Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Horror film

Umma (2022): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Umma (2022) movie poster

Umma is a 2022 horror film directed by Iris K. Shim, starring MeeWha Alana Lee as Umma, Sandra Oh and Tom Yi. It runs 1 hour 23 minutes and earned $2.2 million worldwide on a $3 million budget. Critics gave it 32% on Rotten Tomatoes and 51 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.7/10.

IMDb rating
4.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes
32%
worldwide gross
$2.2M
Echo Score
54
Loading streaming availability…
Umma (2022) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 23m (83 min)
Director
Iris K. Shim
Genre
Horror
Original language
English
Budget
$3M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Umma About?

The premise of Umma without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Amanda and her daughter seek solace on a secluded American farm, but their peaceful existence is shattered by the arrival of Amanda's estranged mother’s remains from Korea. A disturbing inheritance awakens, forcing Amanda to confront a dark family history and grapple with the unsettling possibility of sharing more than just a lineage with her mother. As she delves into the past, Amanda's sense of identity is threatened, and she must face a terrifying legacy.

Umma Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • immigrant
  • title directed by female
  • electrophobia
  • mother daughter relationship
  • child abuse
  • bee keeping
  • kerosene lamp
  • korean immigrant
  • cremated remains
  • single mother
  • korean american
  • mother daughter estrangement
+38 more
  • korean spoken
  • foreign language spoken
  • cellar
  • bee the insect
  • honey bee
  • lightning
  • thunder
  • candle
  • cell phone
  • uncle niece relationship
  • electricity
  • fear of electricity
  • college application
  • daughter hates her mother
  • urn
  • hanbok
  • tal
  • heirloom
  • ancestor
  • music box
  • game night
  • mother braids her daughter's hair
  • rummikub the game
  • cat's cradle the string game
  • illness
  • mother daughter fight
  • mother slaps her daughter
  • daughter slaps her mother
  • shovel
  • burial
  • surrealism
  • woman dragged along the ground
  • co produced by actress
  • school planner as gift
  • disposing of cremated remains
  • incense
  • jesa
  • daughter becomes her mother
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

Umma Cast & Characters

MeeWha Alana Lee leads the cast as Umma, with Sandra Oh as Amanda and Tom Yi as Mr. Kang. Directed by Iris K. Shim; 9 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Umma

· 5 more
Ratings

Umma Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Umma 32% on Rotten Tomatoes and 51 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 54/100, strongest in character & emotion (70) and weakest in rewatch factor (48).

54 /100

Umma Echo Score Breakdown

Umma presents a mixed impression, with commendable performances offset by uneven storytelling and visual execution. Critics acknowledge Sandra Oh's solid lead work and occasional atmospheric shots, yet note pacing issues, an overreliance on jump scares, and a lack of narrative depth. User feedback mirrors this division, praising brief moments of tension while criticizing darkness, rushed editing, and limited rewatch appeal. The film lands as a modest, uneven debut.

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

  • Art & Craft 48

    In terms of art and craft, Umma struggles with inconsistent direction and overly dark cinematography. Reviewers point to erratic editing, rushed sequences, and missed visual opportunities that diminish the horror atmosphere. While a few shots receive praise, the overall production design feels superficial. Consequently, the technical execution leaves the film feeling unfinished and undercut.

  • Character & Emotion 70

    When it comes to character and emotion, Sandra Oh delivers a strong, fear‑filled performance that anchors the film. Supporting actors are noted as solid, providing a dependable dramatic core. However, critics observe limited character depth and underdeveloped secondary roles. The acting strengths partially compensate for the thin emotional layers, resulting in a moderately positive character assessment.

  • Story & Flow 50

    Regarding story and flow, the narrative offers an original premise but falters in pacing and cohesion. Critics highlight a superficial script, rushed resolutions, and an overabundance of unexplained symbolism. While some reviewers find the thematic intent compelling, the overall execution feels uneven and at times banal, leading to a middling assessment of the plot.

  • Sensory Experience 55

    In sensory experience, the film presents occasional striking visuals and a tense opening, yet overall suffers from overly dark lighting and inconsistent sound design. Reviewers note that the atmospheric potential is hindered by murky cinematography and repetitive scares. The soundtrack and sonic elements are functional but do not elevate the viewing experience significantly.

  • Rewatch Factor 48

    As for rewatch factor, Umma offers limited replay value due to its uneven pacing and lack of lasting novelty. Some viewers appreciate brief moments of tension, but the majority find the film forgettable and lacking in sustained horror thrills. The modest intrigue of the premise does not translate into strong enduring appeal.

Plot

Umma Plot Summary

What happens in Umma from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Korean immigrant Amanda and her homeschooled daughter Chrissy, affectionately called “Amani,” lead a simple life on their rural farm. Here, they engage in beekeeping, sell honey, and raise chickens while deliberately avoiding the complications of modern technology, as Amanda claims to suffer from an “allergic reaction” to electronics and electricity. However, her tranquil life is disrupted when she learns that Chrissy yearns to leave the farm to pursue higher education.

Full summary

The whole story of Umma, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Umma Box Office & Budget

Umma grossed $2.2 million worldwide on a $3 million budget, 74% of what it cost. $2.1 million came from the US and Canada and $111,568 (5%) from the rest of the world.

2022 box office

Worldwide gross

$2.2M

74% of its budget back

US & Canada
$2.1M
International
$111.6K
Budget
$3M
US & Canada 95% Rest of the world 5%
Videos

Umma Trailers & Videos

4 videos: 1 trailer and 3 clips.

Official Trailer
  • Clip UMMA Film Clip – Nightmare
  • Clip UMMA Film Clip – Who Are You
  • Clip UMMA - First 10 Minutes
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Umma?

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 do Amanda and Chrissy live?

Details

Umma Also Known As

21 alternative titles, including “Um Match Surpresa” and “¡Qué duro es el amor!”.

Also known as
  • Um Match Surpresa
  • ¡Qué duro es el amor!
  • 러브 하드
  • Love hard
  • ‏מתה לאהוב
  • A szerelem illata
  • 真愛難題
  • Milostná past
  • 用力去爱
  • Неуловимый аромат любви
  • Аромат кохання
  • Zor Aşk
+9 more
  • Miłosna pułapka
  • Ljubavna zamka
  • Yêu Hết Mình
  • Meilės kvapas
  • Трудна любов
  • الحب صعب
  • 愛情很難
  • ラブ・ハード
  • Ljubi močno

Seen Umma?

FAQ

Umma FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is Umma?

Umma runs 1 hour 23 minutes (83 minutes).

When was Umma released?

Umma was released on March 18, 2022.

Who directed Umma?

Umma was directed by Iris K. Shim.

More films by Iris K. Shim

Who is in the cast of Umma?

Umma stars MeeWha Alana Lee as Umma, Sandra Oh as Amanda and Tom Yi as Mr. Kang, among 9 credited actors.

How much did Umma make at the box office?

Umma grossed $2.2 million worldwide ($2.1 million domestic, $111,568 international) on a budget of $3 million.

How is Umma rated?

Umma has 4.7/10 on IMDb, 32% on Rotten Tomatoes, 51 on Metacritic and 53% on TMDB.

Does Umma have a post-credit scene?

No. Umma has no extra scene during or after the credits.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app