Monica

Play trailer

2:01

Monica

R

2023

1h 54m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

64 Reviews

96%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Monica is an intimate portrait of a woman who, for the first time in 20 years, returns home to the Midwest to take care of her ailing mother. Through the themes of abandonment, aging, rejection, acceptance and forgiveness, we get to know Monica and her world made of pain, fear but also courage. A journey through the needs and desires of a woman who opens a cognitive look at the human condition.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Bolstered by a powerful lead performance from Trace Lysette, Monica follows a personal quest that's as beautifully filmed as it is emotionally resonant.

Read Critics Reviews

Jonathan Romney

Financial Times

Monica is beautifully acted, not least in the play-off between Clarkson — alternating weary spikiness with bursts of agonised distress — and the gentle, detached reserve that is Lysette’s main register here.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 18, 2023

Full Review

Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

A film of quiet but considerable power.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 17, 2023

Full Review

Thelma Adams

AARP Movies for Grownups

Lysette’s committed, complex performance, in tandem with Clarkson, powers a restrained tale of reunion and resistance with a gender identity twist.

Rated: 4/5

May 19, 2023

Full Review

Cody Allen

Geek Vibes Nation

Monica is a masterclass in understated filmmaking, where the power of suggestion reigns supreme.

Rated: 10/10

Jul 11, 2025

Full Review

Connor Lightbody

Loud and Clear Reviews

a [Trace] Lysette performance that we should be considering as one of the greatest performances put to film in recent years

Rated: 5/5

Jul 4, 2024

Full Review

Ben Turner

The Pink Lens

It may not be the snappiest film in the world, but what it lacks in haste it makes up for in characterisation. Though we spend a good portion watching the family simply function by itself, Lysette has anchored this film with a giant beating heart.

Rated: 4/5

May 30, 2024

Full Review

Read all reviews

Mariya Makhlyagina

It's heartbreaking and honest.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/21/23

Full Review

Jeffrey S

Great story told about an important topic. Definitely a low budget film though. Amazing performance Trace Lysette.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/21/23

Full Review

Nick

A well acted, filmed story of interpersonal conflict reconciled in the last weeks of life.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/21/23

Full Review

Nora

Beautiful movie. Trace is a brilliant actress and a beautiful soul. Many emotional moments.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/20/23

Full Review

Dante R

Incredibly poignant, layered, powerful performance from Trace Lysette, highly recommend.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/19/23

Full Review

هاوزين الخياط K

Must see how much you have been able forget the past

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/23/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Andrea Pallaoro

Director

Trace Lysette

Monica

Patricia Clarkson

Eugenia

Adriana Barraza

Leticia

Emily Browning

Laura

Joshua Close

Paul

Don't Make Me Go

50%

68%

Don't Make Me Go

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Don't Make Me Go

Dear Zoe

71%

87%

Dear Zoe

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Dear Zoe

American Woman

89%

81%

American Woman

Watchlist

TRAILER

for American Woman

My Zoe

75%

48%

My Zoe

Watchlist

TRAILER

for My Zoe

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Monica: Trailer 1

2:01

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Monica is an intimate portrait of a woman who, for the first time in 20 years, returns home to the Midwest to take care of her ailing mother. Through the themes of abandonment, aging, rejection, acceptance and forgiveness, we get to know Monica and her world made of pain, fear but also courage. A journey through the needs and desires of a woman who opens a cognitive look at the human condition.

Director: Andrea Pallaoro
Producer: Gina Resnick, Christina Dow, Eleonora Granata-Jenkinson, Andrea Pallaoro
Screenwriter: Andrea Pallaoro, Orlando Tirado
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Melograno Films, Alacran Pictures, Varient, Propaganda Italia, Fenix Entertainment, Solo Five Productions
Rating: R (Sexual Content|Nudity|Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 12, 2023, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA): $151.5K
Runtime: 1h 54m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

Most Popular at Home Now