Zola

Name: Zola
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Crime
Released: June 30, 2021
Duration: 86 min
Rating: 76
Cast: Amelia Rose Monteagudo, Ari'el Stachel, Ben Bladon, Carl Collanus, Colman Domingo

2021

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 46 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 61 Ratings

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6.2

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6.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 61 Ratings

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Zola (UK Trailer 1)

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Movie Details & Credits

A24 | Release Date: June 30, 2021 | R

Starring: Amelia Rose Monteagudo, Ari'el Stachel, Ben Bladon, Carl Collanus, Colman Domingo, Dennis Mallen, Jason Mitchell, Megan Hayes, Nasir Rahim, Nelcie Souffrant, Nicholas Braun, Pedro Tavarez Jr., Riley Keough, Steve Heinz, Taylour Paige, Tony Demil, Ts Madison

Movie Facts:

VOD release: July 23, 2021.

Summary: Zola (Taylour Paige), a Detroit waitress, strikes up a new friendship with a customer, Stefani (Riley Keough), who seduces her to join a weekend of dancing and partying in Florida. What at first seems like a glamorous trip full of “hoeism” rapidly transforms into a 48-hour journey involving a nameless pimp, an idiot boyfriend, some TampaZola (Taylour Paige), a Detroit waitress, strikes up a new friendship with a customer, Stefani (Riley Keough), who seduces her to join a weekend of dancing and partying in Florida. What at first seems like a glamorous trip full of “hoeism” rapidly transforms into a 48-hour journey involving a nameless pimp, an idiot boyfriend, some Tampa gangsters and other unexpected adventures in this wild, see-it-to-believe-it tale based on a series of viral, uproarious tweets.… Expand

Director: Janicza Bravo

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 86 min

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Critic Reviews

100

The Telegraph Robbie Collin

Aug 6, 2021

At the very end of Janicza Bravo’s Zola, just as you’re struggling to comprehend what on earth the film is supposed to amount to, there is a wonderful moment when you realise that’s the entire point. Read full review

Richard Brody

Jun 29, 2021

The movie exemplifies the power of the cinema—even the popular and commercial and invigoratingly swingy cinema—to reflect the inner life through imaginative methods that, at the same time, reveal the fractures and complexities of public life with probing and passionate insight. Read full review

Jacob Oller

Jun 29, 2021

It’s a movie by a Black woman about a Black woman (that barely, blessedly avoided being directed by James Franco) that doesn’t just capture a nuanced and specific experience, but the rollicking and resonant digital audience that initially embraced it. Read full review

Alison Willmore

Jun 30, 2021

The film is about the power of storytelling, and not in the cornball, self-congratulatory sense in which that phrase is normally deployed. Read full review

Brian Truitt

Jun 29, 2021

Oftentimes, the original book is better than its movie version. And while King’s tweetstorm is an infamous Homeric odyssey in the world of 280 characters, Zola is a solid spin, vividly capturing a stripper saga that would have been harrowing to live through, but is fun to sit back and witness. Read full review

Adi Robertson

Feb 25, 2020

While the film doesn’t disguise its origin as a Twitter thread, it generally doesn’t treat it as a gimmick, either — because in 2020, the internet is just where people share the weirdest, funniest, and most frightening moments of their lives. Read full review

Peter Debruge

Jan 25, 2020

Sure, it’s fun to see a movie skewer the vapid soullessness of social media and the unregulated economy of male desire, but Zola ultimately rings hollow. The actors are fearless, and yet, how much do we know about these characters in the end? The answer: something of their values, but almost nothing of their lives. Read full review

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User Reviews

marvfoley

Jul 8, 2021

Well-acted, creatively filmed, with a great use of music. I was fascinated by the relationship and the effective weilding of sex and business between two smart women trying to rise above and escape their circumstances.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Brent_Marchant

