May December

R

Released Nov 17, 2023

1h 53m

Drama

Romance

TRAILER

for May December: Trailer 1

List

91%

Tomatometer

324 Reviews

65%

Audience Score

1,000+ Ratings

Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, Gracie Atherton-Yu and her husband Joe (twenty-three years her junior) brace themselves for their twins to graduate from high school. When Hollywood actress Elizabeth Berry comes to spend time with the family to better understand Gracie, who she will be playing in a film, family dynamics unravel under the pressure of the outside gaze. Joe, never having processed what happened in his youth, starts to confront the reality of life as an empty-nester at thirty-six. And as Elizabeth and Gracie study each other, the similarities and differences between the two women begin to ebb and flow. Set in picturesque and comfortable Savannah, Georgia, May December is an exploration of truth, storytelling, and the difficulties (or impossibility) of fully understanding another person.

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Critics Consensus

Swaddling its difficult fact-based story in a blanket of campy humor, May December is a seductively discomfiting watch.

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Audience Says

May December benefits from a really talented cast, although its unorthodox approach to a reality-inspired story may frustrate some viewers.

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Steph Green

Empire Magazine

May December is not just a skilful satire of suburban propriety; it’s a unique and uncanny affair about the nature of performance itself.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 18, 2024

Full Review

Stephen Romei

The Australian

Complex, intelligent, thought-provoking filmmakers are back in fashion.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 3, 2024

Full Review

Jake Wilson

The Age (Australia)

Both performances are built out of distancing devices, and the whole film is shot through with camp irony, though the effect, as usual with Haynes, is more conceptual than outright funny.

Rated: 3.5/5

Feb 2, 2024

Full Review

Ray Pride

Newcity

Simmering and summering, Haynes’ take is as much implication as demonstration, a variation on tabloid material that makes bittersweet and sinister and aromatic flavors, like the great distillations in twentieth-century Atom Egoyan.

Rated: 10/10

Jul 4, 2024

Full Review

Nelson Acosta

Koimoi

Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman are acting titans but Charles Melton becomes the film’s breakthrough performance.

Rated: 4.5/5

Jul 3, 2024

Full Review

Tony Macklin

tonymacklin.net

May December (Netflix) is a furtive, psychological journey.

Rated: 5/10

Jun 15, 2024

Full Review

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Justin

Great movie about psychology, and the acting is superb.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/03/23

Full Review

Jessika Johnson

Charles Melton is my favorite part of this film. The way he is the stand out in a film with an A-List cast like this oh Im hopping on that Charles Melton best supporting actor Oscar campaign. I have too many thoughts but dont know where to start. One of my favorite watches of the year. Natalie Portman is amazing as always.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/01/23

Full Review

Robyn K

Film kind of boring and slow - with no let up. Always nice to see, however, the two female leads and observe their acting.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/21/23

Full Review

cav

May December was very interesting to watch, kept you wondering exactly what all the underlying problems of the 3 main characters were. Very well acted by all the players.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/19/23

Full Review

Tony B

Probably not for everyone, but I loved it. The film has a lot of tension and atmosphere. Performances are first rate by the three leads. Natalie Portman electrifies the screen in every scene she's in. A lot of the enjoyment comes from the subtext of characters' words and actions. Not really a comedy, but Haynes uses melodrama and artifice in fascinating ways.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/18/24

Full Review

Steve O

ZERO ! Nothing atop Nothing. Based on Real Life yet not at all true to life in any relatable way. Whatever art content went over my head. No discernible Content at all.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/15/24

Full Review

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Todd Haynes

Director

Natalie Portman

Elizabeth Berry

Julianne Moore

Gracie Atherton-Yoo

Cory Michael Smith

Georgie Atherton

Charles Melton

Joe

Piper Curda

Honor

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May December: Trailer 1

2:26

May December: Teaser

0:33

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Synopsis

Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, Gracie Atherton-Yu and her husband Joe (twenty-three years her junior) brace themselves for their twins to graduate from high school. When Hollywood actress Elizabeth Berry comes to spend time with the family to better understand Gracie, who she will be playing in a film, family dynamics unravel under the pressure of the outside gaze. Joe, never having processed what happened in his youth, starts to confront the reality of life as an empty-nester at thirty-six. And as Elizabeth and Gracie study each other, the similarities and differences between the two women begin to ebb and flow. Set in picturesque and comfortable Savannah, Georgia, May December is an exploration of truth, storytelling, and the difficulties (or impossibility) of fully understanding another person.

Director: Todd Haynes
Producer: Jessica Elbaum, Will Ferrell, Grant S. Johnson, Pamela Koffler, Tyler W. Konney, Sophie Mas, Natalie Portman, Christine Vachon
Screenwriter: Samy Burch
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: Project Infinity, Gloria Sanchez Productions, MountainA, Killer Films, Taylor & Dodge
Rating: R (Graphic Nudity|Drug Use|Language|Some Sexual Content)
Genre: Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 17, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 1, 2023
Runtime: 1h 53m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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