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What's After the Movie?
Comedy drama

Showing Up (2023): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Showing Up (2023) movie poster

Showing Up is a 2023 comedy drama directed by Kelly Reichardt, starring Michelle Williams as Lizzy, Hong Chau and Amanda Plummer. It runs 1 hour 48 minutes and earned $1.3 million worldwide. Critics gave it 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and 86 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10.

IMDb rating
6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
89%
worldwide gross
$1.3M
Echo Score
68
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Showing Up (2023) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 48m (108 min)
Director
Kelly Reichardt
Genres
Drama , Comedy
Original language
English
Studio
A24
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Showing Up About?

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

A sculptor prepares for a crucial exhibition while grappling with the challenges of her personal and professional life. The film explores themes of creativity and community through the artist's interactions with her colleagues, friends, and family. It’s a poignant and humorous look at the beauty found in the routines and relationships that shape our everyday existence.

Showing Up Themes & Keywords

· 30 tags
  • pubic hair
  • posing naked
  • nudity in art
  • sculptor
  • female sculptor
  • art and craft
  • family relationships
  • male nudity
  • male frontal nudity
  • male full frontal nudity
  • male rear nudity
  • posing naked for art
+18 more
  • male pubic hair
  • man poses naked for a drawing
  • domestic drama
  • man poses naked
  • naked male model
  • naked model
  • artistry
  • smoking
  • complex relationship
  • triple f rated
  • f rated
  • female artist
  • male writer
  • female writer
  • title directed by female
  • artist
  • female director
  • female protagonist
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Cast & crew

Showing Up Cast & Characters

Michelle Williams leads the cast as Lizzy, with Hong Chau as Jo and Amanda Plummer. Directed by Kelly Reichardt; 15 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Kelly Reichardt

More films directed by Kelly Reichardt, best-rated first: First Cow, Meek's Cutoff, Old Joy and Wendy and Lucy.

Full filmography
Ratings

Showing Up Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Showing Up 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and 86 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 68/100, strongest in art & craft (80) and weakest in story & flow (55).

68 /100

Showing Up Echo Score Breakdown

Showing Up garners admiration for its restrained direction and authentic portrait of an artist’s daily grind, yet its narrative sparsity leaves many viewers yearning for clearer purpose. Critics highlight the film’s subtle visual composition and nuanced performances, while numerous audience members point to an underdeveloped plot and a pacing that feels overly deliberate. The combined appraisal reflects a work that excels in craft and mood but divides opinion on story cohesion and rewatch appeal.

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

  • Art & Craft 80

    In terms of direction and visual composition, the film is praised for its quiet elegance and carefully measured framing. Critics note the understated color palette and patient editing that let scenes breathe, and several viewers commend the detailed observation of the artistic process. Minor critiques mention occasional static staging, but the overall craftsmanship is regarded as a strong point of the movie.

  • Character & Emotion 70

    When it comes to character and emotional depth, performances receive both commendation and criticism. Michelle Williams and supporting actors are frequently described as compelling, with nuanced moments that linger. Conversely, some audience members find the protagonists flat and lacking clear motivation, describing the ensemble as indifferent. The mixed sentiment results in a moderate rating that acknowledges solid acting amid uneven character development.

  • Story & Flow 55

    The story’s pacing and structural clarity divide opinion. Critics appreciate the minimalist plot as a deliberate choice that mirrors everyday routine, yet several reviewers point to a lack of narrative drive and an aimless feel. The film’s slow unfolding and limited plot points are seen as both a strength of subtlety and a weakness of insufficient momentum, leading to a middling assessment.

  • Sensory Experience 75

    Sensory experience, including sound design and visual style, is largely praised for its gentle soundtrack and evocative depiction of Portland’s light. Reviewers comment on the contrast between focused labor shots and ambient domestic sounds, creating an immersive atmosphere. A few users note occasional distractions from casting choices, but the overall sensory impression is considered engaging and thoughtfully composed.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    Rewatch value is mixed; the film’s quiet observation invites repeat viewings for some, who find new layers in its subtle details. Others describe it as too slow to sustain interest on subsequent watches, labeling it repetitive. While the thoughtful craftsmanship may reward dedicated viewers, the lack of a stronger narrative hook limits broader replay appeal, resulting in a modest rewatch score.

Plot

Showing Up Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Showing Up 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 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Lizzy, Michelle Williams, is a sculptor and arts administrator assistant for her mother at her alma mater, the Oregon College of Art and Craft. She is preparing a show that features clay sculptures of women in joyful or anguished movement, pieces that aim to capture the weight of the body in motion and the subtleties of emotion in every turn of the form. The project sits at the center of her life, and she pours long hours into shaping textures, glazes, and the storytelling of each figure.

Full summary

The whole story of Showing Up, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Showing Up Box Office

Showing Up grossed $1.3 million worldwide. $754,483 came from the US and Canada and $516,066 (41%) from the rest of the world.

2023 box office

Worldwide gross

$1.3M

US & Canada
$754.5K
International
$516.1K
US & Canada 59% Rest of the world 41%
Videos

Showing Up Trailers & Videos

6 videos: 1 trailer, 1 clip and 4 featurettes.

All 6 videos
Official Trailer
  • Clip Official Clip
  • Featurette Kelly Reichardt & Hong Chau on Showing Up | NYFF60
  • Featurette Kelly Reichardt & Joanna Hogg on Showing Up and The Eternal Daughter at NYFF60
  • Featurette SHOWING UP Q&A with Kelly Reichardt | TIFF 2023
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Showing Up?

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

Who is the main character of the film?

Cars

Cars in Showing Up

6 cars on screen, including the 1995 Subaru Legacy Wagon and the 2001 Toyota Tacoma.

All 6 cars
  • 1995 Subaru Legacy Wagon in Showing Up 1995 Subaru Legacy Wagon Important role
  • 2001 Toyota Tacoma in Showing Up 2001 Toyota Tacoma Important role
  • 1999 SAAB 9-3 in Showing Up 1999 SAAB 9-3 Minor role
  • 2002 BMW 3 E46 in Showing Up 2002 BMW 3 E46 Background role
Details

Showing Up Also Known As

10 alternative titles, including “쇼잉 업” and “好戏登场”.

Also known as
  • 쇼잉 업
  • 好戏登场
  • להופיע
  • Появление
  • 开展在即
  • Поява
  • 現身
  • Išvaizda
  • Esculturas da Vida
  • לקראת תערוכה

Seen Showing Up?

FAQ

Showing Up FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is Showing Up?

Showing Up runs 1 hour 48 minutes (108 minutes).

When was Showing Up released?

Showing Up was released on April 7, 2023.

Who directed Showing Up?

Showing Up was directed by Kelly Reichardt.

More films by Kelly Reichardt

Who is in the cast of Showing Up?

Showing Up stars Michelle Williams as Lizzy, Hong Chau as Jo and Amanda Plummer, among 15 credited actors.

How much did Showing Up make at the box office?

Showing Up grossed $1.3 million worldwide ($754,483 domestic, $516,066 international).

How is Showing Up rated?

Showing Up has 6.3/10 on IMDb, 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, 86 on Metacritic and 59% on TMDB.

Does Showing Up have a post-credit scene?

No. Showing Up has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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