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Comedy

How to Build a Girl (2020): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

How to Build a Girl (2020) movie poster

How to Build a Girl is a 2020 comedy directed by Coky Giedroyc, starring Cleo as Bianca Morrigan, Laurie Kynaston and Sarah Solemani. It is based on How to Build a Girl by Caitlin Moran. It runs 1 hour 42 minutes and earned $70,632 worldwide. It won 1 award from 1 nomination, including FIPRESCI Special Presentations at the TIFF 2019. Critics gave it 79% on Rotten Tomatoes and 69 on Metacritic.

Rotten Tomatoes
79%
worldwide gross
$70.6K
award won
1
Echo Score
72
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How to Build a Girl (2020) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 42m (102 min)
Director
Coky Giedroyc
Genre
Comedy
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is How to Build a Girl About?

The premise of How to Build a Girl without spoilers, adapted from How to Build a Girl by Caitlin Moran. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

In 1990s Wolverhampton, Johana Morrigan uses her vibrant imagination to cope with a turbulent family life. Her unconventional music reviews gain attention from indie rock critics, leading her to create the persona of Dolly Wilde – a celebrated critic known for her bold opinions and desire for recognition. As Dolly’s fame grows, Johana questions the cost of her ambition and grapples with the possibility that she’s lost sight of her true self in the pursuit of success.

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Cast & crew

How to Build a Girl Cast & Characters

Cleo leads the cast as Bianca Morrigan, with Laurie Kynaston as Krissi Morrigan and Sarah Solemani as Angie Morrigan. Directed by Coky Giedroyc; 22 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in How to Build a Girl

· 18 more
Show all 22 cast members
From the director

More from Coky Giedroyc

More films directed by Coky Giedroyc: Greatest Days, How to Build a Girl, The Sound of Music Live! and Fear of Fanny.

Full filmography
Ratings

How to Build a Girl Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave How to Build a Girl 79% on Rotten Tomatoes and 69 on Metacritic. Our Echo Score gives it 72/100, strongest in character & emotion (80) and weakest in rewatch factor (55).

72 /100

How to Build a Girl Echo Score Breakdown

Energetic yet uneven, How to Build a Girl delivers a vibrant coming-of-age tale anchored by a dynamic lead performance. The film’s brisk pacing and playful tone maintain engagement, while occasional tonal shifts and thematic shortcuts interrupt deeper resonance. Visual transitions and scene constructions feel polished, though not always seamlessly integrated. Ultimately, the film’s spirited momentum and standout performance outweigh its structural inconsistencies, resulting in an entertaining if imperfect experience.

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

  • Art & Craft 65

    When it comes to art and craft, the film exhibits a lively directorial approach with crisp editing and coherent shot compositions. Production design subtly underscores the contrast between working-class roots and a privileged music scene. Occasional tonal mismatches in visual style reflect uneven thematic exploration. Overall, the visual and editorial choices support the narrative’s vitality despite sporadic disjunctions.

  • Character & Emotion 80

    In terms of character and emotion, the lead brings a bold, charismatic presence that drives the narrative forward. The chemistry between protagonist and supporting figures emerges naturally, enriching emotional dynamics. Some inconsistency in vocal performance slightly detracts from character immersion, yet depth remains through relatable motivations and growth. Ultimately, the protagonist’s nuanced portrayal proves the film’s most compelling asset.

  • Story & Flow 60

    In story and flow, the narrative offers a compelling foundation rooted in personal discovery and class awareness. Pacing stays brisk and entertaining, though it occasionally rushes critical emotional beats and underdevelops thematic potential. Originality shines in its feminist perspective on the music industry, but coherence falters when tonal shifts disrupt narrative continuity. Net impact: engaging but narratively uneven.

  • Sensory Experience 70

    When considering the sensory experience, the soundtrack of emerging rock interweaves effectively with the story’s emotional highs and lows. Sound design accentuates both intimate conversations and energetic performance sequences. The visual style balances earthy realism with stylized musical moments, creating a cohesive aesthetic. Though moments of tonal incontinence arise, overall sensory elements amplify the film’s lively atmosphere.

