The Kitchen (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
The Kitchen is a 2019 action drama directed by Andrea Berloff, starring Melissa McCarthy as Kathy Brennan, Brian d'Arcy James and Tiffany Haddish. It runs 1 hour 42 minutes and earned $16 million worldwide on a $38 million budget. Critics gave it 35 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.6/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 42m (102 min)
- Director
- Andrea Berloff
- Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- Budget
- $38M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Kitchen About?
The premise of The Kitchen without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
When a woman discovers a hidden fortune in a kitchen, her actions trigger a dangerous series of events. This high-stakes thriller explores themes of loyalty, trust, and morality as lives are put in jeopardy and the consequences of greed unfold. The situation escalates quickly, testing the limits of those involved and forcing them to confront difficult choices.
The Kitchen Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- shot to death
- girl gang
- based on graphic novel
- armed robbery
- punching a federal agent
- year 1978
- courtroom
- jail visit
- disposing of a dead body
- pushed down the stairs
- domestic abuse
- wife kills husband
+38 more Show fewer
- hell's kitchen manhattan new york city
- female gangster
- protection
- abusive husband
- power
- mafia boss
- brooklyn new york city
- organized crime
- irish mob
- double cross
- home invasion
- paranoia
- delicatessen
- wife beater
- interracial marriage
- van
- extramarital affair
- attempted rape
- henchman
- f rated
- vertigo comics
- dc comics
- reference to schlitz beer
- miller high life beer
- female empowerment
- hell's kitchen
- woman with a gun
- automatic handgun
- gun
- shooting
- handgun
- knee high boots
- sex scene
- extortion
- jeweler
- payphone
- shot in the head
- funeral
The Kitchen Cast & Characters
Melissa McCarthy leads the cast as Kathy Brennan, with Brian d'Arcy James as Jimmy Brennan and Tiffany Haddish as Ruby O'Carroll. Directed by Andrea Berloff; 15 actors are credited in all.
- Director Andrea Berloff
-
Melissa McCarthy as Kathy Brennan -
Brian d'Arcy James as Jimmy Brennan -
Tiffany Haddish as Ruby O'Carroll -
James Badge Dale as Kevin O'Carroll
Also Starring in The Kitchen
· 11 more- Margo Martindale Helen O'Carroll
- Elisabeth Moss Claire Walsh
- Jeremy Bobb Rob Walsh
- Common Gary Silvers
- Wayne Duvall Larry - Kathy's Father
- Domhnall Gleeson Gabriel O'Malley
- Bill Camp Alfonso Coretti
- Annabella Sciorra Maria Coretti
- Gabriel Rush
- Alicia Coppola
- Ethan Dubin
The Kitchen Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Kitchen 35 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 35/100, strongest in art & craft (55) and weakest in rewatch factor (20).
The Kitchen Echo Score Breakdown
Overall, The Kitchen delivers a visually distinctive but narratively uneven experience that fails to cohere around its core premise of women stepping into the mob world. The film’s pacing is choppy, and character arcs feel underdeveloped despite moments of engaging stylization. While the period detail and occasional performance give it fleeting energy, tonal shifts and predictable plotting limit its lasting appeal. The net effect is a lukewarm drama unable to fully engage.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 55
In terms of art and craft, The Kitchen presents a striking period aesthetic marred by uneven execution. The production design and costuming effectively evoke 1970s Hell’s Kitchen, and some dynamic shot compositions offer visual interest. However, abrupt editing choices and inconsistent stylization create a sense of disjunction. As a result, the film’s craftsmanship is engaging at times but ultimately unsettled.
- Character & Emotion 30
When it comes to character and emotion, the film struggles to deliver fully realized protagonists. The three leads offer occasional compelling moments, and supporting roles add depth in brief scenes. Yet the central trio often feels underwritten, and emotional transitions occur too rapidly to resonate. The net result is a cast that oscillates between promise and shallowness.
- Story & Flow 25
In terms of story and flow, The Kitchen suffers from erratic pacing and a predictable narrative trajectory. The premise of wives taking over the mob offers potential for tension, but plot developments feel rushed and at times lack substance. Repeated reliance on familiar tropes undermines engagement. Ultimately, the storytelling creates a sense of staleness rather than suspense.
