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Mystery horror film

The Grudge (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

The Grudge (2019) movie poster

The Grudge is a 2019 mystery horror film directed by Nicolas Pesce, starring Tara Westwood as Fiona Landers, Junko Bailey and David Lawrence Brown. It runs 1 hour 33 minutes and earned $49.5 million worldwide on a $10 million budget. Its Echo Score is 38/100.

worldwide gross
$49.5M
Echo Score
38
budget
$10M
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The Grudge (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 33m (93 min)
Director
Nicolas Pesce
Genres
Horror , Mystery
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 is in the plot summary further down.

A brutal act of violence leaves a house steeped in a terrifying curse. When a detective begins to investigate the case of a young mother who murdered her family, she uncovers a vengeful spirit determined to claim new victims. Now, she and her family are targeted by the malevolent force, and she must fight to protect them from its unrelenting grasp.

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

Tara Westwood leads the cast as Fiona Landers, with Junko Bailey as Kayako Ghost and David Lawrence Brown as Sam Landers. Directed by Nicolas Pesce; 23 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Grudge

· 19 more
Show all 23 cast members
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

Our Echo Score gives it 38/100, strongest in sensory experience (58) and weakest in rewatch factor (30).

38 /100

The Grudge Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, The Grudge delivers a thinly imagined horror experience that fails to engage the audience beyond sporadic jump‑scares. Critics and viewers alike highlight predictable plotting, an overreliance on loud scares, and a mishandled adaptation of its source material. While the gore and occasional effective fright momentarily capture attention, the film’s dull pacing and weak narrative undermine its impact. Consequently, its lasting appeal remains limited.

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

  • Art & Craft 38

    ART receives a mixed appraisal, with direction occasionally praised for its polished execution but frequently criticized for squandering potential. Cinematography and production design are described as conventional, offering little visual distinction, while editing contributes to a sluggish rhythm. The overall craft therefore feels competent yet uninspired, limiting the film’s artistic impact.

  • Character & Emotion 45

    Character work suffers from shallow development, as many reviewers note an excess of unnamed roles that never attain audience connection. Performances from the ensemble are recognized as competent, with several actors delivering solid moments, yet the lack of depth and chemistry prevents emotional investment. Consequently, the character dimension remains a peripheral strength rather than a driving force.

  • Story & Flow 30

    Storytelling is the film’s weakest component, with a plot deemed predictable and overly complicated. Both critics and users point to a confusing narrative arc and an unsatisfying climax that fails to deliver coherent resolution. The reliance on formulaic jump‑scares further masks the absence of original ideas, resulting in a narrative that disengages viewers.

  • Sensory Experience 58

    Sensory elements stand out more positively, featuring pronounced gore effects and a soundtrack that accentuates tension during the film’s few effective scares. Sound design, however, is occasionally judged as noisy, and visual flair is described as flashy without purpose. Overall, the sensory presentation offers intermittent thrills but does not compensate for broader deficiencies.

  • Rewatch Factor 30

    Rewatch potential is low, as the film’s repetitive scare tactics and lackluster story diminish the desire for repeated viewings. While isolated moments may amuse genre enthusiasts, the prevailing boredom and predictable structure deter sustained interest. Accordingly, the movie is unlikely to reward audiences beyond a single, brief encounter.

Plot

The Grudge Plot Summary

What happens in The Grudge from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The story begins in 2004, when a live-in nurse named Fiona Landers departs from the residence of the Williams family in Tokyo, Japan. She appears deeply disturbed as she informs her colleague, Yoko, that she is returning to the United States. Before her departure, Fiona has a brief and terrifying encounter with the ghost of Kayako Saeki, played by Junko Bailey. Upon arriving back at her home in a small Pennsylvania town, Fiona reunites with her husband, Sam Landers, and their young daughter, Melinda Landers. However, the malevolent curse of Kayako has already possessed Fiona. In a fit of supernatural violence, Fiona bludgeons Sam to death and drowns Melinda before finally committing suicide by stabbing herself in the throat.

Full summary

The whole story of The Grudge, scene by scene

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.

2019 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

2 videos: 2 trailers.

Official Trailer
  • Trailer Red Band Trailer
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 is the address of the cursed house at the center of the story?

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
Details

The Grudge Also Known As

34 alternative titles, including “Η Κατάρα” and “Az átok háza”.

Also known as
  • Η Κατάρα
  • Az átok háza
  • Pagieza
  • La maldición renace
  • O Grito
  • The Grudge: Klatwa
  • The Grudge: Maldição
  • La maldición
  • 怨咒
  • Nicolas Pesce s The Grudge
  • 咒怨4(美版)
  • บ้านผีดุ
+22 more
  • The Grudge: The Untold Chapter
  • Rage meurtrière
  • Гняв
  • 그루지
  • Nenávist
  • Прокляття
  • Проклятие
  • Nenávisť
  • The Grudge: Klątwa
  • Lời Nguyền
  • Garez
  • Клетва
  • הטינה
  • 新咒怨 美版
  • Niknuma varā, წყევლა
  • Blestemul
  • الضغينة
  • 咒怨
  • 新咒怨(美版)
  • द ग्रज
  • ザ・グラッジ 死霊の棲む屋敷
  • Pagieža

Seen The Grudge?

FAQ

The Grudge FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is The Grudge?

The Grudge runs 1 hour 33 minutes (93 minutes).

When was The Grudge released?

The Grudge was released on December 31, 2019.

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 Tara Westwood as Fiona Landers, Junko Bailey as Kayako Ghost and David Lawrence Brown as Sam Landers, among 23 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.

Does The Grudge have a post-credit scene?

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

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