Monster

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2:24

Monster

PG-13

Released Nov 22, 2023

2h 6m

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

168 Reviews

91%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

When her young son Minato starts to behave strangely, his mother feels that there is something wrong. Discovering that a teacher is responsible, she storms into the school demanding to know what's going on. But as the story unfolds through the eyes of mother, teacher and child, the truth gradually emerges.

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Critics Consensus

Gently devastating in its compassion, Monster is a masterpiece of shifting perspectives that surprises to the end.

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Stephen Romei

The Australian

This is a psychological drama that provides no easy answers. It uses the Rashomon effect to repeat scenes from different and often contradictory viewpoints.

Rated: 3.5/5

May 17, 2024

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Jake Wilson

The Age (Australia)

It would take a hard heart not to be moved by the finale of Monster, and the whole film is a pleasure to watch if you have the patience. Afterwards, though, you might find yourself wondering if so many plot contrivances were really needed.

Rated: 3/5

May 9, 2024

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Mark Kermode

Kermode and Mayo's Take (YouTube)

If there are monsters in the story, they're never the monsters that you think they are...

Mar 19, 2024

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Francesca Steele

iNews.co.uk

The Japanese filmmaker's latest is an incredibly moving examination of how far gossip can pull us away from the truth.

Rated: 5/5

Dec 11, 2024

Full Review

Joseph Tomastik

Loud and Clear Reviews

No matter what your expectations are, Monster is a film that takes them and slowly, meticulously peels them away.

Rated: 5/5

Dec 3, 2024

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Tanzim Pardiwalla

Filmfare

The answer of the unsettling question comes through shifting perspectives in the beautifully edited film.

Sep 20, 2024

Full Review

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Will F

Just magnificent. I laughed, I cried legitimate tears, I was enthralled the entire way through. And best of all: when it misleads you, it does so in a totally fair way that allows more astute viewers to pick up on some clues that others might not. It’s a very different experience the second time through watching it, but profound in a different way. This is the kind of movie that can actually change people’s beliefs about certain things. Not many movies have that potential.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/24/24

Full Review

Candy A

Dang! I cried a lot. LIKE A LOT. Yori deserves my love and head pat. Minato and Yori are good kids. I hope my kiddos are happy after ever. I hope this Movie can give out season 2 of Minato-Yori's Teens.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/28/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Amazing plot, and definitely leaves you thinking not just about taking care of your kid(s) but also how easily everything can be distorted by either lies and/or assumptions we never get to validate.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/21/24

Full Review

Sahar N

What stands out in Monster is the seamless and perfect pivot of genre and character perspective shifts, which take you through a dangerous, unpredictable world of horror into smooth, kind, and happy moments—just when you least expect it.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/20/24

Full Review

Eric B

A quietly powerful, moving film. The kind of film Hollywood is utterly incapable of making. No superheroes, no shootouts, or explosions, or zombies. Just small tragic insights into what motivates human behavior when we are forced to keep secrets. It also does not go for the cynicism or downbeat ending typical of so much arthouse fair. For those interested in the power of film to allow us to feel, without being overly melodramatic. 5 stars.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/12/24

Full Review

Esra Y

Movie left me heartbroken. Kore-eda is a master of storytelling. W each pov movie takes us to very different emotions. Leaves you thinking about humanity, truth and compassion.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/30/24

Full Review

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Hirokazu Koreeda

Director

Sakura Andô

Saori

Eita Nagayama

Hori

Soya Kurokawa

Minato

Mitsuki Takahata

Hirona

Akihiro Kakuta

Shoda

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Monster: Trailer 1

2:24

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Synopsis

When her young son Minato starts to behave strangely, his mother feels that there is something wrong. Discovering that a teacher is responsible, she storms into the school demanding to know what's going on. But as the story unfolds through the eyes of mother, teacher and child, the truth gradually emerges.

Director: Hirokazu Koreeda
Producer: Genki Kawamura, Kenji Yamada
Screenwriter: Yuji Sakamoto
Distributor: Well Go USA Entertainment
Production Co: Toho Company
Rating: PG-13 (Thematic Material|Brief Suggestive Material)
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 22, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 27, 2024
Box Office (Gross USA): $434.6K
Runtime: 2h 6m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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