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Comedy drama

Poms (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Poms (2019) movie poster

Poms is a 2019 comedy drama directed by Zara Hayes, starring Diane Keaton as Martha, Celia Weston and Jacki Weaver. It runs 1 hour 30 minutes and earned $16.4 million worldwide on a $10 million budget. It earned 1 award nomination, including Studio or Independent – Comedy at the Artios Awards 2020. Critics gave it 36% on Rotten Tomatoes and 36 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.1/10.

IMDb rating
6.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes
36%
worldwide gross
$16.4M
award nomination
1
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Poms (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 30m (90 min)
Director
Zara Hayes
Genres
Drama , Comedy
Original language
English
Budget
$10M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Poms About?

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

A retiree seeking peace and quiet finds her life unexpectedly changed when a vibrant new neighbor encourages her to embrace a more active lifestyle. Together, they form a senior cheerleading squad, challenging societal expectations and discovering the power of teamwork. Facing personal doubts and external skepticism, the women learn that pursuing passions and defying limitations knows no age.

Poms Themes & Keywords

· 47 tags
  • title directed by female
  • bowling
  • believe in yourself
  • age discrimination
  • cheer squad
  • one word title
  • youtube video
  • female friendship
  • dying of cancer
  • friendship between women
  • cheerleader outfit
  • golf cart
+35 more
  • estate sale
  • refusing medical treatment
  • retirement community
  • co written by director
  • neighbor neighbor relationship
  • poker game
  • gambling
  • noise complaint
  • funeral
  • vomiting into a toilet
  • reference to the dallas cowboy cheerleaders
  • reference to jdate
  • viral video
  • calling someone a slut
  • car alarm
  • distraction
  • mother son relationship
  • woman giving the middle finger
  • cheerleading competition
  • calling someone a traitor
  • reunion
  • cheerleading movie
  • twirling a baton
  • baton twirling
  • female protagonist
  • death of protagonist
  • cheerleader
  • starting a club
  • discover yourself
  • finding yourself
  • reinvent yourself
  • woman wears tights
  • best friends forever
  • entering a competition
  • vomiting
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Cast & crew

Poms Cast & Characters

Diane Keaton leads the cast as Martha, with Celia Weston as Vicki and Jacki Weaver as Sheryl. Directed by Zara Hayes; 14 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

Poms Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Poms 36% on Rotten Tomatoes and 36 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.1/10. Our Echo Score gives it 38/100, strongest in character & emotion (60) and weakest in story & flow (25).

38 /100

Poms Echo Score Breakdown

Poms suffers from a lack of structural cohesion and narrative depth despite widespread praise for its veteran cast’s energy. Critics frequently note missing plot elements and thin character backstories while users find moments of genuine humor, though many also describe the premise as predictable. While acting performances garner appreciation for their infectious enthusiasm, the film’s uneven construction and cliché-driven storyline limit its engagement. Overall, Poms leaves a mixed impression: spirited in parts but notably deficient in storytelling and cohesion.

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

  • Art & Craft 30

    In terms of art and craft, Poms exhibits minimal directorial cohesion and limited visual inventiveness. Reviews describe a film that feels mechanically assembled, with frequently missing narrative segments suggesting production shortcomings. Cinematography and editing go largely unremarked and lack distinctive flair. The result is an underdeveloped technical presentation that undermines the overall impact.

  • Character & Emotion 60

    In terms of character and emotion, the veteran ensemble delivers spirited performances but lacks substantive development. Diane Keaton and Jacki Weaver are noted for infectious enthusiasm, yet supporting roles receive insufficient backstory and emotional nuance. Chemistry is intermittently engaging but undercut by caricatured portrayals and thin motivators. Consequently, the emotional resonance remains superficial despite moments of genuine energy.

  • Story & Flow 25

    In terms of story and flow, Poms struggles with coherent plotting and originality. Critics observe missing connective scenes and routine clichés that render the narrative predictable. Pacing maintains a basic forward momentum but lacks engaging twists or depth, leading scenes to feel perfunctory. Ultimately, the film’s plot underdelivers, providing limited intrigue or meaningful progression.