  • Rewatch Factor 55

    Regarding rewatch factor, the film’s buoyant energy and memorable lead performance invite repeat viewings. Fast-paced sequences and witty dialogue retain freshness on subsequent watches. However, structural gaps and inconsistent tonal shifts become more apparent upon revisiting, reducing long-term appeal. In sum, the film offers moderate replay value driven by its central performance, tempered by narrative unevenness.

Plot

How to Build a Girl Plot Summary

What happens in How to Build a Girl from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In the vibrant atmosphere of the 1990s, 16-year-old Johanna Morrigan makes her home on a council estate in Wolverhampton. Here, she lives with her ambitious rock star father, Pat, her weary mother Angie, her brothers Krissi and Lupin, along with two lively infant twins. Johanna harbors a deep desire to escape her mundane life and become a writer. She finds solace in conversing with the portraits of her heroes that adorn her bedroom walls.

Full summary

The whole story of How to Build a Girl, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

How to Build a Girl Box Office

How to Build a Girl grossed $70,632 worldwide.

2020 box office

Worldwide gross

$70.6K

US & Canada
$70.6K
Awards

How to Build a Girl Awards & Nominations

How to Build a Girl won 1 award from 1 nomination, including FIPRESCI Special Presentations at the TIFF 2019.

1 win1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

How to Build a Girl Trailers & Videos

5 videos: 2 trailers, 2 featurettes and 1 behind-the-scenes video.

Official US Trailer
  • Trailer Official Trailer
  • Featurette The Cast of How to Build A Girl Talk Script Writing And 90s Music
  • Featurette LIVING ROOM Q&As: How to Build a Girl with Caitlin Moran and director Coky Giedroyc
  • Behind the Scenes The Music Behind How to Build A Girl
Quiz

How Well Do You Know How to Build a Girl?

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 is the name of the protagonist in 'How to Build a Girl'?

Cars

Cars in How to Build a Girl

25 cars on screen, including the 1988 Volkswagen Caravelle T3 Typ 2 and the 1972 Volkswagen unknown T2 Typ 2.

All 25 cars
  • 1988 Volkswagen Caravelle T3 Typ 2 in How to Build a Girl 1988 Volkswagen Caravelle T3 Typ 2 Important role
  • 1972 Volkswagen unknown T2 Typ 2 in How to Build a Girl 1972 Volkswagen unknown T2 Typ 2 Important role
  • 1969 Austin FX4 in How to Build a Girl 1969 Austin FX4 Minor role
  • Leyland Olympian in How to Build a Girl Leyland Olympian Minor role
Details

How to Build a Girl Also Known As

2 alternative titles: “Cómo se hace una chica” and “Como Se Tornar Influente”.

Also known as
  • Cómo se hace una chica
  • Como Se Tornar Influente

Seen How to Build a Girl?

FAQ

How to Build a Girl FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of How to Build a Girl, each answered in a sentence.

How long is How to Build a Girl?

How to Build a Girl runs 1 hour 42 minutes (102 minutes).

When was How to Build a Girl released?

How to Build a Girl was released on May 8, 2020.

Who directed How to Build a Girl?

How to Build a Girl was directed by Coky Giedroyc.

More films by Coky Giedroyc

Who is in the cast of How to Build a Girl?

How to Build a Girl stars Cleo as Bianca Morrigan, Laurie Kynaston as Krissi Morrigan and Sarah Solemani as Angie Morrigan, among 22 credited actors.

How much did How to Build a Girl make at the box office?

How to Build a Girl grossed $70,632 worldwide.

How is How to Build a Girl rated?

How to Build a Girl has 79% on Rotten Tomatoes, 69 on Metacritic, 57% on TMDB and 2.8/5 on Letterboxd.

Is How to Build a Girl based on a book?

Yes. How to Build a Girl is adapted from How to Build a Girl by Caitlin Moran.

What awards did How to Build a Girl win?

How to Build a Girl won 1 award from 1 nomination, including FIPRESCI Special Presentations at the TIFF 2019.

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