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Mystery horror film

The Grudge (2020): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

The Grudge (2020) movie poster

The Grudge is a 2020 mystery horror film directed by Nicolas Pesce, starring Zoe Fish as Melinda Landers, Tara Westwood and Junko Bailey. It runs 1 hour 34 minutes and earned $49.5 million worldwide on a $10 million budget. Critics gave it 20% on Rotten Tomatoes and 41 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.4/10.

IMDb rating
4.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes
20%
worldwide gross
$49.5M
Echo Score
47
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The Grudge (2020) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 34m (94 min)
Director
Nicolas Pesce
Genres
Mystery , Horror
Original language
English
Budget
$10M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Grudge About?

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

A horrific act of violence against a family unleashes a powerful, malevolent spirit. As a detective investigates the disturbing events, she discovers a terrifying curse that has been passed down through generations. The vengeful spirit relentlessly targets anyone connected to the original tragedy, claiming new victims and spreading its wrath with terrifying speed. The detective must confront the dark history behind the curse before she becomes its next target.

The Grudge Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • ghost
  • haunted house
  • reboot
  • female protagonist
  • curse
  • remake
  • gore
  • year 2006
  • year 2005
  • year 2004
  • japan
  • 2020s horror
+38 more
  • yurei
  • japanese curse
  • non linear
  • kid survives
  • old couple
  • assisted suicide specialist
  • shower scare
  • police station
  • bathtub scare
  • hair scare
  • doppelganger
  • police protagonist
  • single mother
  • kid in police station
  • interracial couple
  • fingers cut off
  • car crash
  • house burns down
  • house on fire
  • video replay
  • death of family
  • internet research
  • archive research
  • archive
  • closed case
  • tokyo japan
  • remake of japanese film
  • amniocentesis
  • scene of the crime
  • female police officer
  • male police officer
  • police
  • police officer
  • requel
  • ends with a woman screaming
  • husband wife relationship
  • screaming woman
  • husband kills his wife
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Cast & crew

The Grudge Cast & Characters

Zoe Fish leads the cast as Melinda Landers, with Tara Westwood as Fiona Landers and Junko Bailey as Kayako Ghost. Directed by Nicolas Pesce; 19 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Grudge

· 15 more
From the director

More from Nicolas Pesce

More films directed by Nicolas Pesce, best-rated first: The Eyes of My Mother, Piercing, The Grudge and The Caretaker.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Grudge Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Grudge 20% on Rotten Tomatoes and 41 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.4/10. Our Echo Score gives it 47/100, strongest in character & emotion (60) and weakest in rewatch factor (40).

47 /100

The Grudge Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, The Grudge delivers a mixed experience that balances occasional stylistic flair with narrative shortcomings. The film’s direction and technical efforts generate moments of visual tension, and the ensemble cast provides competent performances. Yet the convoluted structure, underdeveloped character arcs, and overuse of jump-scares prevent sustained engagement. While certain scenes resonate, the overall execution results in a reboot that struggles to justify its place within the franchise.

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

  • Art & Craft 55

    Art & Craft shows both strengths and weaknesses. The direction includes moments of striking framing and practical effects, while certain sequences display stylish camera movement. However, the color palette and lighting often feel uninspired, leaning into harsh yellows. Editing choices amplify jump-scares but disrupt narrative flow. Overall, the film’s visual approach is uneven.

  • Character & Emotion 60

    In terms of character & emotion, performances are generally solid. The ensemble cast brings energy to the material, and key scenes benefit from committed acting. Nonetheless, the large number of characters limits depth for individual arcs, leaving many figures thinly sketched. Emotional resonance is therefore sporadic rather than sustained, resulting in an uneven engagement.

  • Story & Flow 40

    When it comes to story & flow, the narrative is fragmented by a cluttered parallel structure that hinders momentum. Plot threads converge unevenly, and pacing shifts detract from tension rather than build suspense. The final twist feels poorly executed, and thematic potential is undercut by redundant horror tropes. In sum, the story lacks coherence and fails to sustain engagement.

