May December

"Some roles are transformative."

R 2023 · 1h 57m · Drama

Starring Natalie Portman · Julianne Moore · Charles Melton

Streaming on Netflix

May December poster

'May December' Trailer

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‘May December’ is Darkly Comedic Melodrama Carried by Strong Performances From Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman.

Todd Haynes’ latest film explores a controversial issue yet sometimes slides into a strange tone that doesn’t fit with the rest of the movie.Premiering on Netflix December 1st, ‘May December’ is the new dramatic film fro...

M

Moviefone

Moviefone · Dec 4, 2024

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'May December' Exclusive Interviews

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About

Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, a married couple buckles under pressure when an actress arrives to do research for a film about their past.

Theatrical

Nov 17, 2023

Digital

Dec 1, 2023

Box Office

$4.2M

Budget

$20.0M

Return

0.2x

Theaters

1

Director

Todd Haynes

Writers

Alex Mechanik, Samy Burch

Producers

Jessica Elbaum, Will Ferrell, Christine Vachon

Music

Marcelo Zarvos

Studio

Gloria Sanchez Productions, Killer Films, MountainA, Taylor & Dodge, Project Infinity

Themes

infidelity based on true story dark comedy statutory rape pedophile boundary violations older woman younger man relationship existentialism dramedy candid baker method acting reflective savannah georgia complex father son relationship grand melodrama provocative actress tense audacious inflammatory melodramatic scathing wry

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Quotes

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Choosing Challenging Roles in Acting

Kimme Uh, how... How do you choose your roles?

Elizabeth Hmm. Well, when I'm lucky enough to choose my roles, I... I wanna find... a character that's... That's difficult to... to, on the surface, understand. I want... I want to take the person, and figure out why are they like this. Were they born, or were they made? And then that can run the gamut from the more notorious to the... Just anyone.

Mary Atherton-Yoo Why would you want to play someone who you think is a bad person?

Elizabeth Are you kidding? I mean, pick any great role. Medea or Hedda Gabbler, or...

Cameron Tony Soprano.

Elizabeth Precisely... Cameron. It's the complexity. It's the moral grey areas that are interesting, right?

Facing Fear in Performance

Elizabeth Are you scared?

[acting as Gracie]

Young Actor No.

[as Joe]

Elizabeth It's okay to be scared.

[whispering]

Young Actor I'm not.

Elizabeth She won't bite.

Young Actor How do you know?

Elizabeth She's not that kind of snake.

[in soft sultry voice]

Director Beautiful. I think we got it.

Choices Shaped by Time and Circumstance

Elizabeth Why did you marry a man like Tom?

Gracie I was young, and he seemed perfect on paper. It was a different time. My father used to say, "You're either leaving this house in a veil, or in a box.

Cancelled Orders and Future Implications

Joe Yoo What happened?

Gracie Joyce in Mercer called and cancelled her order, and all future orders.

[sniffling]

Joe Yoo I'm sorry.

[sighs]

Gracie And I told her that I'd already made it, and she said that she would pay for it, but that she didn't need it. They were leaving town.

Joe Yoo Where are they going?

Gracie Her sister is sick or something. It doesn't matter. I wasted hours that I could have used.

[angrily]

Joe Yoo You couldn't have known, Gracie.

Gracie I just... I hate things like that. And now I have this cake that's going to go right in the garbage.

[sniffles; sobbing]

Cast

Full credits →

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman

Cory Michael Smith

Mary Atherton-Yoo

Honor Atherton-Yoo

Lawrence Arancio

Allie McCulloch

TV Movie "Gracie"

Peter (uncredited)

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