IMDb 7.3 2003 HD

Monster

Monster

2003
Crime Drama
109 min R USA
7.209 / 10
7.3 IMDB

In 1989, prostitute Aileen Wuornos befriends and enters a relationship with a young woman named Selby. Determined to straighten out her life, Aileen's limited education lands her back…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Patty Jenkins / Stephanie Lowell / David Allen Cluck / Guy Livneh / Jay Ostrowski / Tony Taylor / Derek W. Tow / Alice Wymer
Starring
Charlize Theron / Christina Ricci / Bruce Dern / Lee Tergesen / Annie Corley / Pruitt Taylor Vince / Marco St. John / Marc Macaulay

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

harrowing transformative grim compelling disturbing raw powerful bleak intense authentic tragic challenging

Reviews

B
Beatrice Holloway
May 9, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

The sheer commitment of Charlize Theron in 'Monster' is, without question, the film’s most compelling aspect. She is utterly transformed as Aileen Wuornos, a performance that commands attention. The film attempts to delve into the psyche of a…

J
Jasper Finch
May 9, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

'Monster' is a raw nerve of a film, driven by Charlize Theron’s Oscar-winning portrayal of Aileen Wuornos. Theron disappears entirely into the role, delivering a performance of such ferocious authenticity that it becomes difficult to separate the actor…

P
Penelope Croft
May 9, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

Charlize Theron’s astonishing transformation into Aileen Wuornos is the undeniable gravitational centre of 'Monster'. She inhabits the role with a ferocity and vulnerability that is captivating, even as the subject matter is undeniably grim. The film’s exploration of…

A
Arthur Pendelton
May 9, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

This is not a film for the faint-hearted. 'Monster' is a brutal and unflinching descent into the life of Aileen Wuornos, brought to harrowing life by Charlize Theron's monumental performance. Her physical and emotional commitment is breathtaking, transforming…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 9, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

Charlize Theron delivers a career defining performance in 'Monster', a film that dares to look into the abyss of America's first female serial killer, Aileen Wuornos. Theron is astonishingly unrecognisable, embodying Wuornos with a raw, visceral intensity that…

FAQs

Critically, 'Monster' has been largely lauded, particularly for Charlize Theron's transformative performance, which earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress. Reviewers often praise the film's unflinching portrayal of its subject matter and its ability to evoke empathy without condoning the violence. The direction is frequently commended for its gritty realism and its success in creating a palpable atmosphere. It's generally regarded as a powerful and significant piece of filmmaking.