Blonde (2022): Cast, Ratings & Ending
Blonde is a 2022 biographical thriller directed by Andrew Dominik, starring Tygh Runyan as Norma Jeane's Father, Ana de Armas and Vanessa Lemonides. It is based on Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates. It runs 2 hours 47 minutes and was made on a reported $22 million budget. It was nominated for 1 Oscar. Critics gave it 42% on Rotten Tomatoes and 50 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.4/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 47m (167 min)
- Director
- Andrew Dominik
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Netflix
- Budget
- $22M
- Based on
- Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Blonde About?
The premise of Blonde without spoilers, adapted from Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
Blonde offers a fictionalized exploration of the life of Marilyn Monroe, beginning with her difficult upbringing as Norma Jeane and following her rise to Hollywood fame. The film portrays her passionate relationships and the stark contrast between her iconic public image and the private struggles she faced. It’s a biographical drama that blurs the lines between reality and fantasy, offering a poignant look at the woman behind the legend.
Blonde Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- marilyn monroe character
- abortion
- traumatic childhood
- based on real person
- threesome
- hollywood california
- los angeles california
- hand job
- female nudity
- oral sex
- fellatio
- female rear nudity
+38 more Show fewer
- actress
- orphan girl
- pill
- single mother
- film within a film
- female frontal nudity
- actress as protagonist
- erection
- female protagonist
- mother daughter relationship
- nudity
- violence against a woman
- sexism
- girl rear nudity
- orgasm
- masturbation
- controversial film
- traumatized protagonist
- tragic backstory
- mentally ill woman
- sexual violence
- forced sex
- death of a celebrity
- overdose
- sex in public
- sexual abuse
- psychological drama
- female rape victim
- female full frontal nudity
- vagina
- girl
- sex scene
- female topless nudity
- sexual assault
- rape
- female star appears nude
- female masturbation
- oral rape
Blonde Cast & Characters
Tygh Runyan leads the cast as Norma Jeane's Father, with Ana de Armas as Norma Jeane and Vanessa Lemonides as Marilyn Singing Voice. Directed by Andrew Dominik; 19 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Andrew Dominik
-
Tygh Runyan as Norma Jeane's Father -
Ana de Armas as Norma Jeane -
Vanessa Lemonides as Marilyn Singing Voice - Lily Fisher as Young Norma Jeane
Also Starring in Blonde
· 15 more- Julianne Nicholson Gladys
- Xavier Samuel Cass Chaplin
- Patrick Brennan Joe (Photo Shoot Photographer)
- Caspar Phillipson
- Adrien Brody
- Sara Paxton Miss Flynn
- Bobby Cannavale
- Scoot McNairy
- Toby Huss
- Garret Dillahunt
- Ryan Vincent Uncle Clive
- Rob Brownstein Acting Coach
- Lucy DeVito
- Michael Drayer Deputy Will Bonnie
- Rebecca Wisocky Yvet
Blonde Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Blonde 42% on Rotten Tomatoes and 50 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.4/10. Our Echo Score gives it 48/100, strongest in sensory experience (70) and weakest in rewatch factor (30).
Blonde Echo Score Breakdown
Blonde generates a stark divide between viewers, drawing praise for Ana de Armas’s performance and the film’s striking visual composition while being faulted for its protracted runtime and uneven narrative structure. Critics highlight moments of artistic audacity and meticulous cinematography, yet consistently denounce the exploitative tone and monotony that diminish emotional engagement. The synthesis of strong individual elements with pervasive pacing and thematic issues results in a movie that feels compelling yet exhausting, limiting its broader appeal.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 50
Artistic direction oscillates between striking visual ambition and jarring inconsistency. Critics commend the film’s meticulously crafted cinematography and daring composition, yet repeatedly note uneven pacing and muddled editing that compromise cohesion. The result is a visually arresting yet structurally uneven work that polarizes opinion.
- Character & Emotion 68
Ana de Armas delivers a compelling, nuanced portrayal that many reviewers cite as the film’s standout element. Nonetheless, criticisms arise concerning limited character development and occasional accent inconsistencies that pull viewers from immersion. The performance shines amid a broader sense of emotional superficiality.
- Story & Flow 35
The narrative is frequently described as protracted and uneven, with pacing that drags through three hours of repetitive tragedy. While some note its audacious, fever‑dream quality, most critics highlight a lack of coherent arc and superficial treatment of Monroe’s biography, rendering the story more burdensome than engaging.
