Tully (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
Tully is a 2018 comedy drama directed by Jason Reitman, starring Mackenzie Davis as Tully, Charlize Theron and Asher Miles Fallica. It runs 1 hour 35 minutes and earned $15.6 million worldwide on a $13 million budget. It earned 2 award nominations, including Best Actress in a Comedy at the Critics' Choice 2019. Critics gave it 87% on Rotten Tomatoes and 75 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.9/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 35m (95 min)
- Director
- Jason Reitman
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Focus Features
- Budget
- $13M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Tully About?
The premise of Tully without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
Overwhelmed by the challenges of motherhood and caring for a newborn, a woman receives a night nanny from her brother. Initially resistant to the help, she gradually connects with the energetic and insightful young caregiver, Tully. As their bond deepens, the woman finds an unexpected friend and confidante who helps her navigate the complexities of balancing motherhood with her own personal identity and well-being.
Tully Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- baby
- depression
- marriage
- nanny
- split personality
- motherhood
- husband wife relationship
- wife nanny relationship
- female protagonist
- female bonding
- f rated
- nightmare
+38 more Show fewer
- trapped underwater in a car
- falling asleep while driving
- sleep deprivation
- drunk driving
- night nanny
- pregnancy
- kindergarten
- baby girl
- sexual fantasy
- postpartum depression
- plot twist
- mental breakdown
- underwater scene
- pregnant woman's water breaks
- newborn baby
- breastfeeding a baby
- rich brother
- childbirth
- hospital
- breast feeding
- free spirit
- wanting to return to the past
- school
- bushwick brooklyn new york city
- brother sister relationship
- brother in law brother in law relationship
- sister in law sister in law relationship
- forty something
- bar
- anxiety
- party
- trust
- twenty something
- asian woman
- blonde woman
- principal
- maternity leave
- waitress uniform
Tully Cast & Characters
Mackenzie Davis leads the cast as Tully, with Charlize Theron as Marlo and Asher Miles Fallica as Jonah. Directed by Jason Reitman; 20 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Jason Reitman
-
Mackenzie Davis as Tully -
Charlize Theron as Marlo - Asher Miles Fallica as Jonah
-
Ron Livingston as Drew
Also Starring in Tully
· 16 more- Lia Frankland Sarah
- Gameela Wright Laurie
- Mark Duplass Craig
- Elaine Tan Elyse
- Colleen Wheeler Dr. Smythe
- Marceline Hugot Nosy Customer
- Candus Churchill
- Emily Haine
- Elfina Luk
- Steven Roberts Teacher
- Tattiawna Jones Violet
- Michael Patrick Lane
- Katie Hayashida Running Girl
- Crystal Lonneberg
- Maddie Dixon-Poirier Emmy
- Stormy Ent Shasta
Tully Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Tully 87% on Rotten Tomatoes and 75 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.9/10. Our Echo Score gives it 75/100, strongest in character & emotion (85) and weakest in story & flow (60).
Tully Echo Score Breakdown
In terms of its overall impact, Tully excels in its intimate performances and well-crafted presentation but is held back by inconsistent narrative execution. Critics and viewers alike highlight Jason Reitman’s measured direction and the film’s understated visual and auditory design, yet note that the central twist and pacing choices can feel abrupt or overly tidy. While the film’s emotional core remains compelling, structural unevenness tempers its overall resonance.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 75
When it comes to art and craft, Tully displays a measured directorial approach and thoughtful visual composition. The film’s color palette shifts subtly to match its emotional beats, while deliberate editing choices underscore key transitions. Production design remains restrained, supporting the story’s intimate scale. Overall, the film’s technical craftsmanship enhances its mood despite occasional moments of hermetic insularity.
- Character & Emotion 85
In terms of character and emotion, Tully is anchored by nuanced lead performances that convey deep fatigue and empathy. Charlize Theron’s portrayal of Marlo and Mackenzie Davis’s supporting role create a believable mother-nanny dynamic with palpable chemistry. Although a few scripted moments feel uneven, the film’s emotional resonance remains strong. Overall, the performances provide the film’s central appeal.
- Story & Flow 60
In terms of story and flow, Tully presents an initially engaging narrative that becomes uneven as it progresses. The first act offers relatable conflict and measured pacing, but the central twist and its tidy resolution can feel abrupt and diminish earlier character development. Some sequences display inventive structure, though a few narrative turns may strike viewers as clumsy. Overall, the plot’s uneven rhythm undercuts its cohesion.
