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Promising Young Woman
2020 114 min United States of America R 18+
★8.0
Thriller, Crime, Drama
Director: Emerald Fennell
Trailers
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Description
A young woman, traumatized by a tragic event in her past, seeks out vengeance against those who crossed her path.
Budget:
$10M
US Gross:
$6.46M
Worldwide:
$20.38M
Starring
Carey Mulligan
Actor
Bo Burnham
Actor
Alison Brie
Actor
Awards
BAFTA 2021
— Best Original Screenplay
BAFTA 2021
— Best British Film
European Film Awards 2021
— Discovery of the Year
Academy Awards 2021
— Best Director
Golden Globe 2021
— Best Picture (Drama)
Academy Awards 2021
— Best Film Editing
BAFTA 2021
— Best Original Screenplay
BAFTA 2021
— Best British Film
BAFTA 2021
— Best Picture
BAFTA 2021
— Best Film Editing
BAFTA 2021
— Best Original Score
BAFTA 2021
— Best Casting
European Film Awards 2021
— Discovery of the Year
Screen Actors Guild Awards 2021
— Best Actress
Academy Awards 2021
— Best Actress
Golden Globe 2021
— Best Director
Goya Awards 2022
— Best European Film
Golden Globe 2021
— Best Screenplay
Academy Awards 2021
— Best Screenplay
MTV Movie & TV Awards 2021
— Best Actor or Actress
Academy Awards 2021
— Best Picture
Key opinion
Promising Young Woman is a bold, visually striking debut that blends revenge thriller tropes with social commentary on rape culture and accountability. While many praise Carey Mulligan's powerful lead performance and the film's refusal to rely on explicit violence, others find the narrative tone inconsistent and the exploration of its themes ultimately superficial or uneven.
| Acting | Carey Mulligan delivers a commanding, nuanced performance that serves as the film's emotional and narrative anchor. | |
| Production | The film demonstrates visual ambition through a vibrant, stylized aesthetic that intentionally contrasts with its grim subject matter. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay successfully shifts focus away from graphic depictions of assault to examine the broader systemic failures of victim-blaming and institutional enabling. | |
| Originality | The film attempts to balance diverse genres like romantic comedy and dark thriller, but this creates a tonal instability that leaves some viewers feeling the storytelling is incoherent or lacking in depth. | |
| Ending | The conclusion is highly divisive; some see it as a powerful, necessary subversion of justice, while others view it as a hollow, defeatist outcome that undermines the character's journey. | |
| Theme | The film's feminist commentary is lauded by some for its sharp critique of contemporary societal double standards, while critics argue it relies on simplistic characterizations and generalized portrayals of men. |