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Monster's Ball

  • 2001
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
92K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,689
35
Billy Bob Thornton and Halle Berry in Monster's Ball (2001)
Trailer
Play trailer1:32
4 Videos
99+ Photos
DramaRomance

After a family tragedy, a racist prison guard re-examines his attitudes while falling in love with the African-American wife of the last prisoner he executed.After a family tragedy, a racist prison guard re-examines his attitudes while falling in love with the African-American wife of the last prisoner he executed.After a family tragedy, a racist prison guard re-examines his attitudes while falling in love with the African-American wife of the last prisoner he executed.

  • Director
    • Marc Forster
  • Writers
    • Milo Addica
    • Will Rokos
  • Stars
    • Billy Bob Thornton
    • Halle Berry
    • Taylor Simpson
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    92K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,689
    35
    • Director
      • Marc Forster
    • Writers
      • Milo Addica
      • Will Rokos
    • Stars
      • Billy Bob Thornton
      • Halle Berry
      • Taylor Simpson
    • 548User reviews
    • 141Critic reviews
    • 69Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 15 wins & 23 nominations total

    Videos4

    Monster's Ball
    Trailer 1:32
    Watch Monster's Ball
    Monster's Ball
    Trailer 2:04
    Watch Monster's Ball
    The Rise of Halle Berry
    Clip 4:08
    Watch The Rise of Halle Berry
    What Roles Has Halle Berry Turned Down?
    Video 4:04
    Watch What Roles Has Halle Berry Turned Down?

    Photos106

    Billy Bob Thornton, Peter Boyle, and Heath Ledger in Monster's Ball (2001)
    Billy Bob Thornton, Sean 'Diddy' Combs, Heath Ledger, and John McConnell in Monster's Ball (2001)
    Halle Berry in Monster's Ball (2001)
    Billy Bob Thornton and Halle Berry in Monster's Ball (2001)
    Halle Berry in Monster's Ball (2001)
    Sean 'Diddy' Combs in Monster's Ball (2001)
    Billy Bob Thornton, Peter Boyle, and Heath Ledger in Monster's Ball (2001)
    Heath Ledger in Monster's Ball (2001)
    Halle Berry and Coronji Calhoun in Monster's Ball (2001)
    Billy Bob Thornton, Sean 'Diddy' Combs, Heath Ledger, and John McConnell in Monster's Ball (2001)
    Billy Bob Thornton and Halle Berry in Monster's Ball (2001)
    Monster's Ball (2001)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Billy Bob Thornton
    Billy Bob Thornton
    • Hank Grotowski
    Halle Berry
    Halle Berry
    • Leticia Musgrove
    Taylor Simpson
    • Lucille
    Gabrielle Witcher
    • Betty
    Heath Ledger
    Heath Ledger
    • Sonny Grotowski
    Amber Rules
    • Vera
    Peter Boyle
    Peter Boyle
    • Buck Grotowski
    Charles Cowan Jr.
    • Willie Cooper
    Taylor LaGrange
    • Darryl Cooper
    Yasiin Bey
    Yasiin Bey
    • Ryrus Cooper
    • (as Mos Def)
    Anthony Bean
    • Dappa Smith
    Francine Segal
    Francine Segal
    • Georgia Ann Paynes
    John McConnell
    John McConnell
    • Harvey Shoonmaker
    Marcus Lyle Brown
    Marcus Lyle Brown
    • Phil Huggins
    Milo Addica
    Milo Addica
    • Tommy Roulaine
    Leah Loftin
    Leah Loftin
    • Booter
    Coronji Calhoun
    • Tyrell Musgrove
    Sean 'Diddy' Combs
    Sean 'Diddy' Combs
    • Lawrence Musgrove
    • (as Sean Combs)
    • Director
      • Marc Forster
    • Writers
      • Milo Addica
      • Will Rokos
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      As part of his research for the film, director Marc Forster actually sat in an electric chair and was horrified to see the nail marks that the electrocuted prisoners had involuntarily scratched into the wood.
    • Goofs
      Throughout the movie there are conflicting references to its being set in Louisiana, Mississippi, or Georgia.
    • Quotes

      Sonny Grotowski: You hate me. You hate me, don't you? Answer me! You hate me don't you!

      Hank Grotowski: Yes, I hate you. Always have.

      Sonny Grotowski: Well I've always loved you.

    • Crazy credits
      Thanks to Sam, Austin, Gabrielle. Scott Lambert is thanked twice.
    • Alternate versions
      The initial cut of the picture included more explicit footage during the sex scene between Halle Berry and Billy Bob Thornton, which was trimmed down after the MPAA threatened to give the film a NC-17 rating. The uncut version premiered at the Berlin Film Festival on February 8, 2001. The R-rated US theatrical release is the cut version; the version released theatrically in Canada and most other countries is the uncut version.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/Monster's Ball/Joe Somebody/Ali (2001)
    • Soundtracks
      Broken Up and Blue
      (1998)

      Performed by Red Meat

      Written by Jill Olson

      Published by Olson Girl Publishing (ASCAP)

      Administered by Bug Music, Inc.

      Courtesy of Ranchero Records

    User reviews548

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Far More Than Just That Sex Scene
    This movie was not a big favorite with audiences and I figured I would be among the majority on this one......but I wasn't - I like this film. In fact, I liked it even better on the second viewing.

    I found it to be one of those rare movies that deals with racism that doesn't come on too heavy-handed with all the political correctness nonsense. It handled the problem intelligently, I thought.

    The cinematographer, Robert Schaefer, did a terrific job with this, too, and that is another reason I have come to really enjoy this film. The visuals - and the audio - are outstanding.

    None of the characters are particularly likable but I thought Billy Bob Thornton's "Hank Grotowski" was so interesting a character that I concentrated more on that than whether I liked him or not. However, I wound up liking him, anyway, and boy, did his character change in this film. There is a steamy sex scene in here with Billy Bob and Halle Barry that was quite the talk when the film was released. I didn't think it was all that it was made out to be. I've seen steamier moments such as Alec Baldwin and Kim Bassinger going at it in the non-rated version of "The Getaway."

    Overall, this a rough film in spots but I think it is a solid, underrated drama that offers far more than the "celebrated" sex scene. This is a well-made movie.
    helpful•92
    28
    • ccthemovieman-1
    • Oct 27, 2006

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    FAQ1

    • What are the differences between the R-Rated version and the Unrated Version?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 1, 2002 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Vidio (Indonesia)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Vũ Hội Của Quỷ
    • Filming locations
      • Laplace, Louisiana, USA
    • Production companies
      • Lee Daniels Entertainment
      • Lions Gate Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $4,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $31,273,922
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $110,552
      • Dec 30, 2001
    • Gross worldwide
      • $45,011,434
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 51 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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