Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- theatrical
- campy
- poignant
- musical movie night
- arthouse evening
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the committed performances, Jennifer Lopez's musical showmanship, and Bill Condon's direction of the lavish musical sequences, while finding the prison drama uneven and occasionally stagey.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Molina recounts a Hollywood musical starring Ingrid Luna, and its heightened imagery contrasts with prison life.
The grim Argentine prison is set against bright, lavish musical numbers and glitzy costumes.
Political prisoner Valentín and gay prisoner Molina gradually form a bond inside a hostile prison system.
Molina's flamboyant storytelling and the Spider Woman persona transform queer pathos into staged spectacle.
Films like Kiss of the Spider Woman, and why
Cabaret
political imprisonment, queer identity, male friendship, and musical theatricality
The Last of Sheila
prison confinement, political repression, queer intimacy, and emotionally charged musical performance
Dancer in the Dark
stylized musical fantasy contrasting oppressive reality with glamorous escapism
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
camp-inflected queer melodrama, theatrical performance, and marginalized characters seeking connection
Movie Details
- Director
- Bill Condon
- Release Date
- 2025-10-09
- Runtime
- 128 min
- Rating
- 5.8 / 10 (86)
Cast
- Diego Luna
- Tonatiuh
- Jennifer Lopez
- Bruno Bichir
- Josefina Scaglione
- Aline Mayagoitia
- Driton 'Tony' Dovolani
- Lucila Gandolfo
- Federico Repetto
- Lucas Barreiro
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Hulu
- 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
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Kiss of the Spider Woman about?
- Two radically different prisoners discover intimacy and resistance through the transforming power of a dreamlike Hollywood musical.
- What is Kiss of the Spider Woman like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Kiss of the Spider Woman as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Kiss of the Spider Woman violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Kiss of the Spider Woman as moderate.
- What did critics think of Kiss of the Spider Woman?
- Critics broadly praised the committed performances, Jennifer Lopez's musical showmanship, and Bill Condon's direction of the lavish musical sequences, while finding the prison drama uneven and occasionally stagey.
- Which films are like Kiss of the Spider Woman?
- Films with a similar feel include Cabaret, The Last of Sheila, Dancer in the Dark, and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
- How long is Kiss of the Spider Woman?
- Kiss of the Spider Woman runs 128 minutes.
- Where can I watch Kiss of the Spider Woman?
- In United States, Kiss of the Spider Woman streams on Hulu.
