The Testament of Ann Lee

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The Testament of Ann Lee

R

In Theaters Dec 25

2h 17m

Biography

History

Drama

Musical

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89%

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54 Reviews

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From award-winning writer-director Mona Fastvold (The World to Come, The Brutalist) comes the extraordinary true legend of Ann Lee, founder of the devotional sect known as the Shakers. Academy Award nominee Amanda Seyfried stars as the Shaker's irrepressible leader, who preached gender and social equality and was revered by her followers. The Testament of Ann Lee captures the ecstasy and agony of her quest to build a utopia, featuring more than a dozen traditional Shaker hymns reimagined as rapturous movements with choreography by Celia Rowlson-Hall (Vox Lux) and original songs & score by Academy Award winner Daniel Blumberg (The Brutalist).

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Critics Consensus

Illuminated by Amanda Seyfried's sterling performance, The Testament of Ann Lee accepts The Shakers' founder on her own terms and reaches its own rhapsodic highs as a result.

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Mona Fastvold

Director

Amanda Seyfried

Actor

Thomasin McKenzie

Actor

Lewis Pullman

Actor

Christopher Abbott

Actor

Tim Blake Nelson

Actor

Nick Howells

London Evening Standard

The Testament of Ann Lee is a wild, wonderful tribute to one hell of a woman and Seyfried is the glowing flame at its heart.

Rated: 5/5

Oct 14, 2025

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Adam Nayman

The Ringer

[The film] tempts unintentional hilarity, like a very special episode of Drunk History. For the most part, though, the film takes Ann and her angst seriously, and Seyfried powers through a performance that earns its instant tour de force reputation.

Sep 16, 2025

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Alexander Mooney

Slant Magazine

This protean fable is tremulous, tricky, and intrepid, much like its pious protagonist.

Rated: 2.5/4

Sep 13, 2025

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Cameron Ritter

InSession Film

There’s not a film this year that combines period craft, performance, and cinematography as well as Ann Lee. It’s utterly mesmerizing, and the more I think about it, the more I’m convinced it’s the movie of the year.

Rated: A+

Nov 10, 2025

Full Review

Jack Martin

Film Feeder

Seyfried is giving everything she has to a spellbinding lead performance that conveys her conviction as powerfully as her vocal cords can carry a tune amidst all the shaking-all-about, slightly wobbly Mancunian accent aside.

Rated: 3.5/5

Nov 6, 2025

Full Review

James Mottram

Radio Times

This earnest historical musical is a noble effort that ultimately becomes a slog.

Rated: 2/5

Nov 5, 2025

Full Review

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The Testament of Ann Lee: Teaser Trailer

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Synopsis

From award-winning writer-director Mona Fastvold (The World to Come, The Brutalist) comes the extraordinary true legend of Ann Lee, founder of the devotional sect known as the Shakers. Academy Award nominee Amanda Seyfried stars as the Shaker's irrepressible leader, who preached gender and social equality and was revered by her followers. The Testament of Ann Lee captures the ecstasy and agony of her quest to build a utopia, featuring more than a dozen traditional Shaker hymns reimagined as rapturous movements with choreography by Celia Rowlson-Hall (Vox Lux) and original songs & score by Academy Award winner Daniel Blumberg (The Brutalist).

Director: Mona Fastvold
Producer: Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold, Gregory Jankilevitsch, Joshua Horsfield, Lillian LaSalle, Viktória Petrányi, Mark Lampert, Andrew Morrison, Klaudia Śmieja
Screenwriter: Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold
Distributor: Searchlight Pictures
Production Co: Kaplan Morrison, ArtClass Flms, Proton Cinema, Intake Films, Curious Gremlin, Göta Film AB, Göteborg, Annapurna Pictures, Mizzel Media, Film i Väst, FirstGen Content, Mid March Media, 4 Little Monsters, Carte Blanche
Rating: R (Violence|Bloody Images|Sexual Content|Graphic Nudity)
Genre: Biography, History, Drama, Musical
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 2h 17m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)