  • Sensory Experience 45

    In terms of sensory experience, Poms offers modest auditory and visual engagement without notable flair. The soundtrack and sound design receive little attention, and the film’s aesthetic choices remain conventional. Visual style lacks a distinctive cohesion, and production design goes largely unnoticed. Consequently, the sensory elements neither elevate nor detract significantly from the overall presentation.

  • Rewatch Factor 45

    In terms of rewatch factor, Poms offers limited incentive for repeated viewing. While a few humorous moments and the cast’s enthusiasm provide fleeting enjoyment, the routine narrative and lack of character depth diminish long-term appeal. Predictable plot beats further reduce engagement on subsequent viewings. Overall, the film falls short of delivering lasting replay value.

Plot

Poms Plot Summary

What happens in Poms from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Martha, Diane Keaton, a woman facing terminal cancer, makes a quiet, resolute choice to forego further treatment and moves from her cramped New York apartment to Sun Springs, a retirement community tucked in Georgia. The shift from urban solitude to a place built on routine and connection marks a new chapter where every resident is steered toward belonging to one of the community’s clubs. On arrival, she is greeted by the observant, practical Celia Weston Vicki, the community supervisor, who gives her a guided tour and explains the social structure that keeps Sun Springs humming.

Full summary

The whole story of Poms, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Poms Box Office & Budget

Poms grossed $16.4 million worldwide on a $10 million budget, 1.6 times what it cost. $13.6 million came from the US and Canada and $2.8 million (17%) from the rest of the world.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$16.4M

1.6× its budget

US & Canada
$13.6M
International
$2.8M
Budget
$10M
US & Canada 83% Rest of the world 17%
Awards

Poms Awards & Nominations

Poms earned 1 award nomination, including Studio or Independent – Comedy at the Artios Awards 2020.

1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

Poms Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Poms.

Poms | Official Trailer [HD] | Coming Soon to Theaters
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Poms?

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 retirement community where the main character settles?

Cars

Cars in Poms

20 cars on screen, including the E-Z-Go Express S4 and the 2009 Ford E-Series.

All 20 cars
  • E-Z-Go Express S4 in Poms E-Z-Go Express S4 Important role
  • 2009 Ford E-Series in Poms 2009 Ford E-Series Important role
  • Subaru Outback in Poms Subaru Outback Important role
  • E-Z-Go in Poms E-Z-Go Minor role
Details

Poms Also Known As

27 alternative titles, including “Помпони” and “Tähtitytöt”.

Also known as
  • Помпони
  • Tähtitytöt
  • Pom-Pom Ladies
  • Черлідерки
  • Poms: La grande compétition
  • 치어리딩 클럽
  • Mejor que nunca
  • מעודדות הזהב
  • Dancing Queens
  • 舞孃辣辣隊
  • As Rainhas da Torcida
  • Κορίτσια Κάποιας Ηλικίας
+15 more
  • Poms - dansa för livet
  • Навијачице
  • Pompon klub
  • Мажоретки
  • 老太啦啦队
  • Królowe życia, პომპონები
  • Болельщицы со стажем
  • チア・アップ!
  • Millor que mai
  • Lepší než kdy jindy
  • Hai că încă putem!
  • Navijačice
  • Dejo, kamēr vari
  • Lepšie ako kedykoľvek inokedy
  • Striksės

Seen Poms?

FAQ

Poms FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

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

How long is Poms?

Poms runs 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes).

When was Poms released?

Poms was released on May 10, 2019.

Who directed Poms?

Poms was directed by Zara Hayes.

More films by Zara Hayes

Who is in the cast of Poms?

Poms stars Diane Keaton as Martha, Celia Weston as Vicki and Jacki Weaver as Sheryl, among 14 credited actors.

How much did Poms make at the box office?

Poms grossed $16.4 million worldwide ($13.6 million domestic, $2.8 million international) on a budget of $10 million.

How is Poms rated?

Poms has 6.1/10 on IMDb, 36% on Rotten Tomatoes, 36 on Metacritic and 66% on TMDB.

Was Poms nominated for any awards?

Poms received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.

Does Poms have a post-credit scene?

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

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