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Drama thriller

Giving Birth to a Butterfly (2023): Cast & Ratings

Giving Birth to a Butterfly (2023) movie poster

Giving Birth to a Butterfly is a 2023 drama thriller directed by Theodore Schaefer, starring Annie Parisse as Diana, Paul Sparks and Judith Roberts. It runs 1 hour 17 minutes. Critics gave it 77% on Rotten Tomatoes and 54 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.2/10.

IMDb rating
5.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes
77%
Echo Score
71
Metascore
54
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Giving Birth to a Butterfly (2023) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 17m (77 min)
Genres
Drama , Mystery , Thriller , Comedy
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Giving Birth to a Butterfly About?

The premise of Giving Birth to a Butterfly without spoilers.

Diana Dent’s digital identity collapses, forcing her to embark on a challenging road trip with the pregnant girlfriend of her son. While traversing difficult landscapes, the initially disparate pair develops an unexpected connection. They must face their personal struggles and learn to accept the unpredictable nature of life during their journey.

Giving Birth to a Butterfly Themes & Keywords

· 1 tag
  • journey
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Cast & crew

Giving Birth to a Butterfly Cast & Characters

Annie Parisse leads the cast as Diana, with Paul Sparks as Daryl and Judith Roberts as Nina. Directed by Theodore Schaefer; 9 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Giving Birth to a Butterfly

· 5 more
From the director

More from Theodore Schaefer

One more film directed by Theodore Schaefer: “I Fell in Love With the World”.

Full filmography
Ratings

Giving Birth to a Butterfly Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Giving Birth to a Butterfly 77% on Rotten Tomatoes and 54 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.2/10. Our Echo Score gives it 71/100, strongest in sensory experience (84) and weakest in story & flow (60).

71 /100

Giving Birth to a Butterfly Echo Score Breakdown

Giving Birth to a Butterfly presents a highly stylized, surreal experience that divides opinion. Its visual craftsmanship—especially the textured 16 mm imagery and inventive long takes—receives consistent commendation, while the narrative feels uneven, with forced profundity and a lack of cohesive direction. Critics who appreciate Lynchian and melodramatic influences respond positively, whereas others cite gratuitous weirdness and disjointed pacing. Consequently, the film offers moments of atmospheric brilliance but struggles to sustain narrative engagement, leading to a mixed overall reception.

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

  • Art & Craft 78

    Directorial choices emphasize a textured 16 mm aesthetic and experimental long shots, which many reviewers praise for their evocative quality. Cinematography’s moving camera work is noted as inventive, though some critics find the rhythm jarringly askew and the affectations gratuitous. Overall, the film’s visual craft leans toward the positive.

  • Character & Emotion 68

    The film offers a cast of oddball characters whose interactions provide occasional humor and thematic resonance. Reviewers acknowledge moments of nuanced performance, yet the lack of a cohesive emotional arc limits deeper connection. Consequently, character work is viewed as modestly effective but not a standout strength.

  • Story & Flow 60

    Narrative cohesion is a recurring point of contention; critics describe the script as forced in its profundity and at times lacking a clear vision. While the surreal premise and thematic mirrors attract praise for originality, the pacing often stalls, causing the plot to halt mid‑development. Overall, the story is judged mixed, leaning toward weakness.

  • Sensory Experience 84

    The sensory palette receives strong approval, with reviewers likening the atmosphere to Lynchian dream logic and noting a melancholy, menacing tone that permeates the film. Sound and visual design reinforce the surreal aesthetic, and the blend of melodramatic influences adds depth. Consequently, the sensory experience stands out as the film’s most compelling element.

  • Rewatch Factor 66

    Viewers who appreciate the film’s poetic juxtaposition of mundane and profound report a desire to revisit its symbolic layers. However, the uneven narrative and ambiguous storytelling may deter repeated viewings for some audiences. As a result, the rewatch factor is moderate, offering appeal primarily to fans of experimental cinema.

Videos

Giving Birth to a Butterfly Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 clip.

Official Trailer
  • Clip "No, I Think It Came That Way"

Seen Giving Birth to a Butterfly?

FAQ

Giving Birth to a Butterfly FAQ: Cast & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings and post-credit scenes of Giving Birth to a Butterfly, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Giving Birth to a Butterfly?

Giving Birth to a Butterfly runs 1 hour 17 minutes (77 minutes).

When was Giving Birth to a Butterfly released?

Giving Birth to a Butterfly was released on May 1, 2023.

Who directed Giving Birth to a Butterfly?

Giving Birth to a Butterfly was directed by Theodore Schaefer.

More films by Theodore Schaefer

Who is in the cast of Giving Birth to a Butterfly?

Giving Birth to a Butterfly stars Annie Parisse as Diana, Paul Sparks as Daryl and Judith Roberts as Nina, among 9 credited actors.

How is Giving Birth to a Butterfly rated?

Giving Birth to a Butterfly has 5.2/10 on IMDb, 77% on Rotten Tomatoes, 54 on Metacritic and 40% on TMDB.

Does Giving Birth to a Butterfly have a post-credit scene?

No. Giving Birth to a Butterfly has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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