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Biographical drama

The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021) movie poster

The Eyes of Tammy Faye is a 2021 biographical drama directed by Michael Showalter, starring Jessica Chastain as Tammy Faye Bakker, Chandler Head and Andrew Garfield. It runs 2 hours 6 minutes and earned $2.7 million worldwide. It won 4 awards from 5 nominations, including Best Actress at the Critics' Choice 2022. Critics gave it 67% on Rotten Tomatoes and 55 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.6/10.

IMDb rating
6.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes
67%
worldwide gross
$2.7M
awards won
4
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The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 6m (126 min)
Genres
Biography , Drama , History
Original language
English
After the credits
Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
The story

What Is The Eyes of Tammy Faye About?

The premise of The Eyes of Tammy Faye without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

Jessica Chastain portrays televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker, depicting her remarkable ascent from modest beginnings to international recognition. Alongside her husband Jim, Tammy Faye shares messages of love and compassion through their popular television program, gaining a devoted following. However, their empire faces a devastating downfall as financial improprieties and scandal threaten to destroy everything they've built, testing their faith and challenging their public image.

The Eyes of Tammy Faye Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • televangelist
  • five word title
  • rise and fall
  • message
  • love
  • body part in title
  • puppet show
  • convicted criminal
  • fraud
  • colon cancer
  • advocacy for lgbt
  • opulent life style
+38 more
  • televangelist couple
  • religious organization
  • religion
  • 1970s
  • 1980s
  • scandal
  • white collar crime
  • televangelism
  • prosperity
  • reference to ken and barbie
  • reporter
  • television reporter
  • proverbs quotation
  • tv preacher
  • preacher
  • evangelist
  • evangelism
  • seclusion
  • reference to jesus christ
  • reference to god
  • respectability
  • playing piano
  • puppet animation
  • hand puppet
  • shadow puppet
  • talking to a puppet
  • speaking in tongues
  • bible
  • bible verse
  • reference to little richard
  • reference to buddy holly
  • reference to fats domino
  • bargaining with god
  • traveling preacher
  • reference to oral roberts
  • marriage
  • faith in god
  • praying on knees
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Cast & crew

The Eyes of Tammy Faye Cast & Characters

Jessica Chastain leads the cast as Tammy Faye Bakker, with Chandler Head as Little Tammy Faye and Andrew Garfield as Jim Bakker. Directed by Michael Showalter; 15 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Michael Showalter

More films directed by Michael Showalter, best-rated first: The Big Sick, Spoiler Alert, The Idea of You and Hello, My Name Is Doris.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Eyes of Tammy Faye Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Eyes of Tammy Faye 67% on Rotten Tomatoes and 55 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 68/100, strongest in character & emotion (85) and weakest in story & flow (48).

68 /100

The Eyes of Tammy Faye Echo Score Breakdown

The Eyes of Tammy Faye delivers a visually striking biopic anchored by Jessica Chastain's compelling lead performance, yet its narrative structure and emotional depth falter. Critics acknowledge the film's immaculate production design and effective period recreation, but many note a lack of cohesive storytelling and insufficient exploration of Tammy Faye's inner life. Audience reactions echo this split, praising the acting and visual flair while criticizing the script and pacing. Consequently, the film offers a mixed but respectable overall experience.

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

  • Art & Craft 78

    In terms of art and craft, the film excels in production design and costume recreation, with reviewers highlighting the immaculate 1980s wardrobe and detailed set pieces. Direction receives mixed remarks; some critics find the visual style flat and colourless, while others commend the overall aesthetic cohesion. Editing is generally seen as competent, supporting the film's polished look. Overall, the technical execution leans strongly positive.

  • Character & Emotion 85

    When evaluating character and emotion, Chastain's portrayal stands out as the primary strength, described as transformative and nuanced by multiple critics and users. Garfield's supporting role also garners admiration. Some commentary notes a superficial treatment of Tammy Faye's internal conflict, suggesting limited depth. Nevertheless, the acting delivers a resonant emotional core that outweighs the noted narrative gaps, resulting in a high character rating.

  • Story & Flow 48

    The story and flow receive the most criticism, with several reviewers calling the script uneven, underdeveloped, and overly template‑driven. Pacing issues are mentioned, especially concerning abrupt time jumps and product placement that disrupt narrative momentum. A few voices appreciate the celebratory ending and tight moments, but the consensus points to a lack of coherent plot development, placing the story score in the lower mid range.

  • Sensory Experience 72

    Sensory experience is praised for its vibrant costume and makeup work, which many viewers describe as dazzling and Oscar‑worthy. The soundtrack and visual style reinforce the period setting, delivering an engaging atmosphere. Critiques of colourless cinematography appear, but they are outweighed by the positive emphasis on visual flair and sound design that enhance immersion. The net impression is a strong sensory rating.

