Kiss of the Spider Woman (2025): Cast, Ratings & Box Office
Kiss of the Spider Woman is a 2025 drama musical directed by Bill Condon, starring Diego Luna as Valentín Arregui, Armando, Tonatiuh and Lucila Gandolfo. It runs 2 hours 8 minutes and earned $1.8 million worldwide on a $34 million budget. Critics gave it 76% on Rotten Tomatoes and 63 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.7/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 8m (128 min)
- Director
- Bill Condon
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- 1000 Eyes
- Budget
- $34M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Kiss of the Spider Woman About?
The premise of Kiss of the Spider Woman without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
Valentín (Diego Luna), a political prisoner, is paired with Molina (Tonatiuh), a flamboyant window dresser incarcerated for public indecency. Their unlikely companionship grows as Molina vividly recounts the storyline of an extravagant Hollywood musical starring his beloved silver‑screen icon, Ingrid Luna (Jennifer Lopez). The film is an adaptation of the acclaimed Tony‑winning Broadway musical.
Kiss of the Spider Woman Themes & Keywords
· 22 tags- based on stage musical
- gay
- gay interest
- prison
- friendship between men
- unlikely friendship
- political prisoner
- prisoner
- animal in title
- year 1981
- jail
- dirty war
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- 1980s
- 20th century
- prison drama
- political drama
- female protagonist
- politics
- based on stage musical based on novel
- gay protagonist
- based on novel
- lgbtq
Kiss of the Spider Woman Cast & Characters
Diego Luna leads the cast as Valentín Arregui, Armando, with Tonatiuh as Luis Molina, Kendall Nesbit and Lucila Gandolfo as Señora Molina. Directed by Bill Condon; 28 actors are credited in all.
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Director Bill Condon
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Diego Luna as Valentín Arregui, Armando - Tonatiuh as Luis Molina, Kendall Nesbit
- Lucila Gandolfo as Señora Molina
-
Jennifer Lopez as Aurora, Ingrid Luna, Spider Women
Also Starring in Kiss of the Spider Woman
· 24 more- David Turner Kendall Nesbitt
- Eduardo Ramos Armando
- Tony Dovolani Johnny
- Driton 'Tony' Dovolani Johnny Desiderio
- Bruno Bichir Oscar Ledesma
- Noemí Frenkel Aunt Chicha
- Fabio Aste Uncle Alfonso
- Federico Repetto Castellanos
- Augusto Gordillo Gabriel
- Aline Mayagoitia Paulina Paz
- Graciela Daniele Clemencia
- Lynn Favin Villager
- Lucas Barreiro Marcos
- Debra Cardona Singing Villager
- Josefina Scaglione Marta
- Thomas Canestraro Desiderio's Henchman
Show all 28 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Kevin Michael Brennan Shady Mocambo Man
- Odain Watson The Villager
- Christian Galvis Dancer
- Maile Makaafi Dancer
- Alejandro Ernesto Balbis Ortiz 'Querido' Inmate #2
- Federico Salles 'Querido' Inmate #1
- Sebastián Slepovich Vagrant, Contact
- Sebastian Silver The Professor
More from Bill Condon
More films directed by Bill Condon, best-rated first: Gods and Monsters, Kinsey, Dreamgirls and Mr. Holmes.
Kiss of the Spider Woman Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Kiss of the Spider Woman 76% on Rotten Tomatoes and 63 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 80/100, strongest in art & craft (80) and weakest in story & flow (70).
Kiss of the Spider Woman Echo Score Breakdown
Kiss of the Spider Woman delivers a largely uplifting musical experience that balances heartfelt storytelling with vibrant production values. Critics note its engaging humanity and striking visual design, while many viewers celebrate the performances and emotive narrative. However, some criticism points to uneven tonal shifts and occasional sentimentality. The net effect is a commendable, if imperfect, reinvention that resonates with audiences seeking both spectacle and emotional depth.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 80
Artistic craftsmanship shines through the film’s lavish cinematography, set design, and costume work. Reviewers praise the technicolor palettes, meticulous production design, and fluid editing that support the musical numbers. Nonetheless, a few critics cite moments of visual overindulgence that feel kitschy. Overall, the visual execution robustly enhances the story.
- Character & Emotion 75
Character work is anchored by nuanced performances that convey deep emotional stakes. Critics and audiences alike commend Diego Luna’s gravitas, Tonatiuh’s breakout portrayal, and Jennifer Lopez’s dynamic presence across singing, dancing, and acting. Some reviews, however, suggest Lopez’s role can feel overly polished. Collectively, the performances drive the film’s emotional core.
- Story & Flow 70
The narrative weaves a prison drama with fantastical musical interludes, creating a resonant tale of empathy and love. Reviewers find the plot moving and the thematic resonance compelling, though a few note uneven pacing between gritty reality and glossy fantasy. In sum, the story engages despite structural quirks.
