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Drama thriller

Promising Young Woman (2020): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

Promising Young Woman (2020) movie poster

Promising Young Woman is a 2020 drama thriller starring Adam Brody as Jerry, Sam Richardson and Ray Nicholson. It runs 1 hour 53 minutes and earned $18.9 million worldwide on a $10 million budget. It won 1 Oscar, including Writing (Original Screenplay), and 7 awards in all. Critics gave it 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and 72 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.5/10.

IMDb rating
7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes
90%
worldwide gross
$18.9M
Oscar won
1
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Promising Young Woman (2020) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 53m (113 min)
Genres
Drama , Thriller , Comedy , Crime
Original language
English
Budget
$10M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Promising Young Woman About?

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

Haunted by a past tragedy, Cassie orchestrates elaborate plans to confront those who have evaded justice. She infiltrates social gatherings, pretending to be intoxicated to expose men who take advantage of vulnerable women. As she delves deeper into her mission, Cassie’s own secrets and motivations are revealed, leading to unexpected consequences and a reckoning with the complexities of trauma and revenge. This gripping drama explores themes of accountability and the blurred lines between victim and avenger.

Promising Young Woman Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • revenge
  • revenge from beyond the grave
  • teaching a lesson
  • seeking revenge
  • 30th birthday
  • unpunished crime
  • rape
  • bachelor party
  • murder by smothering with a pillow
  • handcuffed to a bed
  • revenge plot
  • sex crime
+38 more
  • rape and revenge
  • chauvinism
  • message from beyond the grave
  • coffee shop owner
  • suitcase
  • text message
  • forgetting one's own birthday
  • incriminating video
  • medical school dropout
  • blackout drunk
  • spitting into a drink
  • heart necklace
  • suicide of best friend
  • death of friend
  • rape trauma
  • female protagonist
  • pretending to be drunk
  • murder of protagonist
  • vigilantism
  • self justice
  • vigilante justice
  • female vigilante
  • coffee shop worker
  • man handcuffed to a bed
  • recognizing someone
  • coffeehouse
  • incriminating evidence
  • watching a video on a cell phone
  • argument with parent
  • unpunished sex crime
  • stuck in the past
  • 30 year old woman
  • adult daughter lives with her parents
  • former medical student
  • medical school
  • misogyny
  • rapist comeuppance
  • female barista
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Cast & crew

Promising Young Woman Cast & Characters

Adam Brody leads the cast as Jerry, with Sam Richardson as Paul and Ray Nicholson as Jim.

Ratings

Promising Young Woman Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Promising Young Woman 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and 72 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 89/100, strongest in character & emotion (90) and weakest in story & flow (83).

89 /100

Promising Young Woman Echo Score Breakdown

Promising Young Woman stands out as an inventive thriller that balances a distinctive visual approach with a psychologically driven narrative. Critics and viewers highlight the film’s blend of measured suspense and thematic urgency, noting its fresh take on revenge drama and layered emotional undercurrents. While a few observers mention slight unevenness in the second act, the prevailing consensus praises its bold vision and sustained engagement. Overall, the film delivers a compelling fusion of style and substance that resonates beyond its runtime.

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

  • Art & Craft 88

    In terms of art and craft, the film is distinguished by its vivid color palette and polished visual composition. Reviewers praise the direction for its confident handling of tone shifts, while the editing maintains a precise rhythm that underscores dramatic beats. Some note a brief sense of visual overload during climactic moments, but this does little to diminish its overall aesthetic coherence.

  • Character & Emotion 90

    When it comes to character and emotion, Carey Mulligan’s portrayal receives consistent commendation for its nuanced intensity. Observers emphasize her ability to convey both restrained vulnerability and fierce determination, lending depth to a protagonist shaped by trauma and moral complexity. Supporting performances are similarly noted for subtle chemistry and believable stakes. Collectively, the character work creates an emotionally resonant journey that anchors the film’s impact.

  • Story & Flow 83

    Regarding story and flow, the screenplay earns praise for its inventive structure and unpredictable twists, sustaining audience investment through a blend of tension and dark irony. The pacing is often described as brisk and purposeful, though a minority of critics find the narrative focus wavers in the latter half. Nonetheless, the originality of the revenge framework and its thematic resonance with contemporary issues helps retain engagement from opening to closing.

