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Comedy drama

Mama Weed (2021): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

Mama Weed (2021) movie poster

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.

Rotten Tomatoes
79%
worldwide gross
$5.5M
Echo Score
60
Metascore
58
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Mama Weed (2021) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 44m (104 min)
Genres
Drama , Comedy , Crime
Original language
French
Budget
$5.1M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

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
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Cast & crew

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.

From the director

More from Jean-Paul Salomé

More films directed by Jean-Paul Salomé, best-rated first: La Syndicaliste and The Chameleon.

Full filmography
Ratings

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).

60 /100

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.

Box office

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.

2021 box office

Worldwide gross

$5.5M

1.1× its budget

US & Canada
$29.2K
International
$5.4M
Budget
$5.1M
US & Canada 1% Rest of the world 99%
Videos

Mama Weed Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Mama Weed.

Mama Weed / La Daronne (2020) - Trailer (English Subs)
Details

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
  • Dīlere
  • A Dona do Barato
  • Dylerė
  • 마마 위드
  • הסנדקית
  • Kmotra
  • 毒后
  • Mama Maria

Seen Mama Weed?

FAQ

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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