Dec 21, 2021

While not everything flows as smoothly as it could in this daffy, edgy, fact-based road trip comedy derived from the contents of a protracted Twitter feed, the parts that do are hilariously ingenious, delivered with punctuated one-liners, snappy writing and inventive, inspired editing.While not everything flows as smoothly as it could in this daffy, edgy, fact-based road trip comedy derived from the contents of a protracted Twitter feed, the parts that do are hilariously ingenious, delivered with punctuated one-liners, snappy writing and inventive, inspired editing. Director Janicza Bravo's unflinching dive into the depraved world of an exotic dancer who doubles as a sex worker and routinely attempts to rope unwitting colleagues into her world of erotic escapades with a parade of deplorable clients shines a bright light on the unabashedly sleazy side of American culture and the social media/website operations gleefully pandering to those seething desires. The film seldom holds much back, so sensitive viewers should beware of what they might be getting themselves into, but, given the brilliance of the humor associated with such antics, it's difficult to maintain a prudish facade in the face of the wackiness served up. To be sure, there are some segments that seem to meander a bit, and it's not always clear exactly how some events connect, but, considering that the truth is often stranger than fiction, it's understandable how that might come into play here. The bottom line is that, if you're up for a polished raunchy romp, this is your film in all its tawdry glory.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

LatinCritic13

Jul 13, 2021

What is a single word to describe Zola? Dazzling. Believe it or not, it's equally good as American Honey and Hustlers in a way that explores freedom and revelation. The cinematography by The Girlfriend Experience's Ari Wegner is a beauty that can't be slept on as Riley Keough and first timerWhat is a single word to describe Zola? Dazzling. Believe it or not, it's equally good as American Honey and Hustlers in a way that explores freedom and revelation. The cinematography by The Girlfriend Experience's Ari Wegner is a beauty that can't be slept on as Riley Keough and first timer Taylour Paige shines throughout this biopic that inspired a series of tweets that made Twitter talk in 2015.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

davemelbourne58

Jul 4, 2021

Zola tells an interesting "cautionary" tale between 2 young ladies trying to get by. Like Mom always says "If the deal looks to good to be true, it probably is. Watching this movie made me very sad. I'm glad I don't have a young daughter. After watching Zola, I kept singing to myself thatZola tells an interesting "cautionary" tale between 2 young ladies trying to get by. Like Mom always says "If the deal looks to good to be true, it probably is. Watching this movie made me very sad. I'm glad I don't have a young daughter. After watching Zola, I kept singing to myself that old 3 Dog Night son: "Mama Told Me Not to Come." Great lead performances and cast. Glad Zola escaped with most of her dignity intact.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

zmgalen2000

Jul 1, 2021

"Zola" is one of those movies whose technical execution is absolutely brilliant. From a directorial standpoint, certain choices of this film are captivating and unique, with all of these scenes being heightened by truly strong acting. However, this movie' potential is cut short by its"Zola" is one of those movies whose technical execution is absolutely brilliant. From a directorial standpoint, certain choices of this film are captivating and unique, with all of these scenes being heightened by truly strong acting. However, this movie' potential is cut short by its storyline. It truly reels you in and immerses you into a retro-style contemporary world, and just as you start to think, "Hey! We're really going somewhere now," it sort of just tapers off and ends, leaving plot holes and general dissatisfaction at its conclusion.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

moviemitch96

Jul 9, 2021

Here's a peculiar little indie that was adapted from and based off a nearly 150-Tweet-long Twitter thread that went viral back in the Fall of 2015 that chronicles the misadventures of a stripper named Aziah 'Zola' King who travels to Florida with a fellow stripper in order to make extraHere's a peculiar little indie that was adapted from and based off a nearly 150-Tweet-long Twitter thread that went viral back in the Fall of 2015 that chronicles the misadventures of a stripper named Aziah 'Zola' King who travels to Florida with a fellow stripper in order to make extra money, but gets caught up in a dangerous gang affair instead. First off, I balked at the idea of an entire film being based off a Twitter thread, but also found the idea potentially intriguing as well. And while the film undeniably has flair and swagger to it, it mostly just lands squarely in the middle of just another "white trash cinema" flick. It's a film that deals with trashy people that are very difficult to sympathize with or care about, contains several sleazy sex sequences, one in the midway point of the film particularly that I really wish I could unsee, and seemingly aimless direction throughout that doesn't really do this outrageous story justice (I read the thread before going to see this, and I simply felt underwhelmed with this film's retelling of it compared to the actual thread itself.) The only real positives here is Taylour Paige's lead performance as the titular Zola, and the film does a fine job of capturing the glamorous but often times sketchy seedy underbelly of Tampa, Florida. But overall, it's flashy but mostly just seems to fall back on its own bling for the sake of show and to compensate for lack of substance.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Thomass

Aug 14, 2021

Weird is the best thing I can say about this movie. The fact it came from Twitter feeds explains but does not excuse the lack of dramatic impact, character development, etc.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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