Thelma

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Josh Margolin directs. David Bolen behind the camera. Nick Chuba scores. Josh Margolin cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Profitable at the box office. Produced in United States of America, Switzerland. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 1Released 2 years ago.
• 2International production across 2 countries: United States of America, Switzerland.
• 3Directed by Josh Margolin, shot by David Bolen. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 4Original score by Nick Chuba. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
• 5Editor Josh Margolin shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 6June Squibb and Fred Hechinger and Richard Roundtree carry the top of the cast.
• 7Marketing tagline: "Revenge has never been sweeter.".
• 8IMDB entry: tt23778968 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
• 9Classified under 17 themes, including "widow", "scam", "female protagonist", "los angeles, california".

The technical file

Cinematography

David Bolen

Original score

Nick Chuba

Editing

Josh Margolin

Production design

Brielle Hubert

Costume design

Amanda Wing Yee Lee

Makeup / hair

Denise Baker

VFX supervisor

Ryan Zum Mallen

Sound

Nathan Ruyle

Stunt coordinator

Ryan Sturz

Runtime

98 min · 1h 38m

Aspect ratio (typical)

1.37:1 (Academy)

Status

Released

Budget

$5,000,000

Box office

$12,537,071

Return

251% of budget

Original language

EN

Certification (US)

PG-13

IMDB

Thelma (2024) ↗

Rotten Tomatoes

98% 🍅 Fresh

Metacritic

77/100

IMDB rating

7/10 · 26,784 votes

MPAA

PG-13

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

• 

  ▶
  Zuckenborg

  Clip · Official
• 

  ▶
  Scam Call

  Clip · Official
• 

  ▶
  Rapid-fire Questions with June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Clark Gregg, and Josh Margolin

  Featurette · Official
• 

  ▶
  Don't F*ck with June Squibb

  Featurette · Official
• 

  ▶
  Cutdown 30''

  Teaser · Official
• 

  ▶
  June Squibb Meets Thelma Post

  Featurette · Official

Community reviews

What people are saying

• Brent Marchant2024-06-22
  ★ 9/10

  According to playwright David Mamet, “Age and treachery will always beat youth and exuberance.” And, if 93-year-old Thelma Post (June Squibb) has anything to say about it in this fact-based action-comedy-drama, you can take that notion to the bank. In this story of a spry but sometimes-gullible widowed retiree living on her own, we watch – often in jaw-dropping awe – a feisty, independently minded senior determined to get her money back when she’s scammed out of her funds in a phone-based phishing scheme. Thelma says nothing about her plan to her family (Fred Hechinger, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg), who are already concerned about her ability to continue living on her own, and recruits the assistance of a wily old friend (Richard Roundtree) to join her in her quest to retrieve the stolen cash. The result is an uproarious farce featuring humor that’s clearly outlandish but never implausible or over the top. But there’s more to this offering than laughs – the sight of capable, underestimated elderly folks taking charge over their lives (and, in the case of this picture, even performing their own stunts!) is truly inspiring. This is backed by a potent, poignant (though never preachy) underlying look at what it’s like to grow old and the losses that come with it, a bittersweet meditation on the inevitable changes that come with age and how all too quickly they arrive, material that’s deftly and often philosophically interwoven with the comedy. Director Josh Margolin’s debut feature represents an impressive premiere for the writer-actor, featuring a superbly penned, well-balanced, evenly paced script relating the experiences of his own 103-year-old grandmother, who’s still alive and kicking and whose real-life home was used as one of the film’s principal movie sets. It’s also a triumph for 94-year-old Squibb in her career’s first-ever lead role, one worthy of Oscar contention that effectively depicts a wide-ranging talent that’s been bottled up for far too long. And the film is a fine showcase for Roundtree in his final feature film performance, one in which we see him in a different light from many of his previous roles and in which he’s perfectly matched with his cunning co-star. My only issue with the picture is with the portrayal of Thelma’s family, in which the development of its three principals never comes off quite right, seemingly reaching for something that doesn’t gel properly, an aspect of the narrative that clearly could have used some further refinement. Otherwise, though, “Thelma” (or “Thelmaf” as it was known in an alternate version of the title) is one of the funniest, best produced releases that I’ve seen in quite some time. So hop on your scooter and get your behind to see this one – or else.

