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What's After the Movie?
Biographical drama

Monster (2003): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Monster (2003) movie poster

Monster is a 2003 biographical drama directed by Patty Jenkins, starring Bruce Dern, Charlize Theron and Christina Ricci. It runs 1 hour 49 minutes and earned $58.5 million worldwide on a $8 million budget. It won 1 Oscar, including Actress in a Leading Role, and 6 awards in all. Critics gave it 81% on Rotten Tomatoes and 74 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10.

IMDb rating
7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
81%
worldwide gross
$58.5M
Oscar won
1
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Monster (2003) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 49m (109 min)
Director
Patty Jenkins
Genres
Biography , Drama , Romance , Crime
Original language
English
Budget
$8M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Monster About?

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

This film portrays Aileen Wuornos, a troubled woman whose experiences with prostitution shaped her survival instincts. As she struggles within a world of exploitation and violence, her claims of self-defense are questioned, leading to a haunting exploration of a complex life. The story delves into themes of love, tragedy, and the difficult search for redemption, offering a chilling look at a woman pushed to her limits.

Monster Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • prostitute
  • female serial killer
  • lesbian
  • borderline personality disorder
  • serial killer
  • f rated
  • lgbtqi
  • serial killer as protagonist
  • killer
  • death
  • abused woman
  • father daughter relationship
+38 more
  • female nudity
  • misanthrope
  • prostitution
  • sexual assault
  • killing spree
  • rape
  • rape victim
  • sexual violence
  • attempted rape
  • female criminal
  • love
  • sexual abuse
  • oral sex
  • underwear
  • torture threat
  • hand job
  • killing in self defense
  • lesbian romance
  • lesbian love
  • directorial debut
  • f word
  • written by director
  • protagonist becomes antagonist
  • prostitute murders client
  • woman murders a man
  • serial killer crime
  • lesbian protagonist
  • tragic character
  • lesbian woman bisexual woman relationship
  • lesbian woman bisexual woman sex
  • lesbian woman bisexual woman love
  • lesbian sex
  • lesbian woman bisexual woman kiss
  • bisexual woman
  • bisexual female protagonist
  • lgbt
  • cruel man
  • perverted man
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Cast & crew

Monster Cast

Bruce Dern leads the cast, with Charlize Theron and Christina Ricci. Directed by Patty Jenkins.

From the director

More from Patty Jenkins

More films directed by Patty Jenkins, best-rated first: Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman 1984, Etta’s Mission and Five.

Full filmography
Ratings

Monster Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Monster 81% on Rotten Tomatoes and 74 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10.

Plot

Monster Plot Summary

What happens in Monster from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Aileen Wuornos, a seasoned sex worker, encounters Selby in a lively bar in Daytona Beach. Selby, who is somewhat self-centered, instantly forms a bond with Aileen, appreciating her willingness to cater to her every need. At a roller rink, Aileen showcases her knack for recognizing men’s unusual sexual desires, leading to a thrilling skating session that deepens their connection. As feelings intensify, they decide to share a motel room, solidifying their commitment to each other.

Full summary

The whole story of Monster, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Monster Box Office & Budget

Monster grossed $58.5 million worldwide on a $8 million budget, 7.3 times what it cost. $34.5 million came from the US and Canada and $24 million (41%) from the rest of the world.

2003 box office

Worldwide gross

$58.5M

7.3× its budget

US & Canada
$34.5M
International
$24M
Budget
$8M
US & Canada 59% Rest of the world 41%
Awards

Monster Awards & Nominations

Monster won 1 Oscar, including Actress in a Leading Role, and 6 awards in all. Its biggest night was the Spirit Awards 2004, with 2 wins from 3 nominations.

6 wins8 nominations6 ceremonies

Show all 6 ceremonies
Videos

Monster Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Monster.

Monster Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Monster?

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

Who plays the role of Aileen Wuornos?

Cars

Cars in Monster

41 cars on screen, including the 1987 Cadillac Coupe DeVille and the 1985 Chevrolet Blazer.

All 41 cars
  • 1987 Cadillac Coupe DeVille in Monster 1987 Cadillac Coupe DeVille Important role
  • 1985 Chevrolet Blazer in Monster 1985 Chevrolet Blazer Important role
  • 1981 Chevrolet C-10 in Monster 1981 Chevrolet C-10 Important role
  • 1988 Ford LTD Crown Victoria in Monster 1988 Ford LTD Crown Victoria Important role
Details

Monster Also Known As

21 alternative titles, including “Monster - Desejo Assassino” and “A rém”.

Also known as
  • Monster - Desejo Assassino
  • A rém
  • Monster - Basada en una historia real
  • Монстр
  • Monstro
  • Cani
  • 女魔头
  • מונסטר
  • Monstru
  • 몬스터
  • Zrůda
  • Monster: Desejo Assassino
+9 more
  • Чудовище
  • Monstras
  • Netvor
  • モンスター
  • Monster: Asesina en serie
  • Čudovište
  • Monster – Aileen Wuornos
  • ปีศาจ
  • Koletis

Seen Monster?

FAQ

Monster FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

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

How long is Monster?

Monster runs 1 hour 49 minutes (109 minutes).

When was Monster released?

Monster was released on December 24, 2003.

Who directed Monster?

Monster was directed by Patty Jenkins.

More films by Patty Jenkins

Who is in the cast of Monster?

Monster stars Bruce Dern, Charlize Theron and Christina Ricci.

How much did Monster make at the box office?

Monster grossed $58.5 million worldwide ($34.5 million domestic, $24 million international) on a budget of $8 million.

How is Monster rated?

Monster has 7.3/10 on IMDb, 81% on Rotten Tomatoes, 74 on Metacritic and 85% on TMDB.

What awards did Monster win?

Monster won 6 awards from 8 nominations, including Best Female Lead at the Spirit Awards 2004.

Does Monster have a post-credit scene?

No. Monster has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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