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Drama thriller

Monster (2023): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Monster (2023) movie poster

Monster is a 2023 drama thriller directed by Hirokazu Koreeda, starring Sakura Ando as Saori, Soya Kurokawa and Eita Nagayama. It runs 2 hours 6 minutes and earned $20.5 million worldwide. Critics gave it 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and 79 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.8/10.

IMDb rating
7.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes
97%
worldwide gross
$20.5M
Echo Score
85
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Monster (2023) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 6m (126 min)
Director
Hirokazu Koreeda
Genres
Drama , Thriller
Original language
Japanese
After the credits
Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
The story

What Is Monster About?

The premise of Monster without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

A mother's concern grows as her son exhibits increasingly strange behavior. Investigating the unsettling events at his school, she uncovers a disturbing secret and embarks on a frantic search to understand the sinister forces influencing her child's mind. The desperate search reveals a complex situation with potentially dangerous consequences for her son and those around him.

Monster Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • boy boy relationship
  • elementary school
  • gay
  • mother son relationship
  • teacher student relationship
  • children in love
  • gay interest
  • coming of age
  • bullying
  • gay love
  • repeated scene from a different perspective
  • multiple versions of same scene
+38 more
  • contradictory accounts
  • three versions of same story
  • school bully
  • mother
  • dead father
  • harassment
  • jumping out of a moving car
  • father
  • child
  • children
  • life
  • suspense
  • suspense thriller
  • suburb
  • maestro
  • fire building
  • blood
  • violence
  • town
  • son
  • principal
  • school
  • student
  • classroom
  • teacher
  • fire
  • building on fire
  • single mother
  • car accident
  • hospital
  • death
  • dead cat
  • love
  • train car
  • flashback
  • multiple perspectives
  • coming of age drama
  • lie
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Cast & crew

Monster Cast & Characters

Sakura Ando leads the cast as Saori, with Soya Kurokawa as Minato and Eita Nagayama as Hori. Directed by Hirokazu Koreeda; 8 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Monster

· 4 more
From the director

More from Hirokazu Koreeda

More films directed by Hirokazu Koreeda, best-rated first: Shoplifters, Still Walking, After Life and Maborosi.

Full filmography
Ratings

Monster Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Monster 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and 79 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 85/100, strongest in art & craft (90) and weakest in story & flow (75).

85 /100

Monster Echo Score Breakdown

Monster presents a blend of visual elegance and emotional depth, anchored by Kore-eda’s subtle direction. The film’s layered structure and immersive score invite close attention, while occasional pacing lapses in the third act disrupt momentum. When it comes to character interplay, nuanced performances reveal shifting sympathies that maintain engagement. Visually and sonically, the work is polished and cohesive. Though its multi-perspective puzzle yields satisfying revelations, the film’s slower moments temper its overall impact.

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

  • Art & Craft 90

    In terms of art and craft, the film excels in its refined cinematography and carefully calibrated editing. Direction emphasizes subtle framing and organic shot composition, while production design grounds each setting in cultural specificity. Some deliberate pacing choices highlight thematic weight but can feel protracted. Overall, the visual execution is both polished and purposeful.

  • Character & Emotion 80

    When it comes to character and emotion, performances deliver a spectrum of subtlety and sincerity. The multi-perspective approach deepens insight into motivations, revealing evolving sympathies. A few portrayals verge on archetypal simplicity, but emotional stakes remain resonant through restrained exchanges. Ultimately, the film sustains engagement by nurturing genuine character connections.

  • Story & Flow 75

    In terms of story and flow, Monster employs a layered, Rashomon-style structure that sustains curiosity through incremental revelations. The intertwining viewpoints offer originality and intellectual engagement, though the gradual pacing occasionally undermines narrative momentum. Some viewers may find the third act uneven, yet the ultimate resolution provides a cohesive framework. Overall, the plot’s complexity rewards attentive viewing despite intermittent rhythmical dips.

  • Sensory Experience 90

    When it comes to sensory experience, the film’s score and sound design stand out through Ryuichi Sakamoto’s evocative compositions and clear audio layering. The visual style maintains tonal cohesion with an understated color palette and crisp production values. Occasional silence punctuates key moments, reinforcing emotional undercurrents. Overall, the sensory elements coalesce into an immersive environment.

  • Rewatch Factor 80

    In terms of rewatch factor, Monster offers substantial replay value through its layered narrative and thematic depth. Each subsequent viewing reveals subtle clues and emotional nuances previously overlooked, enhancing appreciation of both structure and performances. While its deliberate pacing may test patience on repeat watches, the film’s thoughtful construction ensures enduring appeal for attentive audiences.

Plot

Monster Plot Summary & Ending Explained

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

Spoilers ahead

Saori Mugino, a devoted single mother, faces a troubling situation as she raises her fifth-grade son, Minato. His behavior takes a bizarre turn when he starts cutting his own hair and returns home with only one shoe. The situation escalates when one night, Minato goes missing, prompting Saori to frantically search for him. After making several calls, she ultimately finds him in an abandoned train tunnel.

Full summary

The whole story of Monster, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Monster Box Office

Monster grossed $20.5 million worldwide. $434,585 came from the US and Canada and $20 million (98%) from the rest of the world.

2023 box office

Worldwide gross

$20.5M

US & Canada
$434.6K
International
$20M
US & Canada 2% Rest of the world 98%
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Monster?

9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 9

  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

What unusual behavior does Minato exhibit that first worries Saori?

Details

Monster Also Known As

30 alternative titles, including “かいぶつ” and “Kaibutsu”.

Also known as
  • かいぶつ
  • Kaibutsu
  • Canavar
  • Monster - vaarallinen leikki
  • L'innocence
  • Το τέρας
  • Szörnyeteg
  • Monstruo
  • Монстр
  • Quái Vật
  • Culpado - Inocente - Monstro
  • מפלצת
+18 more
  • L'innocenza
  • La inocencia
  • Briesmonis
  • 괴물
  • Netvor
  • มอนสเตอร์
  • תמימות
  • Monstro
  • هیولا
  • MONSTER - 2023
  • Pošast
  • Die Unschuld
  • Monstras
  • Monstre
  • Чудовище
  • Čudovište
  • Monstrs
  • Koletis

Seen Monster?

FAQ

Monster FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is Monster?

Monster runs 2 hours 6 minutes (126 minutes).

When was Monster released?

Monster was released on November 22, 2023.

Who directed Monster?

Monster was directed by Hirokazu Koreeda.

More films by Hirokazu Koreeda

Who is in the cast of Monster?

Monster stars Sakura Ando as Saori, Soya Kurokawa as Minato and Eita Nagayama as Hori, among 8 credited actors.

How much did Monster make at the box office?

Monster grossed $20.5 million worldwide ($434,585 domestic, $20 million international).

How is Monster rated?

Monster has 7.8/10 on IMDb, 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, 79 on Metacritic and 52% on TMDB.

Does Monster have a post-credit scene?

Yes. Monster has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.

What language is Monster in?

The original language of Monster is Japanese.

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