  Read full review ↓
• CinemaSerf2024-07-22
  ★ 7/10

  Grandma "Thelma" (June Squibb) is rather cruelly fleeced by a man pretending that her beloved grandson "Daniel" (Fred Hechinger) has been in a car accident with a pregnant women. $10,000 lighter her family realise she's been scammed and she is having none of it. Recruiting her pal "Ben" (Richard Roundtree) - or, more accurately, car-napping his mobility scooter, she escapes from the protective custody of her family and sets off to find the culprit. Squibb and Roundtree are obviously having great fun here as the pair embark on an engaging series of geriatric adventures that illustrate, clearly, that though the body may be weak the spirit is very much alive and kicking - and you know you're in for a decent denouement with Malcolm McDowell in the starting line-up too. I thought Hechinger tried a bit too hard here, but there is still something enjoyable about his at times rather theatrical performance and his dynamic with the charming and formidably ingenious Squibb. Clark Gregg and Parker Posey make up the rest of the family and quite entertainingly shine a light on the problems of parents dealing with an elderly relative - about whom they do, genuinely, care, whilst also trying to live their own lives and keep an eye on a son who has, just to make matters slightly worse, recently split from the love of his life. It does have a bit of a wobble for ten minutes towards the end as it struggles a little to make a point about the stupidity of the bloody-minded but for the most part there's a good deal to giggle at as the pair go along. You probably won't recall this for long after you watch it, but it's a good laugh that just confirmed what I've thought for ages. Those buggies need a lane of their own!

  Read full review ↓
• good.film2024-09-11

  If it was created with a different set of sensibilities, Thelma could’ve easily been a cheap shot at seniors (and a forgettable experience). Imagine a sitcom-style movie with stale gags about how oldies can lose their marbles, their temper, or their bladder control. A film built around a character that’s there purely to be laughed at. Instead, we’re laughing with Thelma Post, and at the assumptions and stereotypes about the elder community that she pierces, one by one, and undermines. It’s great writing, brought to life by an ace June Squibb, firing on all cylinders. Together, they create a poignant reminder that even at 93 – perhaps especially at 93 – you’ve earned the right to maintain your independence and dignity. And maybe set off an explosion or two. Read our full Guide to THELMA at good.film: https://good.film/guide/thelma-makes-you-rethink-your-grandmas-use-by-date

  Read full review ↓

Production companies

Who made it

• 

  Zurich Avenue

  CH

• 

  Invention Studios

  US

• BA

  Bandwagon

  US

Key crew

• Production DesignBrielle Hubert
• Costume DesignAmanda Wing Yee Lee
• Set DecorationSandy Hubshman
• Second Assistant DirectorChelsea Tummolo
• Sound MixerArmando Macias
• Stunt DoubleSean Groves
• Stunt DoubleHeidi Pascoe
• First Assistant DirectorJustin Hogan
• Hair Department HeadDenise Baker
• Makeup Department HeadDesiree Falcon
• Stunt DoubleAndrew J. Neis
• Script SupervisorMolly Hans
• Sound EditorGrant Meuers
• Stunt CoordinatorRyan Sturz
• Stunt DoubleQuinn Early
• Stunt DriverOlivia Salinas
• Music SupervisorSimon Astall
• Art DirectionMatt Toth
• Foley EditorMichael Stevenson
• Associate ProducerTori Jimenez Kannegieter
• Sound Effects EditorGrant Meuers
• Supervising Sound EditorNathan Ruyle
• Sound DesignerNathan Ruyle
• Associate ProducerGian Marco Ettisberger

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

• widow
• scam
• female protagonist
• los angeles, california
• scooter
• duringcreditsstinger
• old-age home
• vigilante justice
• grandmother grandson relationship
• elderly woman
• old age
• absurd
• sentimental
• missing grandmother
• amused
• overbearing family
• telephone scam

Release history · US

When it landed

• Premiere2024-01-18· Sundance Film Festival
• Premiere2024-06-13· Provincetown International Film Festival
• Premiere2024-04-03· Cleveland International Film Festival
• Premiere2024-04-04· Annapolis Film Festival
• Premiere2024-04-05· Miami Film Festival
• Premiere2024-04-07· Sarasota Film Festival
• Premiere2024-04-12· PFF SpringFest
• Premiere2024-04-17· USA Film Festival
• Premiere2024-04-18· RiverRun International Film Festival
• Premiere2024-04-27· Atlanta Film Festival

Also known as

International titles

• 델마KR
• Thelma - Rache war nie süßerDE