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Action adventure film

Monster Hunter (2020): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Monster Hunter (2020) movie poster

Monster Hunter is a 2020 action adventure film directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, starring Tony Jaa as Hunter, Milla Jovovich and Ron Perlman. It runs 1 hour 43 minutes and earned $42.1 million worldwide on a $60 million budget. Critics gave it 44% on Rotten Tomatoes and 47 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.2/10.

IMDb rating
5.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes
44%
worldwide gross
$42.1M
Echo Score
38
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Monster Hunter (2020) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 43m (103 min)
Genres
Action , Adventure , Fantasy
Original language
English
Budget
$60M
After the credits
Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
The story

What Is Monster Hunter About?

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

Transported to a dangerous realm teeming with colossal monsters, Captain Artemis and her team find their advanced weaponry ineffective against the towering beasts. They reluctantly join forces with Hunter, a skilled and experienced warrior, to navigate this perilous new world. Facing the formidable Admiral and his elite squad, they must overcome seemingly insurmountable odds to protect both their world and the one they’ve been pulled into, battling for survival and fighting to prevent extinction.

Monster Hunter Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • parallel world
  • monster
  • based on video game
  • soldier
  • female soldier
  • written by director
  • military
  • giant creature
  • giant monster
  • monster movie
  • portal
  • kaiju
+38 more
  • cat
  • dragon
  • desert
  • dinosaur
  • rescue
  • escape
  • jungle
  • spider
  • singing
  • psychotronic film
  • two word title
  • creature
  • creature feature
  • steampunk
  • cola can
  • united nations flag
  • captain
  • sergeant
  • gunner
  • lightning
  • female leader
  • u.s. army captain
  • search operation
  • storm
  • shaking head doll
  • female army captain
  • army captain
  • colored chalk
  • all terrain vehicle
  • grenade
  • grenade explosion
  • cave
  • web
  • bullet
  • flare
  • bullet thrown in fire
  • killed one by one
  • underground creature
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Cast & crew

Monster Hunter Cast & Characters

Tony Jaa leads the cast as Hunter, with Milla Jovovich as Artemis and Ron Perlman as The Admiral. Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson; 14 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Monster Hunter

· 10 more
From the director

More from Paul W.S. Anderson

More films directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, best-rated first: Mortal Kombat, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, Death Race and Event Horizon.

Full filmography
Ratings

Monster Hunter Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Monster Hunter 44% on Rotten Tomatoes and 47 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.2/10. Our Echo Score gives it 38/100, strongest in sensory experience (65) and weakest in character & emotion (25).

38 /100

Monster Hunter Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, Monster Hunter struggles to balance its visual spectacle with meaningful storytelling. While many reviews commend the energetic action sequences and occasional creature designs, they uniformly criticize the film’s lack of character depth and narrative coherence. The pacing is seen as uneven, oscillating between frenetic set pieces and aimless sequences that fail to engage. Although fans of the franchise may appreciate fleeting moments of excitement, the overall experience is undermined by inconsistent execution and shallow emotional investment.

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

  • Art & Craft 50

    In terms of art and craft, the film offers sporadic visual highlights but suffers from uneven direction and editing. The CGI effects and monster renderings are frequently noted as impressive, and production design captures a game-like aesthetic. However, transitions between action scenes feel haphazard, and the overall visual approach lacks a cohesive stylistic vision. Ultimately, the craft is competent in places but falls short of delivering a polished cinematic experience.

  • Character & Emotion 25

    When it comes to character and emotion, the film is largely uninspired and disengaging. Performances are serviceable yet fail to establish genuine emotional stakes, and the central characters lack depth or meaningful development. Chemistry between leads is minimal, which prevents viewers from forming attachments or caring about their outcomes. In the end, the characters come across as functional placeholders rather than fully realized individuals, undermining the film’s emotional resonance.

  • Story & Flow 30

    Regarding story and flow, the narrative is simplistic and structurally fragmented. Plot points are introduced without adequate context, resulting in a sequence of loosely connected action set pieces. Pacing is uneven, shifting abruptly from high-octane sequences to moments that stall engagement. Originality is limited, with few narrative surprises or thematic exploration. As a consequence, the storyline feels underdeveloped and fails to provide a compelling framework for the spectacle it presents.

