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Crime drama

Cherry (2021): Cast, Ratings & Ending

Cherry (2021) movie poster

Cherry is a 2021 crime drama directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, starring Tom Holland as Cherry, Ciara Bravo and Thomas Lennon. It is partly based on Cherry by Nico Walker. It runs 2 hours 22 minutes and was made on a reported $40 million budget. Critics gave it 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 6.6/10.

IMDb rating
6.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes
91%
Echo Score
86
budget
$40M
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Cherry (2021) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 22m (142 min)
Directors
Anthony Russo and Joe Russo
Genres
Drama , Crime
Original language
English
Budget
$40M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Cherry About?

The premise of Cherry without spoilers, adapted from Cherry by Nico Walker. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

A restless young man, Cherry, becomes addicted to opioid painkillers after serving as an Army medic in Iraq. He spirals into a cycle of addiction and crime to support his habit, leading him on a desperate journey that impacts everyone around him. The film explores themes of trauma, addiction, and the search for redemption as Cherry struggles to confront his past and find a path toward healing.

Cherry Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • drugs
  • bank robbery
  • ptsd post traumatic stress disorder
  • junkie
  • army medic
  • drug addiction
  • u.s. army
  • u.s. soldier
  • drug use
  • homophobic slur
  • fruit in title
  • bank robber
+38 more
  • iraq war
  • boot camp
  • basic training
  • gun
  • coming of age
  • money
  • writing on money
  • ecstasy the drug
  • year 2002
  • year 2007
  • flashback
  • flash forward
  • beer
  • drink
  • drinking
  • party
  • prologue
  • photograph
  • listening to music
  • teenage boy wears eyeglasses
  • helicopter
  • battle
  • rifle
  • military enlistment
  • love
  • dropping out of college
  • telephone
  • telephone call
  • wound
  • self pity
  • black and white scene
  • friend
  • friendship
  • cousin cousin relationship
  • jealousy
  • push ups
  • snow
  • swing
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Cast & crew

Cherry Cast & Characters

Tom Holland leads the cast as Cherry, with Ciara Bravo as Emily and Thomas Lennon as Cherry's Dad, Dr Whomever. Directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo; 20 actors are credited in all.

From the directors

More from Anthony Russo and Joe Russo

More films directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, best-rated first: Welcome to Collinwood, The Gray Man, You, Me and Dupree and The Electric State.

Ratings

Cherry Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Cherry 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 6.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 86/100, strongest in character & emotion (90) and weakest in story & flow (75).

86 /100

Cherry Echo Score Breakdown

Cherry offers a compelling emotional journey anchored by its central performance and thoughtful thematic exploration. Throughout its brisk 76-minute runtime, the film maintains engaging pacing and original ideas about choice and identity, while occasional amateurish craft and a script that sometimes feels slight temper its impact. In terms of art direction and cinematography, the portrayal of Los Angeles adds vibrant context, and the soundtrack consistently enhances mood. Overall, Cherry emerges as a resonant and life-affirming indie dramedy with room for polish.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 80

    In terms of art and craft, Cherry displays energetic direction and vibrant location work, particularly in its depiction of Los Angeles. The soundtrack often outshines the occasional roughness in editing and production details. While a few scenes feel amateurish, the film generally sustains a cohesive visual style that underscores its indie sensibility.

  • Character & Emotion 90

    When it comes to character and emotion, Cherry is anchored by a compelling lead performance that conveys authenticity and depth. The supporting ensemble fosters believable relationships and nuanced interactions, creating emotional resonance. Despite its brief runtime, the film offers thoughtful insight into personal growth and choice. Overall, the characters leave a lasting impression.

  • Story & Flow 75

    In terms of story and flow, Cherry maintains brisk pacing and introduces original thematic exploration of choice and identity. The concise script occasionally lacks depth, leading to moments that feel underdeveloped. However, its energetic rhythm and engaging premise compensate for slim narrative substance. Ultimately, the plot delivers a focused and thought-provoking experience.

  • Sensory Experience 88

    When it comes to sensory experience, Cherry benefits from a dynamic soundtrack that frequently enhances mood and emotional beats. The visual style is vibrant and cohesive, with realistic location photography that evokes the character’s environment. Sound design is clear and supports the narrative, contributing to a polished sensory palette that enlivens the film’s indie charm.

  • Rewatch Factor 80

    In terms of rewatch factor, Cherry’s concise and energetic narrative encourages repeat viewings for its nuanced performances and thematic depth. While its brief duration may limit additional discoveries, the film’s emotional core and authentic characterization provide lasting appeal. The vibrant soundtrack and visual detail further reward subsequent viewings, underscoring its overall enjoyment.

Plot

Cherry Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Cherry 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 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Cherry finds himself overwhelmed by love at first sight when he meets his college classmate, Emily. As their relationship deepens, Emily makes the life-changing decision to leave for Montreal to pursue her studies, leaving Cherry heartbroken. In a desperate attempt to escape his emotional turmoil, he enlists in the Army as a medic. However, just before he embarks on basic training, Emily realizes the gravity of her feelings and confesses her love for Cherry, declaring that they are destined to be together. They quickly marry before his deployment.

Full summary

The whole story of Cherry, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Videos

Cherry Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 behind-the-scenes video.

Official Trailer
  • Behind the Scenes Inside Look: The Making Of Cherry
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Cherry?

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

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What prompts Cherry to enlist in the Army?

Cars

Cars in Cherry

30 cars on screen, including the 1994 Ford F-250 and the AM General HMMWV M1025.

All 30 cars
  • 1994 Ford F-250 in Cherry 1994 Ford F-250 Main role
  • AM General HMMWV M1025 in Cherry AM General HMMWV M1025 Important role
  • 1995 BMW 740iL E38 in Cherry 1995 BMW 740iL E38 Important role
  • 1976 Chevrolet Nova in Cherry 1976 Chevrolet Nova Important role
Details

Cherry Also Known As

20 alternative titles, including “Cherk” and “Черри”.

Also known as
  • Cherk
  • Черри
  • Загублене серце
  • Cherry: Niewinność utracona
  • Черрі
  • 체리
  • 谢里
  • Cherry: Inocência Perdida
  • Cherry - Innocenza perduta
  • По наклонной
  • Cherry: Az elveszett ártatlanság
  • Cherry - Das Ende aller Unschuld
+8 more
  • 迷途之心
  • צ'רי
  • Vyšnia
  • چری
  • Чери
  • チェリー
  • Cherry : l’innocence perdue
  • 迷途羔羊

Seen Cherry?

FAQ

Cherry FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, budget, ratings, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of Cherry, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Cherry?

Cherry runs 2 hours 22 minutes (142 minutes).

When was Cherry released?

Cherry was released on February 26, 2021.

Who directed Cherry?

Cherry was directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo.

More films by Anthony Russo

Who is in the cast of Cherry?

Cherry stars Tom Holland as Cherry, Ciara Bravo as Emily and Thomas Lennon as Cherry's Dad, Dr Whomever, among 20 credited actors.

What was the budget of Cherry?

Cherry had a reported budget of $40 million.

How is Cherry rated?

Cherry has 6.6/10 on IMDb, 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, 73% on TMDB and 2.9/5 on Letterboxd.

Is Cherry based on a book?

Yes. Cherry is partly adapted from Cherry by Nico Walker.

Does Cherry have a post-credit scene?

No. Cherry has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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