  • Rewatch Factor 58

    Rewatch factor is mixed; audiences who value performance and visual spectacle find the film worth revisiting, while others cite the weak script and pacing as deterrents to a second viewing. Some reviewers suggest the biopic's appeal endures mainly for its acting and design, not for its narrative strength. This balanced sentiment results in a moderate rewatch score.

Plot

The Eyes of Tammy Faye Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in The Eyes of Tammy Faye 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 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Tamara “Tammy” Faye LaValley finds herself captivated by Jim Bakker while pursuing her studies at North Central Bible College in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Despite her mother’s, Rachel, disapproval, the couple marries and makes the bold decision to drop out of college in order to preach and uplift Christian communities across the United States. Their dynamic preaching style catches the eye of Pat Robertson’s Christian Broadcasting Network, who enlists them as hosts for the children’s program, Jim and Tammy. Jim eventually takes the helm of CBN’s The 700 Club (1966), while Tammy gives birth to their beloved daughter, Tammy Sue.

Full summary

The whole story of The Eyes of Tammy Faye, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

The Eyes of Tammy Faye Box Office

The Eyes of Tammy Faye grossed $2.7 million worldwide. $2.4 million came from the US and Canada and $272,053 (10%) from the rest of the world.

2021 box office

Worldwide gross

$2.7M

US & Canada
$2.4M
International
$272.1K
US & Canada 90% Rest of the world 10%
Awards

The Eyes of Tammy Faye Awards & Nominations

The Eyes of Tammy Faye won 4 awards from 5 nominations, including Best Actress at the Critics' Choice 2022. Its biggest night was the Critics' Choice 2022, with 2 wins from 2 nominations.

4 wins5 nominations4 ceremonies

Videos

The Eyes of Tammy Faye Trailers & Videos

10 videos: 1 trailer, 3 clips and 6 featurettes.

All 10 videos
Official Trailer
  • Clip THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE | "Who Is He Fighting" Clip | Searchlight Pictures
  • Clip THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE | "I Want To Put My Arm Around You" Clip | Searchlight Pictures
  • Clip THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE | Extended Preview | Searchlight Pictures
  • Featurette "The Soul of Tammy Faye" Featurette
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Eyes of Tammy Faye?

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

Where did Tammy Faye LaValley and Jim Bakker first meet?

Cars

Cars in The Eyes of Tammy Faye

5 cars on screen, including the 1960 Cadillac Series 62 and the 1994 Honda Accord.

All 5 cars
  • 1960 Cadillac Series 62 in The Eyes of Tammy Faye 1960 Cadillac Series 62 Minor role
  • 1994 Honda Accord in The Eyes of Tammy Faye 1994 Honda Accord Minor role
  • 1981 Jeep Scrambler in The Eyes of Tammy Faye 1981 Jeep Scrambler Minor role
  • Ford unknown in The Eyes of Tammy Faye Ford unknown Background role
Details

The Eyes of Tammy Faye Also Known As

17 alternative titles, including “神聖電視台” and “디 아이즈 오브 태미 페이”.

Also known as
  • 神聖電視台
  • 디 아이즈 오브 태미 페이
  • Los ojos de Tammy Faye
  • Os Olhos de Tammy Faye
  • Tammy Faye'in Gözleri
  • Dans les yeux de Tammy Faye
  • Глаза Тэмми Фэй
  • Gli occhi di Tammy Faye
  • Очі Теммі Фей
  • 塔米·菲的眼睛
  • 타미 페이의 눈
  • Oczy Tammy Faye
+5 more
  • העיניים של פיי בייקר
  • Tammy Faye szemei
  • Tamės Fei akys
  • タミー・フェイの瞳
  • Els ulls de Tammy Faye

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FAQ

The Eyes of Tammy Faye FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

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

How long is The Eyes of Tammy Faye?

The Eyes of Tammy Faye runs 2 hours 6 minutes (126 minutes).

When was The Eyes of Tammy Faye released?

The Eyes of Tammy Faye was released on September 17, 2021.

Who directed The Eyes of Tammy Faye?

The Eyes of Tammy Faye was directed by Michael Showalter.

More films by Michael Showalter

Who is in the cast of The Eyes of Tammy Faye?

The Eyes of Tammy Faye stars Jessica Chastain as Tammy Faye Bakker, Chandler Head as Little Tammy Faye and Andrew Garfield as Jim Bakker, among 15 credited actors.

How much did The Eyes of Tammy Faye make at the box office?

The Eyes of Tammy Faye grossed $2.7 million worldwide ($2.4 million domestic, $272,053 international).

How is The Eyes of Tammy Faye rated?

The Eyes of Tammy Faye has 6.6/10 on IMDb, 67% on Rotten Tomatoes, 55 on Metacritic and 65% on TMDB.

What awards did The Eyes of Tammy Faye win?

The Eyes of Tammy Faye won 4 awards from 5 nominations, including Best Actress at the Critics' Choice 2022.

Does The Eyes of Tammy Faye have a post-credit scene?

Yes. The Eyes of Tammy Faye has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.

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