Poor Things

Poor Things is a 2023 fantasy comedy-drama film directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and written by Tony McNamara, based on the 1992 novel by Alasdair Gray.

Poor Things is a 2023 fantasy comedy-drama film directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and written by Tony McNamara, based on the 1992 novel by Alasdair Gray. It stars Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, Ramy Youssef, Christopher Abbott, and Jerrod Carmichael, and follows Bella Baxter, a young woman brought back to life by an eccentric scientist.

Plot

The story follows Bella Baxter, a woman brought back to life by the scientist Godwin Baxter. Raised in a surreal Victorian setting, she explores the world, freedom, and social expectations through a series of increasingly unusual encounters.

Cast

The main cast includes Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, Ramy Youssef, Christopher Abbott, Jerrod Carmichael, Kathryn Hunter, Margaret Qualley, and Vicki Pepperdine.

Release and reception

Poor Things premiered and was released in 2023, with a wide release date listed as December 8, 2023. Critical response was broadly strong, with praise for its originality, performances, and cinematography. Rotten Tomatoes reported a 92% positive rating among critics. The film won major awards attention, including Emma Stone’s Academy Award for Best Actress.

Source novel

The film is based on Alasdair Gray’s 1992 novel Poor Things. The adaptation retains the novel’s broad premise while presenting it in Yorgos Lanthimos’s distinctive visual and tonal style.