Monster

Name: Monster
Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance, Crime
Released: December 24, 2003
Duration: 109 min
Rating: 74
Cast: Bruce Dern, Charlize Theron, Christina Ricci

2003

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 40 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 147 Ratings

See All

7.2

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7.2	Your Score
7.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 147 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Monster

Now Playing: Monster

Movie Details & Credits

Newmarket Films | Release Date: December 24, 2003 | R

Starring: Bruce Dern, Charlize Theron, Christina Ricci

Summary: In a revelatory performance, Charlize Theron stars in the shocking and moving true-life story of Aileen Wuornos, a prostitute executed last year in Florida after being convicted of murdering six men. While Wuornos confessed to the six murders, including a policeman, she claimed to have killed only in self-defense, resisting violent assaultsIn a revelatory performance, Charlize Theron stars in the shocking and moving true-life story of Aileen Wuornos, a prostitute executed last year in Florida after being convicted of murdering six men. While Wuornos confessed to the six murders, including a policeman, she claimed to have killed only in self-defense, resisting violent assaults while working as a prostitute. (Newmarket Films)… Expand

Director: Patty Jenkins

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, Romance, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 109 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Roger Ebert

This is one of the greatest performances in the history of the cinema. Read full review

Stanley Kauffmann

It is Theron who transmutes and sustains this journey through the lower depths. Read full review

Kirk Honeycutt

Challenges audiences with an unrelieved portrait of self-destruction and horrific violence. American movies don't get much grimmer than this. Read full review

Rene Rodriguez

Theron's transformation in Monster goes far beyond mere appearance. As Wuornos, the actress gets to display a blunt, graceless physicality that is rarely needed in women's roles, which are traditionally internal. Read full review

David Sterritt

If you can endure watching it, you won't forget this grim cautionary tale for a long time. Read full review

Ella Taylor

This gifted actress (Charlize Theron), who hasn't always chosen her roles well, treats this as her big chance to show what she can do, and she's convincing enough that you're not constantly looking for a Hollywood star of more than average pulchritude under all the cosmetic baggage. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

Phony choppers and a startling resemblance to Jon Voight aren't enough to transform Theron into Wuornos, and I didn't buy either the performance or the character for a second. Read full review

SEE ALL 40 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

Bones

May 25, 2011

Charlize Theron delivers with one of the best acting performances of cinema history, and shows she truly deserves an oscar for this one. the script seems nice but sometimes it's quite boring or predictable.

6 of 6 users found this helpful60

Essay

Feb 10, 2019

Monster, a criminal drama based on a true story, that of a prostitute, Aileen Wuornos, who committed six murders. She was arrested, tried and sentenced to death in Florida. She was considered the first serial killer in America. Patty Jenkins, the director behind the project, came intoMonster, a criminal drama based on a true story, that of a prostitute, Aileen Wuornos, who committed six murders. She was arrested, tried and sentenced to death in Florida. She was considered the first serial killer in America. Patty Jenkins, the director behind the project, came into contact with Aileen Wuornos a few months before her death sentence, as did Charlize Theron for the preparation of this character. The filmmaker has won the trust of the accused and the main actress, her friend, Charlize Theron. The night before her death sentence, Aileen Wuornos has given permission to Patty Jenkins to have access to a single epistolary sum that will allow Charlize Theron to play the character effectively.
This film revolves around two young women, Charlize Theron in the role of Aileen and Christina Ricci in the role of Selby Wall. Both actresses had an outstanding performance in their respective roles. Other actors are: Bruce Dern plays the role of Thomas (the only friend that Aileen has), Pruitt Taylor Vince as Gene, Scott Wilson as Horton Rohrbach, Lee Tergesen as Vincent Corey, Annie Corley as Donna Tentler and Marco St. John in the role of Evan.
Abandoned by her parents from her young age, Aileen was raised, with her brother, by an alcoholic grandfather, became pregnant at 14 years old and had to abandon her baby. The same year, his father, convicted of child sexual abuse, died strangled in prison. Aileen started to prostitute herself very young. One night, after a suicide attempt, she went to a bar where she met Selby, a lesbian, apparently naive. At the end of the night, she will offer her to spend the night at her home and she agrees. Selby was a young adult who lived with her authoritarian parents. The following night, they met at a roller skate place, where Aileen reveal that she was a prostitute, and Selby told her about the accusation from a girl that she tried to kiss. At the end of the night, for the first time, they kissed. Therefore, it was the beginning of a love story between them. Not long after, Selby left the house where she lived to join Aileen, the prostitute who had killed one of her clients by self-defense, and became a serial killer to provide her lover, Selby, what she needed, while she is never satisfied. Through this love story, a series of sad and violent scenes take place. There are many scenes that have marked my attention: When Selby took her girlfriend car to go out to meet other people, at the bar, she was talking like Aileen using the word **** after each sentence. In my opinion, she started being a different person, she was no longer the innocent girl searching for love.
When Aileen was in a car with the man who never had sex, you read on his face the shyness, unlike the married whose daughter was expecting a child, although he begged her to let him live, she had killed him anyway. With Selby, she was tolerant and human whereas with men she had no pity. In conclusion, the tragedies of life often change the fate of some people. A real story, a frightening reality, but nevertheless touching, that will leave no one indifferent.… Expand