  • Sensory Experience 65

    In terms of sensory experience, the film provides an intermittently engaging audiovisual showcase. The CGI creatures and visual effects are regularly highlighted as strengths, creating moments of genuine thrill. Sound design and action choreography further enhance these sequences, lending a sense of immersion. However, the musical score is oubliable, and the overall visual style lacks a distinct artistic signature. Thus, while the sensory elements shine at times, they do not fully compensate for other deficiencies.

  • Rewatch Factor 35

    With respect to rewatch factor, the film’s appeal diminishes after the initial viewing. The action sequences remain entertaining on repeat, but the absence of compelling characters or narrative depth limits motivation to revisit. There are few standout moments that sustain lasting interest, and the spectacle alone is insufficient to carry multiple viewings. Overall, the rewatch value is modest, confined to the novelty of the visual effects rather than enduring storytelling or character engagement.

Plot

Monster Hunter Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Monster Hunter 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 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In a mysterious New World where humans share the land with a plethora of ferocious monsters, a skilled Hunter (Tony Jaa), trained specifically to track and eliminate these gigantic creatures, becomes isolated from his fellow warriors during a fierce attack on their sand-skimming ship by the Diablos, a formidable horned beast lurking underground. Their mission takes them to the Sky Tower, believed to be the heart of power in this strange realm. Luckily, the Admiral (Ron Perlman), the leader of the Hunters, manages to keep the ship afloat, but chaos ensues, and the Hunter ends up separated, landing in the treacherous sands.

Full summary

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

Read the full summary
Box office

Monster Hunter Box Office & Budget

Monster Hunter grossed $42.1 million worldwide on a $60 million budget, 70% of what it cost. $15.2 million came from the US and Canada and $27 million (64%) from the rest of the world.

2020 box office

Worldwide gross

$42.1M

70% of its budget back

US & Canada
$15.2M
International
$27M
Budget
$60M
US & Canada 36% Rest of the world 64%
Videos

Monster Hunter Trailers & Videos

6 videos: 2 trailers, 1 teaser, 2 clips and 1 behind-the-scenes video.

All 6 videos
Official Trailer
  • Trailer International Trailer
  • Teaser
  • Clip MONSTER HUNTER - Extended Preview | On Digital 2/16
  • Clip MONSTER HUNTER Clip – Palico | Now on Digital!
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Monster Hunter?

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

What is the name of the creature that the Hunter encounters first in the New World?

Cars

Cars in Monster Hunter

5 cars on screen, including the AM General HMMWV GMV and the Chenowth FAV.

All 5 cars
  • AM General HMMWV GMV in Monster Hunter AM General HMMWV GMV Main role
  • Chenowth FAV in Monster Hunter Chenowth FAV Important role
  • AM General HMMWV M1025 in Monster Hunter AM General HMMWV M1025 Minor role
  • General Dynamics M1A1 'Abrams' in Monster Hunter General Dynamics M1A1 'Abrams' Minor role

Seen Monster Hunter?

FAQ

Monster Hunter FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is Monster Hunter?

Monster Hunter runs 1 hour 43 minutes (103 minutes).

When was Monster Hunter released?

Monster Hunter was released on December 18, 2020.

Who directed Monster Hunter?

Monster Hunter was directed by Paul W.S. Anderson.

More films by Paul W.S. Anderson

Who is in the cast of Monster Hunter?

Monster Hunter stars Tony Jaa as Hunter, Milla Jovovich as Artemis and Ron Perlman as The Admiral, among 14 credited actors.

How much did Monster Hunter make at the box office?

Monster Hunter grossed $42.1 million worldwide ($15.2 million domestic, $27 million international) on a budget of $60 million.

How is Monster Hunter rated?

Monster Hunter has 5.2/10 on IMDb, 44% on Rotten Tomatoes, 47 on Metacritic and 66% on TMDB.

Does Monster Hunter have a post-credit scene?

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

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