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Drama thriller

Widows (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch

Widows (2018) movie poster

Widows is a 2018 drama thriller starring Viola Davis as Veronica, Michelle Rodriguez and Elizabeth Debicki. It runs 2 hours 9 minutes and earned $76 million worldwide on a $42 million budget. It earned 5 award nominations, including Best Acting Ensemble at the Critics' Choice 2019. Critics gave it 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and 84 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.8/10. Rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

IMDb rating
6.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes
91%
worldwide gross
$76M
award nominations
5
Widows (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 9m (129 min)
Genres
Drama , Thriller , Romance , Crime
Original language
English
Budget
$42M
After the credits
Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
The story

What Is Widows About?

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

Following the deaths of their respective husbands—notorious criminals—four women find themselves burdened by their debts and entangled in a dangerous criminal enterprise. Veronica, Alice, Linda, and Belle, each facing their own struggles, are drawn together in Chicago and must band together to survive the fallout. They navigate a world of violence and betrayal as they attempt to forge a new path and confront the legacy of their deceased spouses.

Widows Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • heist
  • politics
  • female nudity
  • widow
  • funeral
  • betrayal
  • theft
  • dog
  • murder
  • baby
  • spa
  • bar
+38 more
  • sex scene
  • driver
  • priest
  • restaurant
  • babysitter
  • grief
  • interrupted sex
  • woman on top sex
  • female topless nudity
  • based on tv series
  • politician
  • girl gang
  • crime boss
  • outlaw woman
  • boxing training
  • punching bag
  • domestic violence
  • remake
  • robbery
  • husband wife relationship
  • black american
  • african american
  • chicago illinois
  • money
  • interracial marriage
  • flashback
  • flash forward
  • shot in the head
  • shot in the back
  • shooting
  • pursuit
  • corruption
  • political corruption
  • alderman
  • sex
  • baby boy
  • family relationships
  • beauty salon
Where to watch

Where to Watch Widows

Rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

Widows Cast & Characters

Viola Davis leads the cast as Veronica, with Michelle Rodriguez as Linda and Elizabeth Debicki as Alice.

Ratings

Widows Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Widows 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and 84 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 69/100, strongest in character & emotion (85) and weakest in rewatch factor (55).

69 /100

Widows Echo Score Breakdown

Widows demonstrates strong character portrayals and striking visual composition but is hindered by uneven narrative pacing and occasional plot clichés. Reviews praise the ensemble performances and carefully composed cinematography that underscore the film’s thematic undercurrents. However, many note that the second half falters under an overambitious storyline and discontinuous editing. Overall, Widows offers compelling craft and acting yet delivers a mixed dramatic experience.

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

  • Art & Craft 75

    In terms of art and craft, Widows delivers consistently striking cinematography and deliberate production design that capture Chicago’s gritty atmosphere. Critics and users alike highlight long single-take sequences and inventive framing that reinforce thematic tension. Editing, however, is occasionally uneven, resulting in jarring transitions between narrative threads. Overall, the film’s visual design impresses despite sporadic craft inconsistencies.

  • Character & Emotion 85

    When it comes to character and emotion, Widows excels through its compelling ensemble performances led by Viola Davis’s nuanced portrayal of a grieving leader. The cast’s strong chemistry and layered interactions evoke genuine empathy, even as some minor roles receive less development. Overall, the acting achieves a resonant emotional core that carries the film.

  • Story & Flow 60

    In terms of story and flow, Widows offers an ambitious blend of political intrigue and heist elements that engage initially but struggle with coherence in the second half. Viewers note moments of gripping tension alongside abrupt tonal shifts and familiar genre beats. Overall, the uneven pacing and predictable twists temper the film’s narrative impact.

  • Sensory Experience 70

    When evaluating sensory experience, Widows employs an understated yet atmospheric score and sound design that heighten the film’s tension. Visual style is anchored by a restrained color palette and inventive camera movements, although inconsistent editing occasionally disrupts cohesion. Overall, the auditory and visual elements create a distinctive mood even as a few technical irregularities persist.

  • Rewatch Factor 55

    In terms of rewatch factor, Widows presents several engaging moments in its ensemble performances and stylistic set pieces that invite repeat viewing. However, the film’s uneven narrative structure and recurring plot clichés may lessen enthusiasm on subsequent watches. Overall, the balance of strong character work and pacing issues results in only moderate lasting appeal.

