AceShowbiz - Mother Mary starring Anne Hathaway has sparked a strong divide among critics despite earning a solid 78% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 23 reviews. Hathaway once again challenges expectations with her role in this musical thriller, which blends haunting visuals with intense emotional themes.

Her latest film, Mother Mary, continues this trend by exploring complex emotional pain through an unconventional narrative style. The movie, directed by David Lowery—renowned for Pete's Dragon and The Green Knight—offers a visually rich and stylistically bold experience.

Mother Mary centers on the eponymous iconic pop star, played by Anne Hathaway, whose deeply buried emotional wounds surface as she reconnects with her estranged best friend and former costume designer during preparations for a major comeback performance. This storyline is framed within a gothic pop opera atmosphere, intertwined with original music created by notable artists Charli XCX, FKA Twigs, and Jack Antonoff, featuring vocals by Anne Hathaway herself.

Critical responses to the film have been sharply mixed. Some reviewers praise the film for finding "beautiful, intense ways to explore unresolved pain," highlighting its haunting and poetic qualities. Others, however, describe Mother Mary as "vague and uncertain," labeling it an "unsatisfying work of art" that struggles to clearly convey its message.

ScreenRant’s Molly Freeman expressed reservations about the film, noting that its metaphors "take on a life of their own," making it difficult to discern the film’s intended meaning. She suggests that the overall essence of Mother Mary is overshadowed by its artistic ambitions, leaving viewers uncertain about the narrative’s actual progression. Nonetheless, Freeman acknowledges that the performances by Anne Hathaway and co-star Michaela Coel help recapture some of the magic lost amid the symbolism and metaphoric layers.

The film also features Hunter Schafer in a supporting role, adding to a cast that is praised for bringing depth and nuance to an otherwise complex and abstract story. With a runtime of one hour and 52 minutes, Mother Mary offers a dense, emotionally charged experience that blends thriller elements with musical melodrama.

Mother Mary is set for release in the United States on April 17, 2026, with a wider nationwide rollout scheduled for April 24. Produced by A24, the film looks to carve out a unique space in the genre with its combination of music, drama, and psychological thriller elements.

Despite mixed critical opinions, the film’s strong Rotten Tomatoes score reflects a significant appreciation for its artistic qualities. Fans of Anne Hathaway and experimental cinema will likely find much to discuss and analyze in Mother Mary, especially given its layered symbolism and musical components.

As anticipation builds for the film’s release, audiences will soon have the opportunity to experience this distinctive cinematic endeavor firsthand. Whether Mother Mary will resonate more widely or remain a divisive work remains to be seen, but it certainly underscores Anne Hathaway’s continued commitment to challenging and diverse roles.