Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- sincere
- inspirational
- nostalgic
- thoughtful movie night
- women centered film night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film earnest and well-intentioned in its feminist message but predictable, conventional, and less compelling than its premise suggested.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Katherine Watson presses Wellesley students to think beyond marriage preparation and confront the limits imposed by their institution and culture.
The 1950s Wellesley environment treats marriage and domesticity as the expected destination even for highly accomplished women.
Watson's modern art-world perspective clashes with the conservative postwar customs governing elite college life.
Betty, Joan, Giselle, and Connie each embody different responses to the expectations surrounding Wellesley students.
Films like Mona Lisa Smile, and why
Dead Poets Society
Shares an inspirational teacher, an elite educational setting, period social pressures, and a drama centered on challenging institutional expectations.
The Hours
Shares a 1950s American setting, women negotiating restrictive social roles, romance, and a polished historical-drama tone.
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
Shares a teacher-student bond, coming-of-age themes, and conflict between personal ambition and traditional expectations.
Little Women
Shares feminist themes, a women-centered ensemble, romantic complications, and a critique of socially prescribed identities.
Movie Details
- Director
- Mike Newell
- Release Date
- 2003-12-19
- Runtime
- 117 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (1944)
Cast
- Julia Roberts
- Kirsten Dunst
- Julia Stiles
- Maggie Gyllenhaal
- Ginnifer Goodwin
- Dominic West
- Juliet Stevenson
- Marcia Gay Harden
- John Slattery
- Marian Seldes
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- 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 Mona Lisa Smile about?
- A modern art-history professor inspires bright Wellesley students to question the polished 1950s script written for their lives.
- What is Mona Lisa Smile like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Mona Lisa Smile as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Mona Lisa Smile violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Mona Lisa Smile.
- What did critics think of Mona Lisa Smile?
- Critics broadly found the film earnest and well-intentioned in its feminist message but predictable, conventional, and less compelling than its premise suggested.
- Which films are like Mona Lisa Smile?
- Films with a similar feel include Dead Poets Society, The Hours, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, and Little Women.
- How long is Mona Lisa Smile?
- Mona Lisa Smile runs 117 minutes.
- Where can I watch Mona Lisa Smile?
- In United States, Mona Lisa Smile is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
