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The Glorias

The Glorias

2020147 minRMidcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
Director
Julie Taymor
Starring
Julianne Moore, Alicia Vikander, Lulu Wilson, Ryan Kiera Armstrong

An equal rights crusader, journalist and activist: Gloria Steinem embodies these and more. From her role in the revolutionary women's rights movement to her travels throughout the U.S. and around the world, Steinem has made an everlasting mark on modern history. A nontraditional chronicle of a trailblazing life.

Where to watch

Where can I watch The Glorias?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists The Glorias to rent or buy on Apple TV, and on no subscription service.

Rent / Buy

Buy · $7.99

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about The Glorias?

The Glorias earns 7 badges, led by Cult Classic and Star-studded.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Cast

Reception

Is The Glorias worth watching?

The Glorias' Midcredits score is the 47th percentile of all films, from 9K ratings across 6 sources. 46% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

47th percentile

Better received than 47% of films

22nd percentile among Biography49th percentile among 2020s
Acclaim (how much people like it)48th
Approval (how many liked it)46th

61 /100

48th percentile of all films

24th percentile among Biography49th percentile among 2020s

Critics 58 · Audience 61

Critics and audiences broadly agree.

Rating distribution

Ratings scatter across the whole scale — one of the most divisive reactions in the catalog.

46% liked it

46th percentile of all films

21st percentile among Biography48th percentile among 2020s
46% rated it 7–1054% rated it 1–6

Critics 66% · Audience 83%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of audiences approved than critics.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 0 wins / 3 noms overall

86th percentile

9K ratings across platforms

69th percentile among Biography86th percentile among 2020s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 25% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$20M
Worldwide gross$31K

Returned 0.0× its budget — 8th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree the film has strong performances and a non-linear, creatively ambitious structure, but differ on whether that ambition pays off or feels messy and self-indulgent.

Fans praised

  • Stellar performances from Julianne Moore, Alicia Vikander, and supporting cast
  • Creative narrative device with multiple Glorias interacting on a bus
  • Inspirational, emotionally resonant tribute to an iconic activist

Detractors panned

  • Overlong, slow pacing and lack of narrative focus
  • Confusing nonlinear structure and overly artsy stylistic choices
  • Fails to capture depth, feels like a hagiographic highlight reel

What stands out

Acting78

Julianne Moore and Alicia Vikander deliver standout performances; Bette Midler, supporting cast also praised

CinematographyDivisive72

Visually ambitious with striking color work and symbolic imagery; some find it distracting

OriginalityDivisive70

Multiple Glorias and bus framing praised as inventive by fans; detractors see it as gimmicky and over-stylized

Emotional impactDivisive68

Many fans deeply moved by Steinem's journey and the tribute; detractors find it uninspiring

DialogueDivisive50

Dialogue described as timid or preachy by some; quotable moments noted by fans

CharactersDivisive45

Supporting characters called paper-thin and lacking development; Steinem herself well-drawn

Plot and storyDivisive42

Nonlinear timeline and episodic structure criticized as unfocused and messy by detractors; fans find it evocative

Pacing25

Consensus that the film is at least 30 minutes too long; drags in sections

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Women

Women scored it 44 points higher than men.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Critics vs users 3 points apart
  • US vs non-US 7 points apart

Watch experience

What is The Glorias like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Feel-good: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something warm that leaves you smiling.

It is gentle, takes its time and leaves you hopeful. Skip it when you want things to move fast.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Patience.

What it feels like

Feel-good.

Moods
HopefulContemplativeMelancholic
Heaviest: late
Warm humor
Register
WarmSolemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.Sentimental · 8% of films
Told as
Nonlinear · 6% of films: Events shown out of chronological order.Frame story · 5% of films: A story told inside another — someone is recounting it.
ToneThe film treats Steinem's life story with deep reverence and warmth, playing the biographical material straight while blending realistic scenes with fantastical, metaphorical bus-ride sequences that keep the telling from becoming dry or overly sentimental.
The rideThe mood shifts from reflective and occasionally melancholic in childhood scenes to hopeful and contemplative as Steinem finds her activist voice, with the heaviest emotional weight toward the end.
StructureThe film cuts between different ages of Gloria Steinem, shown in overlapping scenes and cross-country bus conversations with her younger selves, framed by the metaphor of a bus journey through her life.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Hopeful.

The answer rests on this: HopefulThought-provoking
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves the viewer feeling inspired by Steinem's resilience and the slow but steady progress of the women's rights movement, while also prompting reflection on ongoing inequalities.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Rags
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3% (this title): Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% (this title) · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Rags to riches: A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition. · Social ascent: A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).

3% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe synopsis covers Gloria Steinem's journey from a nomadic, unconventional childhood to becoming a world-renowned writer, activist and organizer for women's rights, which traces a social ascent driven by personal conviction rather than wealth or fame.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% (this title) · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5% (this title)
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9% (this title): Community 14% (this title) · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Society

Community · 14% of filmsIdentity · 14% of filmsFreedom · 5% of films
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores Steinem's role in building and advancing a collective movement for women's rights, while also examining how her personal identity and search for freedom drove her activism.
StanceThe film celebrates Gloria Steinem's life and the women's rights movement, treating her activism as a positive force with societal-scale consequences.

The world

Mid 20th centuryUrbanRuralIn transitStylized realism
Orchestral modernFolkSupportive music · original score
SettingAmerica and various global locations across Gloria Steinem's childhood and activist career
MusicLikely a blended score supporting the film's emotional arc, but no composer is confirmed from available data.

Content guide

Is The Glorias okay for kids?

R

The Glorias is rated R: “Rated R for some language and brief lewd images” (MPAA). As of August 31, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at mild (22/100), sexual content at mild (20/100), language at mild (22/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (33/100) and frightening material at minimal (11/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 7 other countries
  • UK12
  • CanadaR
  • Belgium18
  • Netherlands16
  • Poland18
  • PortugalM/18
  • Sweden15
Overall
Mild · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Mild
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Mild
too few votes to rank (5 votes)
Profanity
Mild
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Frightening / Intense
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (3 votes)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (17 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does The Glorias have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in The Glorias?

Cast

4 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Julianne Moore
as Gloria
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Alicia Vikander
as Gloria
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Lulu Wilson
as Gloria
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.
Ryan Kiera Armstrong
as Gloria
Timothy Hutton
as Leo Steinem
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Janelle Monáe
as Dorothy Pitman Hughes
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.
Enid Graham
as Ruth Steinem
Bette Midler
as Bella Abzug
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Gloria Steinem
as Gloria
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Peggy Sheffield
as Woman Biker

Crew

More like this

What are movies like The Glorias?

Movies like The Glorias include Frida (2002), Madadayo (1993) and Across the Universe (2007). Of the 12 closest matches, two are films by Julie Taymor, and most are biopics.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

11 of these 12 share its character type: mentor and protégé. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with The Glorias?

1.8K other films share the rarest tag below, follows: journalist. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.