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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David R

Oh my, you’d be har pressed to leave this movie outside your best ten dramas, Berry, Ledger, and freaking Billy Bob given their best performances ever and a story that will rip your heart out. Only reason this has a lower rating than it should is the interracial theme and the storyline surrounding the frying of one Diddy no less (which possesses a forward looking irony all its own given recent developments). If you’re a serious movie buff and you miss this it’s your loss.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/28/24

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Sidney E

Halle Berry, Billy Bob Thornton and Heath Ledger - R.I.P. - Nothing more to that !

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/12/24

Full Review

Todd C

Not upbeat, but wonderfully acted. Halle Berry was so deserving of the best actress.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/24/23

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Amelia C

Acting 5* the story just seemed all a little bit too convenient, with plenty of tension that lacked in the fruition of action - hard to ignore how beautiful Halle Berry is, hard as the plot may try

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/05/23

Full Review

Colin M

Good movie. Needed a stronger ending though.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/20/23

Full Review

Weston T

Only saw the sex scenes so I can't judge

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/06/23

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

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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 (Language|Violence|Strong Sexual Content)
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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