Sign in
Trailer+1 trailer

Mommie Dearest

1981Movie2 h 9 minPG

Drama
61
DecentGoodWatch score
IMDb6.7Metacritic557.5Rotten Tomatoes50%72%

A deeply moving, melancholic drama movie about everyday modern life and family, with standout performances.

Good for friends night · thought-provoking · adults

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood

Where to watch

Set your services

Fingerprint

Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

Movies with

Story

Faye Dunaway is Joan Crawford. A star...a legend...and a mother...the illusion of perfection.

Renowned film star Joan Crawford's abuse towards Christina, her adopted daughter, intensifies as her professional and romantic relationships turn sour.

Feels like

  • Biographical Drama
  • Dysfunctional Family
  • Hollywood Expose
  • Psychological Horror
  • Camp Classic
  • Abuse and Trauma
  • Celebrity Meltdown
  • Mother-Daughter Conflict
  • Over-the-Top Performance

Cast

24 of 29

Crew

Directed by
Frank Perry
Written by
Frank Perry, Frank Yablans, Tracy Hotchner
Produced by
Irwin Yablans
Music by
Henry Mancini

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

September 16, 1981 · 2 h 9 min · PG

Released
September 16, 1981
Runtime
2 h 9 min
Age rating
PG
Content
Violence, Strong Language, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$5 million
Box office
$19 million
Available in
42 countries

Tropes

Adaptational Context Change, Fostering for Profit, Establishing Character Moment +9

  • Adaptational Context Change
  • Fostering for Profit
  • Establishing Character Moment
  • Pop Culture Osmosis
  • Ax-Crazy
  • Never My Fault
  • Neat Freak
  • Artistic License – History
  • Traumatic Haircut
  • Homage
  • Demoted to Extra
  • Oscar Bait

12 of 71 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream Mommie Dearest?"

Questions about Mommie Dearest

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Mommie Dearest?

KanopyHoopla

In the United States, Mommie Dearest is free with ads on Kanopy and Hoopla. You can rent or buy it from JustWatch TV Free, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 2 other countries.

Is Mommie Dearest worth watching?

61
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 61 (IMDb 6.7, Rotten Tomatoes 50%, and Metacritic 55). Audiences rate it higher (71 out of 100) than critics (53).

Is Mommie Dearest okay for kids?

PGViolenceStrong languageDisturbing imagery

Better for older viewers: it's rated PG in the United States for violence, strong language, and disturbing imagery, and the viewing guide lists it for adults.

Will I feel good after watching Mommie Dearest?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for bleakness and 8 for melancholy, against 2 for hopefulness.

Is Mommie Dearest plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on pathos (9 of 10) and character depth (8 of 10) more than on its plot.

Was Mommie Dearest a box office hit?

Budget$5 million
Box office$19 million

Yes: it cost about $5 million to make and earned $19 million worldwide, 3.8 times its budget.

What tropes does Mommie Dearest use?

Adaptational Context ChangeFostering for ProfitEstablishing Character MomentPop Culture OsmosisAx-CrazyNever My FaultNeat FreakArtistic License – HistoryTraumatic HaircutHomageDemoted to ExtraOscar Baitand 59 more

TV Tropes lists 71 tropes for it, including Adaptational Context Change, Fostering for Profit, and Establishing Character Moment.