it's fictional, but well-known that it's based on a true story. Challenging moral questions are set, though in the end, there's no doubt there's a view that the protagonist that's portrayed is a bit of a controlling sociopath. I wouldn't want to be in the kids' situation, though they end up having a more harmonious home than many. Also, wonder if Julianne Moore actually went to meet the person the movie is really based on - that would be a story about that meeting... Also, not sure how this could be considered comedic at all.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/21/24

Full Review

Sara R

Amazing and provocative but yet so subtle. I loved the riveting discomfort the movie imposes.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/20/24

Full Review

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Todd Haynes

Director

Natalie Portman

Elizabeth Berry

Julianne Moore

Gracie Atherton-Yoo

Cory Michael Smith

Georgie Atherton

Charles Melton

Joe

Piper Curda

Honor

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May December: Trailer 1

2:26

May December: Teaser

0:33

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Synopsis

Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, Gracie Atherton-Yu and her husband Joe (twenty-three years her junior) brace themselves for their twins to graduate from high school. When Hollywood actress Elizabeth Berry comes to spend time with the family to better understand Gracie, who she will be playing in a film, family dynamics unravel under the pressure of the outside gaze. Joe, never having processed what happened in his youth, starts to confront the reality of life as an empty-nester at thirty-six. And as Elizabeth and Gracie study each other, the similarities and differences between the two women begin to ebb and flow. Set in picturesque and comfortable Savannah, Georgia, May December is an exploration of truth, storytelling, and the difficulties (or impossibility) of fully understanding another person.

Director: Todd Haynes
Producer: Jessica Elbaum, Will Ferrell, Grant S. Johnson, Pamela Koffler, Tyler W. Konney, Sophie Mas, Natalie Portman, Christine Vachon
Screenwriter: Samy Burch
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: Project Infinity, Gloria Sanchez Productions, MountainA, Killer Films, Taylor & Dodge
Rating: R (Graphic Nudity|Drug Use|Language|Some Sexual Content)
Genre: Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 17, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 1, 2023
Runtime: 1h 53m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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