Common Sense Media Review
By Monique Jones
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Good, if choppy, queer period drama; language, drug use.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Hedda
What's the Story?
Set in 1950s England, HEDDA follows Hedda Gabler (Tessa Thompson), a former bohemian who has become a lady of the manor since marrying George Tesman (Tom Bateman), a scholar looking for employment at a reputable university. Hedda's house party turns into a night of chaos when her former love interest, Eileen Lovborg (Nina Hoss)—who also happens to be George's rival for a university position—shows up. Hedda takes advantage of Eileen's flaws and weak points to sabotage her in the hopes of securing the job for George.
Is It Any Good?
On the surface, this is an intriguing, well-made, and important movie in terms of bringing midcentury-style filmmaking and storytelling into the 21st century. Just like she did in Sylvie's Love, Thompson plants a flag in Hedda for all of the lost stories that women of color could have told during Hollywood's Golden Age. And people of color who also love vintage movies will likely enjoy seeing Thompson don the air of a British society woman in midcentury England. (That said, her accent here feels a bit like it enters the room before she does, which could take viewers out of her otherwise stellar performance.)
As far as the story itself goes, it's interesting enough to keep viewers watching. But somehow the hour-and-47-minute run time feels like it goes on for much longer. It's tough to figure out whether that's due to the script treatment, Nia DaCosta's direction, or both. Even though Hedda is stuffed to the gills with character and drama, it can feel surprisingly empty. The most thought-provoking part is seeing how Hedda tries to force others to submit to her whims. She herself is described as a "coward" for not living her truth with Eileen and marrying George instead, but she still can't allow Eileen to be happy with Thea (Imogen Poots). Even though Hedda is no longer in Eileen's life, she still wants to control Eileen and ruin all possibility of her success, either as vengeance or some kind of self-hate. That is, if Hedda can't be happy, then no one can be happy. Sometimes, it feels like that extends to viewers as well.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the role that morality plays in the events of Hedda. What kind of morals does Hedda have, if any? Do characters have to be moral to be sympathetic?
How are race and queerness depicted in the film? Why is diverse representation important in the media?
How does Hedda try to manage her feelings for Eileen? Is she successful?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 22, 2025
- On DVD or streaming : October 29, 2025
- Cast : Tessa Thompson , Nina Hoss , Imogen Poots , Nicholas Pinnock
- Director : Nia DaCosta
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Black Movie Director(s) , African American Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s) , Black Movie Writer(s)
- Studios : Amazon MGM Studios , Prime Video
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Activism ( Gender equality )
- Run time : 107 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sexual content, language, drug use and brief nudity
- Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : November 7, 2025
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