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The Most Hated Woman in America

Play trailer 1:34 Poster for The Most Hated Woman in America 2017 1h 31m Biography Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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40% Tomatometer 20 Reviews 41% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
The rise and untimely demise of Madalyn Murray O'Hair (Melissa Leo), crank, swindler, iconoclast, and America's most outspoken atheist.
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The Most Hated Woman in America

The Most Hated Woman in America

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Critics Consensus

This lackluster look into the farcical face of The Most Hated Woman In America has some sly performances but offers little in the way of further insight.

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Critics Reviews

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Tom Long Detroit News 03/30/2017
B
She is an enigma and her rise to success a mirror of self-delusional hokum that should make us pause in reflection. Go to Full Review
Brian Tallerico RogerEbert.com 03/24/2017
1.5/4
A film that is simultaneously too much and nothing at all because it's jumping around so much narratively. Go to Full Review
Serena Donadoni Village Voice 03/22/2017
Murray O'Hair was a force of nature, and Leo captures her formidable bluster, along with flashes of vulnerability contrasting with the stern certainty of her public appearances. Go to Full Review
Matt Oakes Silver Screen Riot 11/05/2018
C+
Stories based on a true story often face the detriment of audiences knowing how it's all going to end. That will certainly be the case for many with The Most Hated Woman in America. Go to Full Review
Christopher James AwardsCircuit.com 11/03/2018
2/4
The Most Hated Woman in America has bite. It just doesn't land each of its targets. Go to Full Review
Morgan Rojas Cinemacy 08/06/2018
After this biopic, it is hopeful that one will take away a new understanding or, dare I say, sympathy, for the woman who singlehandedly changed America... for better or for worse. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Bill W Jun 12 I couldn't stop watching and wondering how it would end. Religious types will not like it. See more Jeff M 01/22/2024 I was not familiar with Madalyn Murray O'Hair before seeing this film, and I suppose the best compliment I can give the movie makers is that they make me want to learn more about her. This film is an appetizer when the subject needed and deserved a main course. We basically get highlights from decades of her life - nothing substantial or deep. And the tone of the movie is inconsistent - sometimes it feels like a satire along the lines of THE POSITIVELY TRUE ADVENTURES OF THE ALLEGED TEXAS CHEERLEADER MURDERING MOM, other scenes seem to mimic darkly comic films like FARGO, and at other times the aim seems to be for serious drama. All that said, this is a highly watchable and often enjoyable film, anchored by a surprisingly strong lead performance by Leo. She tends to be an overly emotive and exaggerated actress, and a role like Madalyn is fodder for overacting; but she somehow keeps things rooted in reality even during the craziest of moments. A really great and important film could be made of this subject - unfortunately this isn't quite it. See more lolita t 10/11/2022 Amazingly bad wigs and weird acting. Disturbing vibes of crappy amateur theater. Such a pity her whole life was reduced to her kidnapping story. Loved the Atheist Christmas scene, though. See more Rashid Z 09/05/2022 Surprised at the low ratings. An excellent film! See more 11/18/2021 Besides its stellar cast, this horribly executed "biography" doesn't seem to grapple the true and courageous achievements of Madalyn Murray and her family. This lazy, low production movie gives you instead a simplistic, one dimensional depiction that portrays her as a quirky, difficult, "Mummy Dearest", bombastic person who some how deserved her tragic end. See more Justin R 03/11/2021 It's a made for TV movie and it feels like it. It's low budget, the script isn't great and the narrative is all over the place. Scenes jump around time periods, characters and from one irrelevant story to the next so much so that it's actually quite confusing and hard to follow. It's an interesting topic but this is just too lightweight, confused and melodramatic to do it justice. See more Read all reviews
The Most Hated Woman in America

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Movie Info

Synopsis The rise and untimely demise of Madalyn Murray O'Hair (Melissa Leo), crank, swindler, iconoclast, and America's most outspoken atheist.
Director
Tommy O'Haver
Producer
Elizabeth Banks, Laura Rister, Max Handelman
Screenwriter
Tommy O'Haver, Irene Turner
Production Co
Brownstone Productions
Genre
Biography, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
May 23, 2017
Runtime
1h 31m
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