Monster's Ball (2001): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Monster's Ball is a 2001 romantic drama directed by Marc Forster, starring Billy Bob Thornton and Halle Berry. It runs 1 hour 51 minutes and earned $45 million worldwide on a $4 million budget. It won 1 Oscar, including Actress in a Leading Role, and 2 awards in all. Critics gave it 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and 69 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.0/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 51m (111 min)
- Director
- Marc Forster
- Original language
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English - Studio
- Lions Gate Films
- Budget
- $4M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Monster's Ball About?
The premise of Monster's Ball without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Haunted by a difficult past, Hank works as a prison guard, maintaining a detached and cynical demeanor. His life takes an unexpected turn when he develops a complex relationship with Leticia, a recently widowed woman struggling with profound grief and hardship. As they navigate their shared pain and vulnerability, Hank is compelled to examine his own prejudices and confront the darkness within himself, leading to an unconventional and deeply emotional connection.
Monster's Ball Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- prison guard
- white male black female relationship
- interracial sex
- female frontal nudity
- electric chair
- interracial relationship
- female rear nudity
- cunnilingus
- dysfunctional family
- father son relationship
- female nudity
- capital punishment
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- female full frontal nudity
- female star appears nude
- prison
- death row
- obesity
- racism
- racial tension
- interracial romance
- racial prejudice
- execution
- rear entry sex
- death penalty
- interracial love
- interracial kiss
- black woman white man relationship
- black woman white man kiss
- black woman white man sex
- sex
- sex scene
- sex standing up
- eviction
- mother son relationship
- death of son
- death of child
- oral sex
- lawnmower
- birdcage
- car crash
- u.s. car
- ford ltd crown victoria
- ford tempo
- jeep
- georgia usa
- widow
- sex with a widow
- male rear nudity
- live action
- woman on top sex
Monster's Ball Cast
Billy Bob Thornton leads the cast, with Halle Berry. Directed by Marc Forster.
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Director Marc Forster
More from Marc Forster
More films directed by Marc Forster, best-rated first: White Bird, Stranger Than Fiction, Finding Neverland and Christopher Robin.
Monster's Ball Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Monster's Ball 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and 69 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.0/10.
-
IMDb 7.0 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 85% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 67%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 69 Metascore
User score 6.9
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 68% User score
See on TMDB
Monster's Ball Plot Summary
What happens in Monster's Ball from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Hank Grotowski, portrayed by Billy Bob Thornton, is a grieving widower who works as a corrections officer in a Georgia State Prison alongside his son, Sonny (Heath Ledger). They live in Jackson with Hank’s father, Buck (Peter Boyle), a bitter man whose racist views are colored by the haunting memory of his wife’s suicide.
The narrative unfolds through a series of poignant events that shed light on Sonny’s troubled life. His first encounter with a local prostitute named Vera is jarring, as their interaction reflects a stark emotional void. She performs her work mechanically, leading to an unsatisfying and fleeting experience, leaving Sonny grasping for any semblance of connection as he offers her a simple meal that she dismisses.
Full summary
The whole story of Monster's Ball, scene by scene
Monster's Ball Box Office & Budget
Monster's Ball grossed $45 million worldwide on a $4 million budget, 11 times what it cost. $31.3 million came from the US and Canada and $13.7 million (31%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$45M
11× its budget
- US & Canada
- $31.3M
- International
- $13.7M
- Budget
- $4M
Monster's Ball Awards & Nominations
Monster's Ball won 1 Oscar, including Actress in a Leading Role, and 2 awards in all. Its biggest night was the Oscars 2002, with 1 win from 2 nominations.
2 wins6 nominations5 ceremonies
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BAFTA 2003 1 nomination- Nominated Best Actress in a Leading Role – Halle Berry
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Oscars 2002 1 win · 2 nominations- Won Actress in a Leading Role – Halle Berry
- Nominated Writing (Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen)
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Actor Awards (SAG) 2002 1 win · 1 nomination- Won Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role – Halle Berry
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Spirit Awards 2002 1 nomination- Nominated Best Screenplay
Show all 5 ceremonies Show fewer ceremonies
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Golden Globes 2001 1 nomination- Nominated Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama (Actress) – Halle Berry
Monster's Ball Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 clip.
- Clip Clip
How Well Do You Know Monster's Ball?
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 the character Hank Grotowski?
Cars in Monster's Ball
11 cars on screen, including the 1986 Ford LTD Crown Victoria and the 1992 Ford Tempo.
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1986 Ford LTD Crown Victoria Main role -
1992 Ford Tempo Important role -
1989 Jeep Comanche Important role -
1995 Ford Crown Victoria Minor role
Monster's Ball Also Known As
24 alternative titles, including “A l'ombre de la haine” and “A Última Ceia”.
- Also known as
-
- A l'ombre de la haine
- A Última Ceia
- 몬스터 볼
- Monster's Ball - L'ombra della vita
- À l'ombre de la haine
- Бал монстров
- Szörnyek keringője
- Czekając na wyrok
- 死囚之舞
- Kesişen Yollar
- Ples příšer
- Ο Χορός των Τεράτων
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- מונסטר בול
- Балът на чудовището
- チョコレート
- Le bal du monstre
- مهمانی هیولا
- Monstrų puota
- El pasado nos condena, მონსტრების მეჯლისი
- Бал монстрів
- Vũ hội của quỷ
- แดนรักนักโทษประหาร
- 擁抱豔陽天
- Puterea dragostei
Seen Monster's Ball?
Movies Like Monster's Ball
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Monster, Monster and Monster.
Monster's Ball FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Monster's Ball, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Monster's Ball?
Monster's Ball runs 1 hour 51 minutes (111 minutes).
When was Monster's Ball released?
Monster's Ball was released on December 26, 2001.
Who directed Monster's Ball?
Monster's Ball was directed by Marc Forster.
More films by Marc Forster Who is in the cast of Monster's Ball?
Monster's Ball stars Billy Bob Thornton and Halle Berry.
How much did Monster's Ball make at the box office?
Monster's Ball grossed $45 million worldwide ($31.3 million domestic, $13.7 million international) on a budget of $4 million.
How is Monster's Ball rated?
Monster's Ball has 7.0/10 on IMDb, 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, 69 on Metacritic and 68% on TMDB.
What awards did Monster's Ball win?
Monster's Ball won 2 awards from 6 nominations, including Actress in a Leading Role at the Oscars 2002.
Does Monster's Ball have a post-credit scene?
No. Monster's Ball has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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