Monster's Ball

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Monster's Ball

R

Released Dec 26, 2001

1h 51m

Drama

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

142 Reviews

67%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Hank, an embittered racist prison guard working on death row, begins an unlikely, emotionally charged sexual relationship with Leticia, a Black woman and wife of a man sentenced to death. The affair begins just after Hank oversees the capital punishment of Leticia's husband.

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Critics Consensus

Somber and thought provoking, Monster's Ball has great performances all around.

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Karl Quinn

The Age (Australia)

Leticia and Hank come together in their grief, and when they do - when, in particular, they seek some kind of punishment and absolution in sex - it makes for one of the most intense, moving and real moments you're ever likely to witness on film.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 12, 2018

Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

This brutal movie is for adults only.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 26, 2010

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Rated: 2/4

Oct 15, 2009

Full Review

Mark Halverson

Sacramento News & Review

Rated: 3/5

Aug 7, 2008

Full Review

Joe Lozito

Big Picture Big Sound

Rated: 4/4

Jul 14, 2007

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Though marred by script that telegraphs its messages, this drama still manages to tell a compelling love story betweenn a redneck guard and a black widow, well played by Billy Bob Thronton and particularly Halle Berre, who should get Oscar nomination

Rated: B

Dec 25, 2006

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Funky L

Fantastic acting. Definitely leaves you thinking about the movie after it ends. Did Latica stay with Hank because she wanted to, or because she had no where else to go.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/26/25

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Laurian D

Absolutely stunning. Not one wasted shot

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/03/25

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Geoff P

I felt that this was rather depressing. Even though it had what was supposed to be an uplifting ending, there was plenty of grit along the way— enough for me to finish... well, far from uplifted. As usual, the effect sound and background music made dialogue hard to understand at times, but better than many.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/15/25

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rosie m

And I thought "Leaving Las Vegas" was depressing. Gritty, bleak, squalid, emotional and great

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/09/25

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Francisco S

Only horrible things happen in this movie. Accurate, Diddy gets the chair and Ledger kills himself.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/17/25

Full Review

Ads T

I haven't watched this film since I first saw it at a Hoyts cinema upon release some 23 years ago! The complex racial narrative is still very poignant (especially now in the US) and the performances of Billy Bob Thornton, Halle Berry and Heath Ledger (who has the least screen time) are exceptional.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/07/25

Full Review

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Marc Forster

Director

Halle Berry

Leticia Musgrove

Billy Bob Thornton

Hank Grotowski

Heath Ledger

Sonny Grotowski

Peter Boyle

Buck Grotowski

Diddy

Lawrence Musgrove

Monster's Ball: Official Clip - You Ain't Lost No Weight

1:19

Monster's Ball: Official Clip - I Quit the Team

2:03

Monster's Ball: Official Clip - Make Me Feel Good

2:21

Monster's Ball: Official Clip - Can I Touch You?

2:10

Monster's Ball: Official Clip - I Always Loved You

1:52

Monster's Ball: Official Clip - Hank Just Like His Daddy

2:09

Monster's Ball: Official Clip - That's My Baby

2:11

Monster's Ball: Official Clip - Death Row Goodbye

2:13

Monster's Ball: Official Clip - Takes a Human Being to See a Human Being

2:12

Monster's Ball: Official Clip - Like Father, Like Son

2:13

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Synopsis

Hank, an embittered racist prison guard working on death row, begins an unlikely, emotionally charged sexual relationship with Leticia, a Black woman and wife of a man sentenced to death. The affair begins just after Hank oversees the capital punishment of Leticia's husband.

Director: Marc Forster
Producer: Lee Daniels
Screenwriter: Milo Addica, Will Rokos
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Lee Daniels Entertainment, Lions Gate Films
Rating: R (Strong Sexual Content|Language|Violence)
Genre: Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 26, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 19, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $31.3M
Runtime: 1h 51m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, SDDS, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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