Mona Lisa Smile | Rotten Tomatoes (2025)

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Where to Watch Mona Lisa Smile What to Know Critics Reviews Audience Reviews My Rating Cast & Crew More Like This Related Movie News Photos Mona Lisa Smile

34%

Tomatometer

151 Reviews

60%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Katherine Watson (Julia Roberts) is a recent UCLA graduate hired to teach art history at the prestigious all-female Wellesley College, in 1953. Determined to confront the outdated mores of society and the institution that embraces them, Katherine inspires her traditional students including Betty (Kirsten Dunst) and Joan (Julia Stiles) to challenge the lives they are expected to lead.

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Mona Lisa Smile

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Critics Consensus

Though Mona Lisa Smile espouses the value of breaking barriers, the movie itself is predictable and safe.

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Critics Reviews

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David Ansen

Newsweek

The cartoon notions of the '50s and snooty Easterners say more about Hollywood cluelessness than about the period the film condescends to...lacking the courage of its own vulgarity, Mona Lisa Smile is as tepid as old bathwater.

Mar 12, 2018

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Antonia Quirke

London Evening Standard

Just what we need: a pyjama party posing as a movie.

Dec 20, 2017

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Glossy entertainment value but far from art.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 26, 2010

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles and Maggie Gyllenhaal furnish well-observed performances that frequently outshine Julia Roberts's reflex characterization in this female variant of "Dead Poets Society."

Rated: B-

May 12, 2009

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Film Threat

Rated: 2/5

Dec 6, 2005

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Garth Franklin

Dark Horizons

Rated: 2.5/5

Apr 2, 2005

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Audience Reviews

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Mariana A The acting, the lines, the plot. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/01/24 Full Review Ma H I probably wouldn’t normally give it full 5 stars as it is not in the league of godfather or aliens. but it deserves way better than average given on RT so I feel a need to help compensate. So yes - good will hunting which has that similar drama / follow your dreams / feel good vibe might be a bit better but mona Lisa is still a damn good film. Well written and acted and making for an enjoyable evening. Also good to encourage young teenage daughters to watch if you have em like I do :) go girls! Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/30/24 Full Review Orson V Writing is bad.The whole ordeal fails to capture the 1950s atmosphere. The way formulaic prediction that Roberts portrayed as Watson is so weak, its like watching her play pretty woman in a pearl harbor era set up. It just doesnt work! The other women in this picture outshine her in all scenes they share. The score is so underthought, it hearts my mind to think. Rated 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 09/08/24 Full Review Geoffrey H It was enjoyable imo, theres alot of uncomfortable dynamic within the movie, but i think the message of the movie is quite clear. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/21/24 Full Review Ana M waste of time, really Rated 1.5/5 Stars • Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 07/31/24 Full Review Lanfranco C Hurdles and Challenges of Teaching Rated 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 06/09/24 Full Review Read all reviews

Mona Lisa Smile

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Cast & Crew

Mike Newell Director Julia Roberts Katherine Watson Kirsten Dunst Betty Warren Julia Stiles Joan Brandwyn Maggie Gyllenhaal Giselle Levy Juliet Stevenson Amanda Armstrong

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Synopsis Katherine Watson (Julia Roberts) is a recent UCLA graduate hired to teach art history at the prestigious all-female Wellesley College, in 1953. Determined to confront the outdated mores of society and the institution that embraces them, Katherine inspires her traditional students including Betty (Kirsten Dunst) and Joan (Julia Stiles) to challenge the lives they are expected to lead.

Director: Mike Newell
Producer: Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, Deborah Schindler, Paul Schiff
Screenwriter: Lawrence Konner, Mark Rosenthal
Distributor: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: Revolution Studios, Red Om Films, Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: PG-13 (Thematic Issues|Sexual Content)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 19, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 25, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $63.7M
Runtime: 1h 57m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SR, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)