Mass (2021): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Mass is a 2021 drama directed by Fran Kranz, starring Jason Isaacs as Jay, Martha Plimpton and Ann Dowd. It runs 1 hour 50 minutes and earned $256,359 worldwide. It earned 4 award nominations, including Best Supporting Actress at the Critics' Choice 2022. Critics gave it 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and 81 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.6/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 50m (110 min)
- Director
- Fran Kranz
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Bleecker Street
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Mass About?
The premise of Mass without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Following a tragic event, four parents—played by Jason Isaacs, Martha Plimpton, Reed Birney, and Ann Dowd—attend a support group to grapple with immense loss. The film explores their individual journeys through sorrow, anger, and a search for understanding. Director Fran Kranz examines the profound complexities of grief and the strength required to confront such devastating circumstances, offering a poignant and intimate portrait of resilience.
Mass Themes & Keywords
· 21 tags- church
- grief
- reference to barack obama
- written by director
- reference to alcoholics anonymous
- reference to al anon
- no opening credits
- writer director producer
- tragic event
- violence
- restorative justice
- reconciliation
+9 more Show fewer
- reconciliation effort
- parents
- reference to mass shooting
- episcopal church
- reference to call of duty
- limited location film shoot
- psychological drama
- mass shooting
- unresolved grief
Mass Cast & Characters
Jason Isaacs leads the cast as Jay, with Martha Plimpton as Gail and Ann Dowd as Linda. Directed by Fran Kranz; 9 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Fran Kranz
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Jason Isaacs as Jay -
Martha Plimpton as Gail -
Ann Dowd as Linda -
Reed Birney as Richard
Also Starring in Mass
· 5 more- Breeda Wool Judy
- Michael White Piano Teacher
- Michelle N. Carter Kendra
- Campbell Spoor Piano Student
- Kagen Albright Anthony
Mass Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Mass 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and 81 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 84/100, strongest in character & emotion (90) and weakest in story & flow (73).
Mass Echo Score Breakdown
Mass presents a tightly focused drama that hinges on the raw exchange between two grieving couples. Critics and viewers alike commend its unflinching emotional honesty and the potency of the quartet’s performances, while noting the static staging and occasional pacing lulls. The film’s thematic relevance and immersive atmosphere give it lasting impact, resulting in a strong overall impression. Its disciplined direction amplifies the claustrophobic setting, and the spare sound design reinforces the tension.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 84
Direction and cinematography serve the screenplay’s confined setting with restrained yet purposeful choices. Reviewers highlight unobtrusive camera work that feels like eavesdropping and commend several striking shots that capture subtle reactions. Editing maintains a measured rhythm, though some critics note occasional stage‑like stiffness. Overall, the craft supports the narrative without drawing attention to itself.
- Character & Emotion 90
Acting is uniformly praised as the film’s dominant strength, with the four leads delivering nuanced, emotionally resonant performances. Critics describe the ensemble as outstanding and capable of sustaining audience engagement through dialogue alone. A few personal viewer preferences introduce minor dissent, yet the consensus affirms the depth and chemistry of the characters.
- Story & Flow 73
The screenplay relies on a dialogue‑driven structure that explores grief and forgiveness with measured pacing. Reviewers commend its originality and the way layers unfold, though some find the narrative slow to build and lacking unexpected twists. Overall, the story maintains engagement despite its minimalist approach.
- Sensory Experience 80
The sound design is deliberately sparse, allowing ambient silence to heighten tension, while the absence of a guiding score reinforces realism. Visual composition includes focused close‑ups that reveal subtle emotional cues, earning praise for its understated yet effective style. Sensory choices complement the film’s intimate atmosphere.
- Rewatch Factor 78
Despite its static setting, the film’s emotional intensity and strong performances encourage repeat viewings for deeper nuance. Critics note its lasting relevance and potential for theatrical adaptation, while some viewers acknowledge the demanding nature of its content. The overall rewatch value remains high for audiences seeking thoughtful drama.
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IMDb 7.6 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 95% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 90%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 81 Metascore
User score 7.9
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 75% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 4.1 /5
115 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 4.5 /5
See on Movie Insider
Mass Plot Summary
What happens in Mass from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Jason Isaacs as Jay and Martha Plimpton as Gail are parents still bearing the weight of Evan’s death, the innocent boy who became a victim in a high school shooting. Ann Dowd as Linda and Reed Birney as Richard are the parents of Hayden, the teenage shooter who took his own life after the tragedy. Six years have passed, and the two couples agree to meet in a private room at an Episcopal Church to talk through the complex, painful aftershocks of that day. This meeting, born out of public pain and private longing for answers, becomes a careful, emotional attempt to understand what happened and why.
Full summary
The whole story of Mass, scene by scene
Mass Box Office
Mass grossed $256,359 worldwide. $145,174 came from the US and Canada and $111,185 (43%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$256.4K
- US & Canada
- $145.2K
- International
- $111.2K
Mass Awards & Nominations
Mass earned 4 award nominations, including Best Supporting Actress at the Critics' Choice 2022. The 4 nominations come from 4 ceremonies.
4 nominations4 ceremonies
-
Critics' Choice 2022 1 nomination- Nominated Best Supporting Actress – Ann Dowd
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Spirit Awards 2022 1 nomination- Nominated Best First Screenplay – Fran Kranz
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Saturn Awards 2022 1 nomination- Nominated Best Independent Film
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BAFTA 2022 1 nomination- Nominated Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Ann Dowd
Mass Trailers & Videos
10 videos: 2 trailers, 3 clips and 5 featurettes.
- Trailer Official Australian Trailer
- Clip Your Son
- Clip Is This How
- Clip Everything You Cannot See
How Well Do You Know Mass?
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
Who plays Jay, the father of Evan, in the film?
Mass Also Known As
11 alternative titles, including “Görüşmə” and “O Peso da Dor”.
- Also known as
-
- Görüşmə
- O Peso da Dor
- Исповедь
- 매스
- 弥撒
- Buluşma
- Odkupienie
- Mišios
- Reunião
- 午後彌撒
- 対峙
Seen Mass?
Movies Like Mass
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Mass Ave, The Grief of Others and Victim(s).
Mass FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Mass, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Mass?
Mass runs 1 hour 50 minutes (110 minutes).
When was Mass released?
Mass was released on October 8, 2021.
Who directed Mass?
Mass was directed by Fran Kranz.
More films by Fran Kranz Who is in the cast of Mass?
Mass stars Jason Isaacs as Jay, Martha Plimpton as Gail and Ann Dowd as Linda, among 9 credited actors.
How much did Mass make at the box office?
Mass grossed $256,359 worldwide ($145,174 domestic, $111,185 international).
How is Mass rated?
Mass has 7.6/10 on IMDb, 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, 81 on Metacritic and 75% on TMDB.
Was Mass nominated for any awards?
Mass received 4 nominations across 4 ceremonies.
Does Mass have a post-credit scene?
No. Mass has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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