Movie · 2025 · Romance, Music, Drama, Thriller · 2h 8m · R · English
Curator score: 3.3/10 (23.6K ratings)
It's time to step back into the spotlight.
Overview
Valentín, a political prisoner, shares a cell with Molina, a window dresser convicted of public indecency. The two form an unlikely bond as Molina recounts the plot of a Hollywood musical starring his favorite silver screen diva, Ingrid Luna.
Diego Luna, Tonatiuh, Jennifer Lopez, Bruno Bichir, Josefina Scaglione, Aline Mayagoitia, Driton 'Tony' Dovolani, Lucila Gandolfo, Federico Repetto, Lucas Barreiro, Augusto Gordillo, Fabio Aste, Graciela Daniele, Federico Salles, Alejandro Ernesto Balbis Ortiz, Sebastián Slepovich, Sebastian Silver, Noemí Frenkel, David Turner, Eduardo Ramos
Where to watch
Hulu
Curator Review
Verdict
A glossy, emotionally ambitious prison drama-musical with strong performances and striking old-Hollywood choreography, but the tonal blend is uneven and the songs/story don’t always lock together. It’s most rewarding if you’re open to camp, melodrama, and a knowingly theatrical style.
Best for
viewers who like prestige musicals with a camp edge
fans of prison dramas with queer themes
people interested in classic Hollywood homage
audiences who prioritize performances and visual style over airtight plotting
Skip if
you want a tightly integrated musical where every number advances the story
you’re allergic to camp or heightened melodrama
you prefer gritty realism without stylized detours
you need especially memorable songs to carry a musical
Overview
Kiss of the Spider Woman is at its best when it leans into performance: the cellblock scenes have real emotional friction, and the musical fantasy sequences bring a welcome burst of color and old-school showmanship. Bill Condon clearly understands composition, and the film often looks more assured than it feels structurally.
Worth noting
The central pairing gives the movie its pulse. Diego Luna and Tonatiuh make the unlikely bond feel lived-in, while Jennifer Lopez’s numbers supply the kind of star turn the material needs. Even when the film’s layers don’t fully converge, there’s enough conviction in the performances and design to keep it compelling.
Bottom line
What holds it back is the same thing that makes it interesting: the movie is split between harsh political reality and lush escapism, and those modes don’t always harmonize. If you enjoy a film that is more passionate than polished, and more theatrical than seamless, this is worth a look.
Top Letterboxd reviews
mia lee vicino (3.5★) · 2474 likes
kept thinking "Diego Luna is Ben Affleck and Tonatiuh is Matt Damon and J Lo is J Lo" and then the end credits hit me with "executive produced by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon" ...... which could mean nothing
cob (3.5★) · 1186 likes
emilia perez found dead in a ditch
jourdain searles (4★) · 804 likes
jlo… you could have been doing musicals this whole time!!! why did you deprive us???
you can read my review here.
Vinny Simms (4★) · 696 likes
“It’s no Citizen Kane…Call it kitsch, call it camp, I don’t care…I love it.”
A movie musical that isn’t afraid of vibrant colors? In this economy???
1996 · Comedy, Romance · 1h 59m · R · Curator 7.8/10 (359.1K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Peacock Premium, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus
A warm, funny, and emotionally generous queer-comedy built on performance, identity, and the tension between public persona and private truth.