Monster's Ball | Rotten Tomatoes (original) (raw)

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Critics Consensus

Somber and thought provoking, Monster's Ball has great performances all around.

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 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews

Ads T I haven't watched this film since I first saw it at a Hoyts cinema upon release some 23 years ago! The complex racial narrative is still very poignant (especially now in the US) and the performances of Billy Bob Thornton, Halle Berry and Heath Ledger (who has the least screen time) are exceptional. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/07/25 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Read all reviews

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Monster's Ball: Official Clip - You Ain't Lost No Weight Monster's Ball: Official Clip - You Ain't Lost No Weight 1:19 Monster's Ball: Official Clip - I Quit the Team Monster's Ball: Official Clip - I Quit the Team 2:03 Monster's Ball: Official Clip - Make Me Feel Good Monster's Ball: Official Clip - Make Me Feel Good 2:21 Monster's Ball: Official Clip - Can I Touch You? Monster's Ball: Official Clip - Can I Touch You? 2:10 Monster's Ball: Official Clip - I Always Loved You Monster's Ball: Official Clip - I Always Loved You 1:52 Monster's Ball: Official Clip - Hank Just Like His Daddy Monster's Ball: Official Clip - Hank Just Like His Daddy 2:09 Monster's Ball: Official Clip - That's My Baby Monster's Ball: Official Clip - That's My Baby 2:11 Monster's Ball: Official Clip - Death Row Goodbye Monster's Ball: Official Clip - Death Row Goodbye 2:13 Monster's Ball: Official Clip - Takes a Human Being to See a Human Being 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 Monster's Ball: Official Clip - Like Father, Like Son 2:13 View more videos

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Monster's Ball (2001) Monster's Ball (2001) Monster's Ball (2001) View more photos

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)