  • Sensory Experience 88

    In terms of sensory experience, the film’s soundtrack and sound design are noted for their strategic use of familiar pop motifs in unsettling contexts, amplifying dramatic turns. The production design favors a polished, pastel-inflected palette that contrasts sharply with the subject matter, heightening emotional dissonance. This combination of auditory and visual elements reinforces the film’s tonal balance. Overall, it delivers a cohesive and provocative sensory landscape.

  • Rewatch Factor 85

    Concerning rewatch factor, many reviewers report a desire to revisit the film to unpack its subtle visual cues and thematic layers. The intricate staging of key encounters and the interplay between tonal shifts reward additional viewings, revealing new details with each pass. A few viewers suggest that the film’s moral ambiguity may divide on repeat engagement, but most find that its narrative density and stylistic ingenuity sustain lasting appeal.

Plot

Promising Young Woman Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Promising Young Woman 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

The film opens in a vibrant nightclub where friends Jerry, Paul, and Jim are enjoying their drinks. They soon spot a young woman, Cassandra “Cassie” Thomas, who appears too inebriated to help herself. As Paul and Jim make crude remarks, Jerry takes a more compassionate approach, deciding to support her and bring her safely to his apartment. However, things take a dark turn when he starts to kiss her and tries to undress her, leading to a shocking revelation when Cassie, having faked her drunkenness, confronts him directly. A terrified Jerry is left speechless as Cassie reveals her clarity.

Full summary

The whole story of Promising Young Woman, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Promising Young Woman Box Office & Budget

Promising Young Woman grossed $18.9 million worldwide on a $10 million budget, 1.9 times what it cost. $6.5 million came from the US and Canada and $12.4 million (66%) from the rest of the world.

2020 box office

Worldwide gross

$18.9M

1.9× its budget

US & Canada
$6.5M
International
$12.4M
Budget
$10M
US & Canada 34% Rest of the world 66%
Awards

Promising Young Woman Awards & Nominations

Promising Young Woman won 1 Oscar, including Writing (Original Screenplay), and 7 awards in all.

7 wins27 nominations8 ceremonies

Show all 8 ceremonies
Videos

Promising Young Woman Trailers & Videos

11 videos: 2 trailers and 9 clips.

All 11 videos
Official Trailer
  • Trailer Official Trailer 2
  • Clip Sad Little Face Clip
  • Clip What A Home Clip
  • Clip Crying Wolf Clip
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Promising Young Woman?

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 primary motive behind Cassie's actions throughout the film?

Cars

Cars in Promising Young Woman

9 cars on screen, including the 1990 Toyota Camry and the 2009 Ford Crown Victoria.

All 9 cars
  • 1990 Toyota Camry in Promising Young Woman 1990 Toyota Camry Important role
  • 2009 Ford Crown Victoria in Promising Young Woman 2009 Ford Crown Victoria Minor role
  • Ford Ranger in Promising Young Woman Ford Ranger Minor role
  • 2017 BMW 5 G30 in Promising Young Woman 2017 BMW 5 G30 Background role

Seen Promising Young Woman?

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Movies Like Promising Young Woman

Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Prom Night, Fatal Secrets and Revenge.

FAQ

Promising Young Woman FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

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

How long is Promising Young Woman?

Promising Young Woman runs 1 hour 53 minutes (113 minutes).

When was Promising Young Woman released?

Promising Young Woman was released on December 25, 2020.

Who is in the cast of Promising Young Woman?

Promising Young Woman stars Adam Brody as Jerry, Sam Richardson as Paul and Ray Nicholson as Jim, among 13 credited actors.

How much did Promising Young Woman make at the box office?

Promising Young Woman grossed $18.9 million worldwide ($6.5 million domestic, $12.4 million international) on a budget of $10 million.

How is Promising Young Woman rated?

Promising Young Woman has 7.5/10 on IMDb, 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, 72 on Metacritic and 74% on TMDB.

What awards did Promising Young Woman win?

Promising Young Woman won 7 awards from 27 nominations, including Best Actress at the Critics' Choice 2021.

Does Promising Young Woman have a post-credit scene?

No. Promising Young Woman has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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