Mama Weed (2021): Cast, Ratings & Box Office
Mama Weed is a 2021 comedy drama directed by Jean-Paul Salomé, starring Isabelle Huppert as Patience Portefeux, Liliane Rovère and Raphaël Quenard. It is based on The Godmother by Hannelore Cayre and Stephanie Smee. It runs 1 hour 44 minutes and earned $5.5 million worldwide on a $5.1 million budget. Critics gave it 79% on Rotten Tomatoes and 58 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 44m (104 min)
- Director
- Jean-Paul Salomé
- Original language
-
French
- Studio
- Brainstorm Media
- Budget
- $5.1M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Mama Weed About?
The premise of Mama Weed without spoilers, adapted from The Godmother by Hannelore Cayre and Stephanie Smee.
Isabelle Huppert stars in this drama as Patience Portefeux, a French-Arabic translator working for Paris' anti-narcotics unit. Balancing her demanding job, she also faces the challenge of paying for her mother's care. After intervening to help a nurse's son, Patience unexpectedly finds herself operating as "Mama Weed," a clever and resourceful figure in the city’s criminal network. She navigates this new world with the assistance of her loyal retired police dog.
Mama Weed Themes & Keywords
· 1 tag- parents
Mama Weed Cast & Characters
Isabelle Huppert leads the cast as Patience Portefeux, with Liliane Rovère as Mère de Patience and Raphaël Quenard as Mika. Directed by Jean-Paul Salomé; 15 actors are credited in all.
- Director Jean-Paul Salomé
-
Isabelle Huppert as Patience Portefeux -
Liliane Rovère as Mère de Patience -
Raphaël Quenard as Mika -
Rebecca Marder as Gabrielle
Also Starring in Mama Weed
· 11 more- Iris Bry Hortense
- Hippolyte Girardot Philippe
- Farida Ouchani Kadidja
- Dominique Jayr Madame Léger
- Yann Sundberg Fredo
- Michaël Louchart Commandant BRI
- Mounir Kateb Trafiquant
- Youssef Sahraoui
- Mourad Boudaoud
- Nadja Nguyen Madame Fo
- Rachid Guellaz
More from Jean-Paul Salomé
More films directed by Jean-Paul Salomé, best-rated first: La Syndicaliste and The Chameleon.
Mama Weed Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Mama Weed 79% on Rotten Tomatoes and 58 on Metacritic. Our Echo Score gives it 60/100, strongest in character & emotion (83) and weakest in story & flow (48).
Mama Weed Echo Score Breakdown
Mama Weed delivers a modestly entertaining experience that rests heavily on Isabelle Huppert's performance while struggling with narrative cohesion and stylistic flair. Critics acknowledge moments of charm and a competent direction that guides the film toward a crowd‑pleasing finale, yet many highlight uneven pacing, underdeveloped supporting characters, and visual choices that feel pedestrian. The mixed feedback results in a measured overall rating that reflects both its appealing elements and its structural shortcomings.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 58
In terms of direction and visual craft, the film presents a mixed picture. Some reviewers commend the director's ability to keep the story moving toward an engaging climax, while others criticize the cinematography as uninspired and the overall style as lacking cohesion. The production design offers occasional highlights, yet the editing does not always sustain momentum. Consequently, the artistic execution lands in the mid‑range.
- Character & Emotion 83
When it comes to character work, Huppert's performance stands out as a decisive strength. Critics consistently note her nuanced, witty portrayal that elevates the material, even as the script underutilizes secondary roles. Supporting actors receive mixed remarks, often described as merely functional, but the lead's emotional resonance dominates the assessment. Overall, the character dimension achieves a high score due to its compelling central performance.
- Story & Flow 48
The narrative structure of Mama Weed shows notable weaknesses. Reviewers point to a cluttered plot with numerous threads that lack clear motivation, resulting in pacing issues and an over‑packed storyline. Originality is limited, with familiar crime‑comedy tropes and a finale that feels predictable. While occasional humor surfaces, the inconsistent flow and labored resolution keep the story score in the lower mid‑range.
- Sensory Experience 50
Sensory elements receive a neutral evaluation. The soundtrack and sound design are mentioned only sporadically, providing adequate support without standing out. Visual style is described by some as low‑key and at times underdeveloped, contributing to a lack of distinctive aesthetic identity. The overall sensory experience, therefore, remains average, neither detracting significantly nor enhancing the film.
- Rewatch Factor 62
Rewatch potential is moderate, buoyed by Huppert's magnetic presence and occasional comedic set‑pieces. Some critics express willingness to follow the star in future projects, suggesting a degree of lasting appeal. However, narrative unevenness and limited comedic payoff may reduce the desire for repeated viewings. As a result, the rewatch factor settles slightly above the midpoint.
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Rotten Tomatoes 79% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 54%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 58 Metascore
User score 6.0
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 58% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.1 /5
2 ratings
See on Letterboxd
Mama Weed Box Office & Budget
Mama Weed grossed $5.5 million worldwide on a $5.1 million budget, 1.1 times what it cost. $29,151 came from the US and Canada and $5.4 million (99%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$5.5M
1.1× its budget
- US & Canada
- $29.2K
- International
- $5.4M
- Budget
- $5.1M
Mama Weed Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Mama Weed.
Mama Weed Also Known As
20 alternative titles, including “Крестная мама” and “The Godmother”.
- Also known as
-
- Крестная мама
- The Godmother
- Наркомама
- Mamà Maria
- 毒贩大妈
- La daronne
- La Padrina - Parigi ha una nuova regina
- Eine Frau mit berauschenden Talenten
- 藥頭大媽
- Mamá María
- Кръстницата
- Η Νονά της Νύχτας
+8 more Show fewer
- Dīlere
- A Dona do Barato
- Dylerė
- 마마 위드
- הסנדקית
- Kmotra
- 毒后
- Mama Maria
Seen Mama Weed?
Movies Like Mama Weed
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including This is My Mother, Good Mother and Maman Que Man.
Mama Weed FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of Mama Weed, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Mama Weed?
Mama Weed runs 1 hour 44 minutes (104 minutes).
When was Mama Weed released?
Mama Weed was released on July 16, 2021.
Who directed Mama Weed?
Mama Weed was directed by Jean-Paul Salomé.
More films by Jean-Paul Salomé Who is in the cast of Mama Weed?
Mama Weed stars Isabelle Huppert as Patience Portefeux, Liliane Rovère as Mère de Patience and Raphaël Quenard as Mika, among 15 credited actors.
How much did Mama Weed make at the box office?
Mama Weed grossed $5.5 million worldwide ($29,151 domestic, $5.4 million international) on a budget of $5.1 million.
How is Mama Weed rated?
Mama Weed has 79% on Rotten Tomatoes, 58 on Metacritic, 58% on TMDB and 3.1/5 on Letterboxd.
Is Mama Weed based on a book?
Yes. Mama Weed is adapted from The Godmother by Hannelore Cayre and Stephanie Smee.
Does Mama Weed have a post-credit scene?
No. Mama Weed has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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