- Sensory Experience 70
Visual style and sound design receive consistent commendation, with reviewers praising immaculate cinematography, atmospheric score, and striking color palettes that immerse the audience. However, the relentless intensity of these sensory choices can feel overwhelming, especially when paired with the film’s relentless emotional weight, creating a mixed sensory experience.
- Rewatch Factor 30
Rewatch potential is limited by the film’s exhaustive length and unrelenting somber tone, which many viewers find taxing after a single viewing. While aficionados of Monroe may appreciate its atmospheric depth, the broader audience is likely to avoid repeat engagements, resulting in low replay value.
-
IMDb 5.4 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 42% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 36%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 50 Metascore
User score 4.7
See on Metacritic -
Letterboxd 2.1 /5
302 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 4.1 /5
See on Movie Insider
Blonde Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in Blonde from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
As a young girl, Norma Jeane Mortenson (Ana de Armas) grows up under the care of her mentally unstable mother, Gladys (Julianne Nicholson). On her seventh birthday in 1933, she receives a framed photo of a man who her mother claims is her father. That very night, a fire erupts in the Hollywood Hills, prompting Gladys to take Norma Jeane there, insisting that her father resides nearby. However, their visit is cut short by police intervention, forcing them back home. In a fit of rage, Gladys nearly drowns Norma Jeane in the bathtub after she inquires about her father, but ultimately lets her go. Gladys chillingly states that her father abandoned them because he didn’t want Norma Jeane to be born.
Full summary
The whole story of Blonde, scene by scene, with the ending explained
Blonde Awards & Nominations
Blonde was nominated for 1 Oscar. The 4 nominations come from 4 ceremonies.
4 nominations4 ceremonies
-
Actor Awards (SAG) 2023 1 nomination- Nominated Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role – Ana de Armas
-
BAFTA 2023 1 nomination- Nominated Best Actress in a Leading Role – Ana de Armas
-
Golden Globes 2023 1 nomination- Nominated Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama (Actress) – Ana de Armas
-
Oscars 2023 1 nomination- Nominated Actress in a Leading Role – Ana de Armas
Blonde Trailers & Videos
8 videos: 1 trailer, 1 teaser, 4 featurettes and 2 behind-the-scenes videos.
- Teaser Official Teaser
- Featurette How Ana de Armas Recreated Marilyn Monroe Iconic Moments
- Featurette Ana de Armas on portraying Marilyn Monroe in BLONDE - Q&A | Film Independent Presents
- Featurette SCENE AT THE ACADEMY: Blonde
How Well Do You Know Blonde?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What was the name of Norma Jeane's mother?
Blonde Also Known As
24 alternative titles, including “Mallasoch” and “Sarışın”.
- Also known as
-
- Mallasoch
- Sarışın
- Blondi
- Блондинка
- Շիկահերը
- 金发梦露
- 블론드
- Білявка
- บลอนด์
- Szöszi
- בלונדינית
- Blondynka
+12 more Show fewer
- Η Ξανθιά
- Plavuša
- Blondýnka
- الشقراء
- ブロンド
- Rubia
- Blondinka
- 金髮夢露
- Плавуша
- Blonda
- Blondinė
- بلوند
Seen Blonde?
Movies Like Blonde
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Blonde, Marilyn: The Untold Story and Norma Jean & Marilyn.
Blonde FAQ: Cast, Awards & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, budget, ratings, the book behind it and awards of Blonde, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Blonde?
Blonde runs 2 hours 47 minutes (167 minutes).
When was Blonde released?
Blonde was released on September 16, 2022.
Who directed Blonde?
Blonde was directed by Andrew Dominik.
More films by Andrew Dominik Who is in the cast of Blonde?
Blonde stars Tygh Runyan as Norma Jeane's Father, Ana de Armas as Norma Jeane and Vanessa Lemonides as Marilyn Singing Voice, among 19 credited actors.
What was the budget of Blonde?
Blonde had a reported budget of $22 million.
How is Blonde rated?
Blonde has 5.4/10 on IMDb, 42% on Rotten Tomatoes, 50 on Metacritic and 2.1/5 on Letterboxd.
Is Blonde based on a book?
Yes. Blonde is adapted from Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates.
Was Blonde nominated for any awards?
Blonde received 4 nominations across 4 ceremonies.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
