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Comedy

Life of the Party (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Life of the Party (2018) movie poster

Life of the Party is a 2018 comedy directed by Ben Falcone, starring Melissa McCarthy as Deanna, Matt Walsh and Molly Gordon. It runs 1 hour 45 minutes and earned $65.7 million worldwide on a $30 million budget. Critics gave it 38% on Rotten Tomatoes and 46 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.6/10.

IMDb rating
5.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes
38%
worldwide gross
$65.7M
Echo Score
39
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Life of the Party (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 45m (105 min)
Director
Ben Falcone
Genre
Comedy
Original language
English
Budget
$30M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Life of the Party About?

The premise of Life of the Party without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

After her husband leaves, Deanna finds her life upended and decides to enroll in college alongside her daughter. Embracing a new identity as "Dee Rock," she sheds her former life and throws herself into the college experience. She forges new friendships, embraces newfound freedom, and experiences a liberating journey of self-discovery filled with laughter and a touch of playful rebellion.

Life of the Party Themes & Keywords

· 34 tags
  • sorority
  • senior in college
  • mother daughter relationship
  • going back to college
  • divorce
  • mediation
  • drinking shots
  • school presentation
  • reference to christina aguilera
  • coma
  • meeting the parents
  • twitter
+22 more
  • fundraiser
  • graduation ceremony
  • no opening credits
  • reference to twitter
  • reference to harry potter
  • year 2018
  • roommate
  • man wears an earring
  • 22 year old woman
  • college degree
  • demanding an explanation
  • standing up for yourself
  • learning the truth
  • admitting a mistake
  • believe in yourself
  • spit take
  • hit with a paddle
  • spanking
  • f rated
  • reference to harrison ford
  • reference to orson welles
  • throwing mortarboard
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Cast & crew

Life of the Party Cast & Characters

Melissa McCarthy leads the cast as Deanna, with Matt Walsh as Dan and Molly Gordon as Maddie. Directed by Ben Falcone; 21 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Life of the Party

· 17 more
Show all 21 cast members
From the director

More from Ben Falcone

More films directed by Ben Falcone, best-rated first: Tammy, Thunder Force, The Boss and Superintelligence.

Full filmography
Ratings

Life of the Party Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Life of the Party 38% on Rotten Tomatoes and 46 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 39/100, strongest in sensory experience (50) and weakest in art & craft (35).

39 /100

Life of the Party Echo Score Breakdown

Life of the Party reflects a combination of inconsistent execution and fleeting entertainment that undermines its cohesion. Critics often highlight the film’s uneven pacing and muddled structure, noting that the direction and writing fail to sustain engagement. User sentiment mirrors this assessment, noting occasional effective moments but emphasizing a lack of narrative momentum. Although sporadic humorous scenes and glimpses of genuine warmth occur, they do not coalesce into a compelling or memorable comedy experience.

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

  • Art & Craft 35

    The film’s art and craft are hindered by unfocused direction and utilitarian visuals. Observers report that directional choices lack rhythmic precision, while cinematography seldom elevates routine production design. Editing sequences are described as abrupt or labored, contributing to a bland aesthetic. Even score cues offer limited enhancement, resulting in an overall technical execution that feels underdeveloped and unremarkable.

  • Character & Emotion 45

    In terms of character and emotion, performances are uneven and rarely memorable. The lead’s portrayal conveys sporadic warmth, but underlying character arcs are underdeveloped, reducing emotional resonance. Supporting cast members are largely sidelined, limiting opportunities for genuine chemistry or depth. As a result, audience connection remains superficial, and the film struggles to establish compelling emotional stakes or authentic character development.

  • Story & Flow 40

    When it comes to story and flow, the narrative suffers from predictable beats and erratic pacing. Viewers note that the plot’s core premise offers occasional humor, but inconsistent scene transitions and lack of structural focus diminish engagement. Originality is minimal, with familiar college-comedy tropes dominating the progression. Overall, the storyline fails to maintain momentum or deliver a fresh take on its premise.

  • Sensory Experience 50

    In terms of sensory experience, the soundtrack and sound design serve primarily functional roles without notable distinction. Auditory elements are competent but seldom impactful, and visual styling adheres to generic comedy conventions. Cinematic textures and color palettes remain understated, contributing to a cohesive yet uninspired aesthetic. Overall, the sensory components provide a neutral backdrop but offer limited enhancement to the film’s atmosphere.

  • Rewatch Factor 40

    When considering rewatch factor, the film offers limited motivation for subsequent viewings. A handful of comedic moments and lighthearted exchanges retain mild appeal, but overall narrative and character shortcomings reduce repeat engagement. Some audiences might revisit select scenes for isolated humor, yet the lack of sustained charm or depth undermines broader enduring interest.

Plot

Life of the Party Plot Summary

What happens in Life of the Party from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The film opens with Deanna Miles (Melissa McCarthy) along with her husband Dan (Matt Walsh) taking their daughter Maddie (Molly Gordon) to begin her senior year at Decatur University. Deanna is filled with anticipation for an upcoming trip to Italy, but this joy is abruptly shattered when Dan informs her that he wants a divorce, having fallen for someone else. Compounding her heartbreak, he reveals that he is selling their home, forcing Deanna out. Angrily, she kicks his car and hails an Uber to return home.

Full summary

The whole story of Life of the Party, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Life of the Party Box Office & Budget

Life of the Party grossed $65.7 million worldwide on a $30 million budget, 2.2 times what it cost. $53.1 million came from the US and Canada and $12.6 million (19%) from the rest of the world.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$65.7M

2.2× its budget

US & Canada
$53.1M
International
$12.6M
Budget
$30M
US & Canada 81% Rest of the world 19%
Videos

Life of the Party Trailers & Videos

5 videos: 3 trailers and 2 clips.

Official Trailer 1
  • Trailer Official Trailer 2
  • Trailer Life of the Party Trailer #1
  • Clip Full Movie Preview
  • Clip A Speech to Remember (or Forget)
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Life of the Party?

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 does Dan reveal to Deanna at Decatur University?

Cars

Cars in Life of the Party

8 cars on screen, including the 2015 Ford Edge and the 2015 Chevrolet Suburban.

All 8 cars
  • 2015 Ford Edge in Life of the Party 2015 Ford Edge Important role
  • 2015 Chevrolet Suburban in Life of the Party 2015 Chevrolet Suburban Minor role
  • 2012 Honda Civic in Life of the Party 2012 Honda Civic Minor role
  • BMW 3 Coupé E46 in Life of the Party BMW 3 Coupé E46 Background role
Details

Life of the Party Also Known As

26 alternative titles, including “חיי המסיבה” and “Life of the Party - Una mamma al college”.

Also known as
  • חיי המסיבה
  • Life of the Party - Una mamma al college
  • Life.of.the.Party
  • Душа компании
  • A partiállat
  • Mère incontrôlable à la fac
  • Душа компанії
  • Alma da Festa
  • האמא של המסיבות
  • Живот је журка
  • 趴体生活
  • How to Party with Mom
+14 more
  • La reine de la fête
  • El alma de la fiesta
  • Безкраен купон
  • 라이프 오브 더 파티
  • 派對人生
  • Dusza towarzystwa
  • Parti Kraliçesi
  • Vakarėlio gyvenimas
  • Život je večírek
  • Duša zabave
  • Sufletul petrecerii
  • Na výške s mamou, უდიპლომო დედიკო
  • ライフ・オブ・ザ・パーティー
  • ย้อนหัวใจให้กลับไปเฟี้ยว

Seen Life of the Party?

FAQ

Life of the Party FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Life of the Party, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Life of the Party?

Life of the Party runs 1 hour 45 minutes (105 minutes).

When was Life of the Party released?

Life of the Party was released on May 11, 2018.

Who directed Life of the Party?

Life of the Party was directed by Ben Falcone.

More films by Ben Falcone

Who is in the cast of Life of the Party?

Life of the Party stars Melissa McCarthy as Deanna, Matt Walsh as Dan and Molly Gordon as Maddie, among 21 credited actors.

How much did Life of the Party make at the box office?

Life of the Party grossed $65.7 million worldwide ($53.1 million domestic, $12.6 million international) on a budget of $30 million.

How is Life of the Party rated?

Life of the Party has 5.6/10 on IMDb, 38% on Rotten Tomatoes, 46 on Metacritic and 61% on TMDB.

Does Life of the Party have a post-credit scene?

No. Life of the Party has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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