Mona Lisa Smile

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Mona Lisa Smile

PG-13

2003

1h 57m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

33%

Tomatometer

149 Reviews

60%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Katherine Watson (Julia Roberts) is a recent UCLA graduate hired to teach art history at the prestigious all-female Wellesley College, in 1953. Determined to confront the outdated mores of society and the institution that embraces them, Katherine inspires her traditional students including Betty (Kirsten Dunst) and Joan (Julia Stiles) to challenge the lives they are expected to lead.

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Critics Consensus

Though Mona Lisa Smile espouses the value of breaking barriers, the movie itself is predictable and safe.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

The cartoon notions of the '50s and snooty Easterners say more about Hollywood cluelessness than about the period the film condescends to...lacking the courage of its own vulgarity, Mona Lisa Smile is as tepid as old bathwater.

Mar 12, 2018

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Antonia Quirke

London Evening Standard

Just what we need: a pyjama party posing as a movie.

Dec 20, 2017

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Glossy entertainment value but far from art.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 26, 2010

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles and Maggie Gyllenhaal furnish well-observed performances that frequently outshine Julia Roberts's reflex characterization in this female variant of "Dead Poets Society."

Rated: B-

May 12, 2009

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Film Threat

Rated: 2/5

Dec 6, 2005

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Garth Franklin

Dark Horizons

Rated: 2.5/5

Apr 2, 2005

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Alain E

Unclear why this rates so low. It is a quite honest depiction of society’s attitudes towards women before feminism took hold. Acting is very good, as in addition to Julia Roberts we also have for example Kirsten Dunst and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Expertly photographed with some intentional use of grain to indicate that this is a period movie. No nudity at all. The most controversial item is a good old diaphragm. Stay with the final credits and enjoy a generous dose of 40s and 50s imagery.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/13/25

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VITALII H

I feel like this movie is timeless. And I don't know how I never heard about it before. It's about the woman who moved into a small town to work as a art teacher. And she teaches the girls that they can be so much more than a stereotypical housewifes of 50s that they were expected to become these years. They can pursue careers and don't feel guilty about it.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/28/25

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Julio C.

I loved it. I don’t know why it gets a lot of hate. It is the women’s version of dead poet society. The acting is great!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/13/25

Full Review

thiago s

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

09/05/25

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Sarah T

Why do we watch movies? Because we want to escape to another time period and meet characters and hear a story. This movie is a fun watch on a rainy or snowy day especially. It captures a nostalgic time period at a school for girls learning art history from a more non-conventional professor. And if you’re observant you’ll understand behaviors more and psychology. There’s more depth to be found than just watching the movie. Watch the relationship dynamics.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/13/25

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Audience Member

Don’t listen to the critics. The movie is so good!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/18/25

Full Review

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Mike Newell

Director

Julia Roberts

Katherine Watson

Kirsten Dunst

Betty Warren

Julia Stiles

Joan Brandwyn

Maggie Gyllenhaal

Giselle Levy

Juliet Stevenson

Amanda Armstrong

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Synopsis

Katherine Watson (Julia Roberts) is a recent UCLA graduate hired to teach art history at the prestigious all-female Wellesley College, in 1953. Determined to confront the outdated mores of society and the institution that embraces them, Katherine inspires her traditional students including Betty (Kirsten Dunst) and Joan (Julia Stiles) to challenge the lives they are expected to lead.

Director: Mike Newell
Producer: Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, Deborah Schindler, Paul Schiff
Screenwriter: Lawrence Konner, Mark Rosenthal
Distributor: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: Red Om Films, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Revolution Studios
Rating: PG-13 (Thematic Issues|Sexual Content)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 19, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 25, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $63.7M
Runtime: 1h 57m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SR, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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