Plot

Widows Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Widows 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

The film begins with a dynamic introduction to its main characters during an intense heist sequence. Veronica (Viola Davis) and Harry Rawlings (Liam Neeson) are blissfully married while Linda (Michelle Rodriguez) and Carlos Perelli (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) run a small shop, who juggle their responsibilities with their two children, Xavy (Alejandro Verdin) and Gracie (Bailey Rhyse Walters). In stark contrast, Alice Gunner (Elizabeth Debicki) suffers abuse from her husband, Florek (Jon Bernthal), despite his occasional attempts to make amends. Meanwhile, Jimmy Nunn (Coby Goss) shares a tender goodbye kiss with his wife, Amanda (Carrie Coon).

The narrative swiftly transitions to chaos as four men, after a successful heist, find themselves chased by the police. Their escape ends tragically when their getaway van explodes, leaving Veronica to awaken in solitude.

Full summary

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

Read the full summary
Box office

Widows Box Office & Budget

Widows grossed $76 million worldwide on a $42 million budget, 1.8 times what it cost. $42.4 million came from the US and Canada and $33.6 million (44%) from the rest of the world.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$76M

1.8× its budget

US & Canada
$42.4M
International
$33.6M
Budget
$42M
US & Canada 56% Rest of the world 44%
Awards

Widows Awards & Nominations

Widows earned 5 award nominations, including Best Acting Ensemble at the Critics' Choice 2019. The 5 nominations come from 3 ceremonies, the most at the Critics' Choice 2019.

5 nominations3 ceremonies

Videos

Widows Trailers & Videos

6 videos: 1 trailer, 1 teaser and 4 clips.

All 6 videos
Official Trailer
  • Teaser
  • Clip Widows | "Pull This Off" Clip | 20th Century FOX
  • Clip Widows | "I Know Why" Clip | 20th Century FOX
  • Clip Widows | "Problem Solved" Clip | 20th Century FOX
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Widows?

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 tragic event sets the story into motion for the widows?

Cars

Cars in Widows

71 cars on screen, including the 2009 Chevrolet Express and the 2003 Dodge Sprinter.

All 71 cars
  • 2009 Chevrolet Express in Widows 2009 Chevrolet Express Important role
  • 2003 Dodge Sprinter in Widows 2003 Dodge Sprinter Important role
  • 2015 Lincoln Navigator in Widows 2015 Lincoln Navigator Important role
  • 2003 Lincoln Town Car in Widows 2003 Lincoln Town Car Important role
Details

Widows Also Known As

37 alternative titles, including “Viudas” and “寡妇劫案”.

Also known as
  • Viudas
  • 寡妇劫案
  • 寡妇特工
  • 寡婦
  • 以寡敌众
  • As Viúvas
  • Les Veuves
  • Вдовы
  • Văduve
  • Вдовици
  • Dul Kadınlar
  • Вдови
+25 more
  • Οι Χήρες
  • Widows - Eredità criminale
  • Widows - Tödliche Witwen
  • אלמנות
  • 剋.寡婦
  • Vdovy
  • 위도우즈
  • Nyughatatlan özvegyek
  • Viúvas
  • Lesed
  • Našlės
  • Wdowy
  • Удовице
  • Veuves
  • ロスト・マネー 偽りの報酬
  • Udovice
  • Widows - lesket
  • Khi Các Góa Phụ Hành Động
  • Atraitnes, ქვრივები
  • Vdove
  • بیوه‌ها
  • หม้ายสาวล้างบัญชีหนี้
  • 寡妇联盟
  • أرامل
  • Vídues

Seen Widows?

FAQ

Widows FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office

Runtime, release date, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Widows, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Widows?

Widows runs 2 hours 9 minutes (129 minutes).

When was Widows released?

Widows was released on November 16, 2018.

Who is in the cast of Widows?

Widows stars Viola Davis as Veronica, Michelle Rodriguez as Linda and Elizabeth Debicki as Alice, among 18 credited actors.

Where can I watch Widows?

In the US, Widows is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

How much did Widows make at the box office?

Widows grossed $76 million worldwide ($42.4 million domestic, $33.6 million international) on a budget of $42 million.

How is Widows rated?

Widows has 6.8/10 on IMDb, 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, 84 on Metacritic and 65% on TMDB.

Was Widows nominated for any awards?

Widows received 5 nominations across 3 ceremonies.

Does Widows have a post-credit scene?

Yes. Widows has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.

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