- Sensory Experience 45
From a sensory standpoint, the film’s period soundtrack and gritty visual palette occasionally enhance atmosphere. Selections from soul and rock tracks establish a vintage mood, and some scenes employ shadowy lighting to evoke tension. However, the musical choices sometimes feel forced, and sound design inconsistently supports dramatic beats. Overall, the sensory elements contribute style but lack cohesion.
- Rewatch Factor 20
Regarding rewatch factor, The Kitchen offers limited incentive for repeat viewings. While the film’s aesthetic moments and occasional performance beats may register upon first exposure, the narrative’s predictability and tonal unevenness reduce its lasting appeal. With few layers of depth or surprising developments to uncover, it is unlikely to reward subsequent viewings.
-
IMDb 5.6 /10
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 35 Metascore
User score 4.2
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 62% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.5 /5
8 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 2.4 /5
See on Movie Insider
The Kitchen Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in The Kitchen 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
In the gritty landscape of Hell’s Kitchen in 1978, three middle-aged women find themselves intertwined with the Irish mafia through their marriages. Kathy Brennan, portrayed by Melissa McCarthy, shares her life with her kind-hearted yet hesitant husband Jimmy (Brian d’Arcy James), and together they are raising a son and a daughter. Meanwhile, Ruby O’Carroll, played by Tiffany Haddish, is wed to Kevin (James Badge Dale), the son of Helen O’Carroll (Margo Martindale), who is also set to inherit the family’s criminal enterprise. The timid Claire Walsh, depicted by Elisabeth Moss, is suffering under the abusive grip of her husband Rob (Jeremy Bobb).
Full summary
The whole story of The Kitchen, scene by scene, with the ending explained
The Kitchen Box Office & Budget
The Kitchen grossed $16 million worldwide on a $38 million budget, 42% of what it cost. $12.2 million came from the US and Canada and $3.8 million (24%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$16M
42% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $12.2M
- International
- $3.8M
- Budget
- $38M
How Well Do You Know The Kitchen?
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What year does 'The Kitchen' take place?
Cars in The Kitchen
42 cars on screen, including the 1971 Chevrolet Nova and the 1970 Ford Econoline.
-
1971 Chevrolet Nova Important role -
1970 Ford Econoline Important role -
1980 Plymouth Volaré Important role -
1977 Cadillac Sedan DeVille Minor role
The Kitchen Also Known As
31 alternative titles, including “Кухня” and “Las reinas del crimen”.
- Also known as
-
- Кухня
- Las reinas del crimen
- Le regine del crimine
- ザ・キッチン:2019
- 地獄廚房
- 地狱厨房
- Les Baronnes
- Кралици на престъпността
- Адская кухня
- Королеви криміналу
- Χελς Κίτσεν: Οι Βασίλισσες του Εγκλήματος
- Rainhas do Crime
+19 more Show fewer
- Królowe zbrodni
- Краљице злочина
- Pekelná kuchyně
- La cocina del infierno
- A bűn királynői
- 더 키친
- Kráľovné zločinu
- The Kitchen - Queens of Crime
- קיטצ'ן
- Suç Kraliçeleri
- Virtuve
- เดอะ คิทเช่น อาชญากรตัวแม่
- Les Reines de Hell's Kitchen
- Bucătăria iadului
- ザ・キッチン
- Pragaro virtuvės karalienės
- Nhà Bếp
- The Kitchen: Queens of Crime
- द किचन
Seen The Kitchen?
Movies Like The Kitchen
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Killing, High Heat and Heist.
The Kitchen FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Kitchen, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Kitchen?
The Kitchen runs 1 hour 42 minutes (102 minutes).
When was The Kitchen released?
The Kitchen was released on August 9, 2019.
Who directed The Kitchen?
The Kitchen was directed by Andrea Berloff.
Who is in the cast of The Kitchen?
The Kitchen stars Melissa McCarthy as Kathy Brennan, Brian d'Arcy James as Jimmy Brennan and Tiffany Haddish as Ruby O'Carroll, among 15 credited actors.
How much did The Kitchen make at the box office?
The Kitchen grossed $16 million worldwide ($12.2 million domestic, $3.8 million international) on a budget of $38 million.
How is The Kitchen rated?
The Kitchen has 5.6/10 on IMDb, 35 on Metacritic, 62% on TMDB and 2.5/5 on Letterboxd.
Does The Kitchen have a post-credit scene?
No. The Kitchen has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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