Monster

Play trailer

2:24

Monster

PG-13

2023

2h 6m

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

170 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

When her young son Minato starts to behave strangely, his mother feels that there is something wrong. Discovering that a teacher is responsible, she storms into the school demanding to know what's going on. But as the story unfolds through the eyes of mother, teacher and child, the truth gradually emerges.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Gently devastating in its compassion, Monster is a masterpiece of shifting perspectives that surprises to the end.

Read Critics Reviews

Stephen Romei

The Australian

May 17, 2024

3.5/5

This is a psychological drama that provides no easy answers. It uses the Rashomon effect to repeat scenes from different and often contradictory viewpoints.

Go to Full Review

Jake Wilson

The Age (Australia)

May 9, 2024

3/5

It would take a hard heart not to be moved by the finale of Monster, and the whole film is a pleasure to watch if you have the patience. Afterwards, though, you might find yourself wondering if so many plot contrivances were really needed.

Go to Full Review

Mark Kermode

Kermode and Mayo's Take (YouTube)

Mar 19, 2024

If there are monsters in the story, they're never the monsters that you think they are...

Go to Full Review

Clotilde Chinnici

The People's Movies

Aug 19, 2025

4/5

Monster is beautifully directed and masterfully written, creating a film that is both painful, emotional, and somewhat tender and sweet in its final moments.

Go to Full Review

Anya Couture

Geek Vibes Nation

Aug 10, 2025

10/10

It’s a beautiful tale you won’t soon forget.

Go to Full Review

Sammie Purcell

Rough Draft Atlanta

Jul 22, 2025

Yuji Sakamoto’s screenplay and Hirokazu Kore-eda’s direction take us through the same events from three different points of view, weaving those perspectives together in a way that elevates a type of story that too often falls into cliched territory.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Robert P

@Superbad Oct 21, 2026

Monster is a *5* star Movie!

See more

Daniel T

@Cdtarin Oct 15, 2026

It is just beautiful.

See more

Leon H

@RT13589101 Sep 17, 2026

Knew nothing about it so I was completely confused and angered by the seeming complacency of the teachers initially until we then saw the story from the teacher's POV. Was expecting that to be the ending and then we get the boys' POV and we get a touching, heartfelt story which ends in such a way that it could be interpreted differently from viewer to viewer. Cleverly edited (nod to Rashomon), beautifully performed by the child actors and definitely worth the watch.

See more

jennifer D

@RT38610321 Aug 7, 2026

this movie makes no sense

See more

Marilyn D

@Marilyn329 Jun 8, 2026

Quiet, well-acted, and very human. It’s not flashy, but it stays with you after it ends.

See more

Len B.

@zwfriv Jun 2, 2026

“You were always normal”

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Hirokazu Koreeda

Director

Sakura Andô

Saori

Eita Nagayama

Hori

Soya Kurokawa

Minato

Mitsuki Takahata

Hirona

Akihiro Kakuta

Shoda

Monster: Trailer 1

2:24

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

When her young son Minato starts to behave strangely, his mother feels that there is something wrong. Discovering that a teacher is responsible, she storms into the school demanding to know what's going on. But as the story unfolds through the eyes of mother, teacher and child, the truth gradually emerges.

Director: Hirokazu Koreeda
Producer: Genki Kawamura, Kenji Yamada
Screenwriter: Yuji Sakamoto
Distributor: Well Go USA Entertainment
Production Co: Toho Company
Rating: PG-13 (Thematic Material|Brief Suggestive Material)
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 22, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 27, 2024
Box Office (Gross USA): $434.6K
Runtime: 2h 6m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings