Anne Hathaway's New Thriller Harshly Splits Critics Despite Strong Rotten Tomatoes Score

1 week ago 9

Anne Hathaway on the phone and looking serious in WeCrashed

Published Apr 14, 2026, 11:26 AM EDT

Rianna is the Movie News Editor for ScreenRant. After earning her BA in Film Studies, she began her career as an entertainment writer, contributing to several publications before joining ScreenRant. Her dissertation on the impact of streaming on traditional cinema sharpened her focus on the ever-evolving world of film and media. With 6 years in the industry, Rianna continues to cover the stories she loves while also advocating for awareness and representation of rare disabilities, such as Moebius Syndrome, which she lives with.

Anne Hathaway is never going out of style as her newest thriller has become the talk of the town.

Now, her latest role in the musical thriller Mother Mary has been harshly dividing critics on Rotten Tomatoes, but has still earned a respectable rating of 78% based on 23 reviews. Some critics state that the film finds "beautiful, intense ways to explore unresolved pain," and also a "haunting gothic pop opera." However, others state that Mother Mary is "vague and uncertain," while also being an "unsatisfying work of art."

ScreenRant's Molly Freeman was not thoroughly impressed by the movie, and stated that "Its metaphors take on a life of their own, and it's difficult to determine at that point what exactly Mother Mary is trying to get across." The overall essence of the film seems to be lost in the beauty of it all, and instead, people are left wondering what is actually happening. However, the performances from its cast, including Coel and Hathaway, seem to recapture the magic seemingly lost between metaphors and symbolism.

The thriller is a musical melodrama featuring original songs by Charli XCX, FKA Twigs, and Jack Antonoff, with vocals provided by Hathaway herself. The release date for the A24 movie is April 17 in the U.S., with a wider nationwide release scheduled for April 24. The runtime for the movie currently rests at one hour and 52 minutes.

Mother Mary follows iconic pop star Mother Mary (played by Hathaway), whose long-buried wounds resurface as she reunites with her estranged best friend and former costume designer as she plans a major comeback performance. Directed by David Lowery, known for Pete's Dragon and The Green Knight, the movie has all the makings of a beautiful work of art, especially thanks to its cast, including Hathaway, Michaela Coel, and Hunter Schafer.

Mother Mary will arrive in theaters on April 17 in the U.S., followed by a nationwide release on April 24.