- Sensory Experience 75
In terms of sensory experience, Tully employs a nuanced soundscape and understated visual style. Rob Simonsen’s score complements everyday rhythms, while ambient sound design grounds the film’s intimate moments. The color palette adapts to emotional tone, shifting from muted grays to warmer hues. This cohesive audio-visual approach deepens immersion and subtly highlights the protagonist’s inner journey.
- Rewatch Factor 70
In terms of rewatch factor, Tully offers moderate replay value through its concealed narrative twist and emotional layers. Discovering the film’s structural surprise encourages a second viewing to reassess earlier events. However, uneven pacing and a tidy revelation may lessen incentive for repeated viewings. Overall, the film’s hidden details and thematic depth provide selective rewatch appeal rather than broad replayability.
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IMDb 6.9 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 87% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 75%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 75 Metascore
User score 7.4
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 68% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.6 /5
109 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 3.6 /5
See on Movie Insider
Tully Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in Tully 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 opening scene, we find Marlo (Charlize Theron) gently brushing her son Jonah’s (Asher Miles Fallica) skin as part of a therapeutic recommendation for his autism. After this moment of care, she approaches her husband Drew (Ron Livingston) to remind him of their dinner plans at her brother’s house, only to find that he believes her brother harbors resentment towards him.
As Marlo, who is nine months pregnant with her third child, prepares for the day, she takes Jonah and his sister Sarah (Lia Frankland) to school. During the school drop-off, Jonah throws a tantrum, but Marlo manages to soothe him before meeting with the principal, Laurie (Gameela Wright). The principal expresses concern over Jonah’s “quirky” behavior and suggests that Marlo consider hiring an aide.
Full summary
The whole story of Tully, scene by scene, with the ending explained
Tully Box Office & Budget
Tully grossed $15.6 million worldwide on a $13 million budget, 1.2 times what it cost. $9.4 million came from the US and Canada and $6.3 million (40%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$15.6M
1.2× its budget
- US & Canada
- $9.4M
- International
- $6.3M
- Budget
- $13M
Tully Awards & Nominations
Tully earned 2 award nominations, including Best Actress in a Comedy at the Critics' Choice 2019. The 2 nominations come from 2 ceremonies.
2 nominations2 ceremonies
-
Critics' Choice 2019 1 nomination- Nominated Best Actress in a Comedy – Charlize Theron
-
Golden Globes 2019 1 nomination- Nominated Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy – Charlize Theron
Tully Trailers & Videos
5 videos: 1 trailer, 1 teaser, 1 clip, 1 featurette and 1 behind-the-scenes video.
- Teaser
- Clip 'A Great Mom' Clip
- Featurette "Charlize Theron's Thoughts on Parenting"
- Behind the Scenes "Charlize Theron Talks Gaining 50 Pounds" (E! Red Carpet)
How Well Do You Know Tully?
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 ritual does Marlo perform with her son Jonah every morning?
Cars in Tully
9 cars on screen, including the 2007 Honda Fit and the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse.
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2007 Honda Fit Important role -
2013 Chevrolet Traverse Minor role -
1996 Subaru Legacy Outback Minor role -
2015 Audi A8 D4 Background role
Tully Also Known As
17 alternative titles, including “털리” and “タリーと私の秘密の時間”.
- Also known as
-
- 털리
- タリーと私の秘密の時間
- Талли
- ואז הגיעה טלי
- Tully. Τα Παιδιά Είναι Ευτυχία;
- Tully - Dieses verdammte Mutterglück
- 툴리
- 厭世媽咪日記
- Auklė Tulė
- 塔利
- Таллі
- Тали
+5 more Show fewer
- 論盡爆煲媽咪
- Тъли
- Pszichoanyu
- Talija
- ทัลลี่ เป็นแม่ไม่ใช่เรื่องง่าย
Seen Tully?
Movies Like Tully
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Tully, Tallulah and Nanny.
Tully FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Tully, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Tully?
Tully runs 1 hour 35 minutes (95 minutes).
When was Tully released?
Tully was released on May 4, 2018.
Who directed Tully?
Tully was directed by Jason Reitman.
More films by Jason Reitman Who is in the cast of Tully?
Tully stars Mackenzie Davis as Tully, Charlize Theron as Marlo and Asher Miles Fallica as Jonah, among 20 credited actors.
How much did Tully make at the box office?
Tully grossed $15.6 million worldwide ($9.4 million domestic, $6.3 million international) on a budget of $13 million.
How is Tully rated?
Tully has 6.9/10 on IMDb, 87% on Rotten Tomatoes, 75 on Metacritic and 68% on TMDB.
Was Tully nominated for any awards?
Tully received 2 nominations across 2 ceremonies.
Does Tully have a post-credit scene?
No. Tully has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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