Widows (2018)
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Four widows must navigate a dangerous heist to settle a debt with a crime boss after the death of their husbands.
The story
In the aftermath of a botched getaway, four women in Chicago find themselves targeted by a dangerous crime boss seeking repayment for money stolen by their late husbands. To secure their safety and settle the debt, the women—led by Veronica—decide to execute a high-stakes heist to steal $5 million from the home of a prominent local politician. As they navigate the complexities of the plot, they must contend with internal tensions and external threats from the crime boss's associates, all while trying to navigate the fallout of their personal losses and the dangerous reality of their situation.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After a botched heist leaves their husbands dead, four women in Chicago are pressured by a crime boss, Jamal Manning, to repay the stolen funds. Veronica, the primary target, discovers a plan in her late husband's notebook to steal $5 million from the home of Jack Mulligan, a politician. She recruits two other widows, Alice and Linda, and a driver, Belle, to carry out the heist. The plot thickens as they discover that Veronica's late husband, Harry, was actually in league with the Mulligan family and had faked his death. During the heist, they face off against the Mulligan family and the crime boss's enforcer, Jatemme. After a violent confrontation where they successfully secure the money, they are pursued by Jatemme. In the final confrontation, Veronica faces Harry, who appears to steal the money; she kills him and ensures the truth of his betrayal is hidden. The film ends with the women finding personal resolution while the political landscape shifts following the death of Tom Mulligan.
- First release year
- 2018
- Runtime (minutes)
- 130
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Steve McQueen
- Writers
- Gillian Flynn · screenplay; Steve McQueen · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Viola Davis · Veronica Rawlings; Michelle Rodriguez · Linda; Elizabeth Debicki · Alice; Cynthia Erivo · Belle; Colin Farrell · Jack Mulligan; Brian Tyree Henry · Jamal Manning; Daniel Kaluuya · Jatemme Manning; Jacki Weaver · Agnieska; Carrie Coon · Amanda; Robert Duvall · Tom Mulligan; Liam Neeson · Harry Rawlings
- Genres
- neo-noir; heist thriller
- Themes
- survival; sisterhood; betrayal
- Premise and plot tags
- heist; crime; noir
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1983 British television series of the same name
- Reception
- The film received critical acclaim, with praise for its direction, editing, screenplay, and performances, specifically noting the blend of dramatic themes and entertainment.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 84 · scale: 100 · review count: 57; CinemaScore · score: B · scale: A+ to F; PostTrak · score: 3.5 · scale: 5
- Awards and nominations
- BAFTA Award · Best Actress in a Leading Role · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was based on a 1983 British television series.; The film was produced on a budget of $42 million.; The film grossed $76 million worldwide.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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