Overview
A humorous yet poignant exploration of motherhood and the unexpected bonds that form in the chaos of parenting.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- witty
- melancholic
- intimate
- quiet evening
- parents night in
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Tully as a funny and candid portrait of modern parenthood, driven by Diablo Cody’s script and Charlize Theron’s performance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Marlo struggles to meet expectations of competent parenting, domestic responsibility, attractiveness, and personal success after having a newborn.
The newborn, Marlo's older children, and her depleted daily routine are presented with both humor and raw honesty.
Marlo's increasingly intimate relationship with the thoughtful night nanny Tully becomes central to the film's destabilizing final movement.
Marlo's reliance on a night nanny highlights the strain of parenting three children and the limited practical support around her.
Films like Tully, and why
Young Adult
shares a darkly funny, emotionally candid examination of motherhood, exhaustion, and self-worth
Juno
combines sharp comedy with intimate family dysfunction and a complicated female protagonist
The Kids Are All Right
explores parental strain and identity through an honest, melancholic character study
Ruby Sparks
pairs domestic realism with an unconventional psychological premise and strong lead performance
Movie Details
- Director
- Jason Reitman
- Release Date
- 2018-05-04
- Runtime
- 95 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (1564)
Cast
- Charlize Theron
- Mackenzie Davis
- Ron Livingston
- Mark Duplass
- Asher Miles Fallica
- Lia Frankland
- Elaine Tan
- Gameela Wright
- Tattiawna Jones
- Stormy Ent
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- 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 Tully about?
- An exhausted mother’s hired night nanny becomes an unexpected source of intimacy, relief, and unsettling self-recognition.
- What is Tully like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Tully as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Tully violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Tully.
- What did critics think of Tully?
- Critics broadly praised Tully as a funny and candid portrait of modern parenthood, driven by Diablo Cody’s script and Charlize Theron’s performance.
- Which films are like Tully?
- Films with a similar feel include Young Adult, Juno, The Kids Are All Right, and Ruby Sparks.
- How long is Tully?
- Tully runs 95 minutes.
- Where can I watch Tully?
- In United States, Tully is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