  • Sensory Experience 45

    In terms of sensory experience, the film delivers a grim atmosphere through practical gore and oppressive sound design. Occasional score cues and ambient textures enhance fleeting tension. However, reliance on cheap jump-scares and inconsistent visual cohesion weakens immersion. The soundscape can feel overwhelming without clear thematic purpose. Overall, the sensory elements are at times effective but ultimately unbalanced.

  • Rewatch Factor 40

    When evaluating rewatch factor, the heavy reliance on bleak tone and superficial scares reduces replay appeal. While certain sequences may reward subsequent viewings for their practical effects, the fragmented plot and limited character investment offer little incentive to revisit. Elements of style remain interesting, but diminished narrative coherence and emotional pull undermine lasting appeal.

Plot

The Grudge Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in The Grudge 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

Much like the original films, the narrative unfolds in a non-chronological manner, weaving together several distinct storylines. Here’s a clearer representation of the events, albeit not in the order they’re presented in the film.

In 2004, a live-in nurse, Fiona Landers, becomes increasingly disturbed by unexplained occurrences in a Tokyo house. She confides in her co-worker Yoko that she is heading back to America. Unfortunately, Fiona’s return is marred by horrifying encounters with the spirits of Kayako Saeki and Toshio. Upon reaching her Pennsylvania home at 44 Reyburn Drive, she reunites with her husband, Sam, and their daughter, Melinda. Tragically, the curse of Kayako takes hold of Fiona, driving her to slay Sam and Melinda before taking her own life.

Full summary

The whole story of The Grudge, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

The Grudge Box Office & Budget

The Grudge grossed $49.5 million worldwide on a $10 million budget, 5.0 times what it cost. $21.2 million came from the US and Canada and $28.3 million (57%) from the rest of the world.

2020 box office

Worldwide gross

$49.5M

5.0× its budget

US & Canada
$21.2M
International
$28.3M
Budget
$10M
US & Canada 43% Rest of the world 57%
Videos

The Grudge Trailers & Videos

7 videos: 2 trailers, 2 clips, 2 featurettes and 1 behind-the-scenes video.

All 7 videos
Official Trailer
  • Trailer Red Band Trailer
  • Clip THE GRUDGE Clip - Bubble Bath
  • Clip The Grudge (2020) – FIRST 10 MINUTES
  • Featurette THE GRUDGE Vignette - Legacy
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Grudge?

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 year does Fiona leave Tokyo, starting the Landers family's tragic saga?

Cars

Cars in The Grudge

11 cars on screen, including the 1980 Chevrolet Caprice Classic and the 1983 Ford LTD Crown Victoria Wagon.

All 11 cars
  • 1980 Chevrolet Caprice Classic in The Grudge 1980 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Main role
  • 1983 Ford LTD Crown Victoria Wagon in The Grudge 1983 Ford LTD Crown Victoria Wagon Important role
  • 1979 Oldsmobile Delta 88 in The Grudge 1979 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Important role
  • 2000 Toyota Camry in The Grudge 2000 Toyota Camry Important role

Seen The Grudge?

FAQ

The Grudge FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is The Grudge?

The Grudge runs 1 hour 34 minutes (94 minutes).

When was The Grudge released?

The Grudge was released on January 3, 2020.

Who directed The Grudge?

The Grudge was directed by Nicolas Pesce.

More films by Nicolas Pesce

Who is in the cast of The Grudge?

The Grudge stars Zoe Fish as Melinda Landers, Tara Westwood as Fiona Landers and Junko Bailey as Kayako Ghost, among 19 credited actors.

How much did The Grudge make at the box office?

The Grudge grossed $49.5 million worldwide ($21.2 million domestic, $28.3 million international) on a budget of $10 million.

How is The Grudge rated?

The Grudge has 4.4/10 on IMDb, 20% on Rotten Tomatoes, 41 on Metacritic and 54% on TMDB.

Does The Grudge have a post-credit scene?

No. The Grudge has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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