- Sensory Experience 78
Sensory elements, from the sweeping score to the vivid sound design, amplify the film’s emotional reach. Critics highlight the lush orchestration and polished audio that complement the striking visual palette. Audience remarks echo the impact of the immersive musical moments. While occasional excess is mentioned, the overall sensory experience is richly satisfying.
- Rewatch Factor 75
Rewatch value is high, with many viewers expressing eagerness to experience the film again and highlighting its lasting emotional impact. The vibrant musical sequences and compelling performances encourage repeat viewings. Though some note tonal inconsistencies, the overall impression is that the film rewards multiple screenings with new layers of appreciation.
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IMDb 5.7 /10
4569 votes
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 76% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 67%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 63 Metascore
User score 7.6
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 58% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.7 /5
27922 ratings
See on Letterboxd
Kiss of the Spider Woman Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in Kiss of the Spider Woman from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Valentín Arregui Paz is a political dissident jailed at the tail end of the Dirty War. In his cramped cell, he shares a space with the flamboyant, quick-witted Luis Molina, whose chatter and showy personality grate on Valentín at first. Yet Molina wins Valentín over by offering to tell the story of his favorite Hollywood musical, The Kiss of the Spider Woman, a film-within-a-film that will become the lifeline of their relationship and a window into a larger, dangerous world.
Full summary
The whole story of Kiss of the Spider Woman, scene by scene, with the ending explained
Kiss of the Spider Woman Box Office & Budget
Kiss of the Spider Woman grossed $1.8 million worldwide on a $34 million budget, 5% of what it cost. $1.6 million came from the US and Canada and $139,886 (8%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$1.8M
5% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $1.6M
- International
- $139.9K
- Budget
- $34M
Kiss of the Spider Woman Trailers & Videos
4 videos: 2 trailers, 1 teaser and 1 featurette.
- Trailer Official Trailer
- Teaser Ladies and gentlemen, the show is about to begin
- Featurette Jennifer Lopez Lived Her Old Hollywood Musical Fantasy in 'Kiss of the Spider Woman'
How Well Do You Know Kiss of the Spider Woman?
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 Luis Alberto Molina's profession before he was incarcerated?
Kiss of the Spider Woman Also Known As
21 alternative titles, including “Kiss of the Spiderwoman” and “Hämähäkkinaisen suudelma”.
- Also known as
-
- Kiss of the Spiderwoman
- Hämähäkkinaisen suudelma
- O Beijo da Mulher-Aranha
- 거미 여인의 키스
- Il bacio della donna ragno
- Edderkoppkvinnens kyss
- Kuß der Spinnenfrau
- Le Baiser de la femme araignée
- El Beso De La Mujer Araña
- 蜘蛛女之吻
- A pókasszony csókja
- Το Φιλί της Γυναίκας Αράχνης
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- נשיקת אשת העכביש
- Pocałunek kobiety pająka
- Поцелуй женщины-паука
- Polibek pavoučí ženy
- 蜘蛛女のキス
- El beso de la mujer araña, ქალი-ობობას კოცნა
- Edderkoppekvindens kys
- Spindelkvinnans kyss
- Örümcek Kadının Öpücüğü
Seen Kiss of the Spider Woman?
Movies Like Kiss of the Spider Woman
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Kiss and Kiss Me a Killer.
Articles About Kiss of the Spider Woman
Our article about Kiss of the Spider Woman: “Kiss of the Spider Woman (2025) Review: Critics, Fan Opinions, Reception & Storytelling Analysis”.
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Opinions
Kiss of the Spider Woman FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Kiss of the Spider Woman, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Kiss of the Spider Woman?
Kiss of the Spider Woman runs 2 hours 8 minutes (128 minutes).
When was Kiss of the Spider Woman released?
Kiss of the Spider Woman was released on October 10, 2025.
Who directed Kiss of the Spider Woman?
Kiss of the Spider Woman was directed by Bill Condon.
More films by Bill Condon Who is in the cast of Kiss of the Spider Woman?
Kiss of the Spider Woman stars Diego Luna as Valentín Arregui, Armando, Tonatiuh as Luis Molina, Kendall Nesbit and Lucila Gandolfo as Señora Molina, among 28 credited actors.
How much did Kiss of the Spider Woman make at the box office?
Kiss of the Spider Woman grossed $1.8 million worldwide ($1.6 million domestic, $139,886 international) on a budget of $34 million.
How is Kiss of the Spider Woman rated?
Kiss of the Spider Woman has 5.7/10 on IMDb, 76% on Rotten Tomatoes, 63 on Metacritic and 58% on TMDB.
Does Kiss of the Spider Woman have a post-credit scene?
No. Kiss of the Spider Woman has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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