Overview
A mother's quest for truth leads her into a web of secrets and lies.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- melancholic
- tense
- intimate
- quiet evening
- reflective movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Hirokazu Kore-eda’s morally intelligent direction, layered structure, and exceptional performances from its young actors, while queer critics questioned the concealment of its queer themes and the ending’s implications.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film presents its central conflict in multiple sections centered on Saori, the teacher, and the children.
Minato and Yori's friendship and emerging queer identity are central to the emotional and thematic conflict.
Saori, school staff, and other adults repeatedly misunderstand the children's experiences and motivations.
The shifting vantage points challenge the initial assumptions surrounding bullying, blame, and victimhood.
Films like Monster, and why
Rashomon
Like Monster, this is a layered japanese drama about childhood, social judgment, and shifting perspectives.
Nobody Knows
Shares Monster's intimate focus on children, bullying, family pressures, and emotionally complex moral ambiguity.
Close
Comparable for its quiet coming-of-age drama, queer themes, childhood friendship, and compassionate treatment of marginalized characters.
The Class
Shares Monster's restrained school setting, adolescent alienation, and multi-perspective examination of responsibility.
Movie Details
- Director
- Hirokazu Kore-eda
- Release Date
- 2023-06-02
- Runtime
- 125 min
- Rating
- 7.9 / 10 (969)
Cast
- Sakura Ando
- Soya Kurokawa
- Hinata Hiiragi
- Eita Nagayama
- Yuko Tanaka
- Mitsuki Takahata
- Akihiro Kakuta
- Shido Nakamura
- Ryu Morioka
- Daisuke Kuroda
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- MUBI, MUBI Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Monster about?
- A mother’s search for the truth about her son opens into a poignant, many-sided portrait of childhood friendship, bullying, and queer vulnerability.
- What is Monster like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Monster as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Monster violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Monster as mild.
- What did critics think of Monster?
- Critics broadly praised Hirokazu Kore-eda’s morally intelligent direction, layered structure, and exceptional performances from its young actors, while queer critics questioned the concealment of its queer themes and the ending’s implications.
- Which films are like Monster?
- Films with a similar feel include Rashomon, Nobody Knows, Close, and The Class.
- How long is Monster?
- Monster runs 125 minutes.
- Where can I watch Monster?
- In United States, Monster streams on MUBI, MUBI Amazon Channel.
