Mother Mary is a 2026 A24 psychological drama about pop star Mother Mary reuniting with designer Sam Anselm before a comeback. Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel star, the film runs 112 minutes, reviews were mixed-positive, and it debuted on HBO Max August 21, 2026. This guide explains the story, cast, runtime, reception, and streaming access. It focuses on facts that help you decide whether to watch now.
Table of Contents
- What happens in Mother Mary?
- Who plays Mother Mary and Sam?
- How long is it and where did it play first?
- How can you stream it on HBO Max?
- Did critics like it and did audiences find it?
What happens in Mother Mary?
Mother Mary follows pop icon Mother Mary as she reconnects with Sam Anselm. Sam is her estranged best friend and costume designer.
The reunion happens on the eve of a planned comeback. The story centers fame, friendship, and creative partnership under pressure.
Who plays Mother Mary and Sam?
Anne Hathaway stars as Mother Mary. Michaela Coel stars as Sam Anselm.
The supporting cast includes Hunter Schafer, Kaia Gerber, and Jessica Brown Findlay. It also includes Alba Baptista, Sian Clifford, and FKA Twigs.
How long is it and where did it play first?
The film runs 112 minutes, or 1 hour 52 minutes. It is rated R for some violent content and language.
A24 released it in limited U.S. theaters April 17, 2026. It then expanded nationwide April 24, 2026, as noted in the CBR review.
How can you stream it on HBO Max?
The U.S. streaming debut arrived August 21, 2026, four months after theaters.
Viewers need an HBO Max subscription to watch, according to the HBO Max release date report. To watch it:.
- Open HBO Max on your device or browser
- Search for Mother Mary
- Select the 2026 film and press play
Did critics like it and did audiences find it?
Critics were divisive but broadly positive at release. ScreenRant reported about 74-78% on Rotten Tomatoes from around 23 reviews, with 60 on Metacritic, in the Rotten Tomatoes score report. The film underperformed theatrically despite music by Jack Antonoff, Charli xcx, and FKA Twigs.
It later revived on streaming and reached No. 2 on the U.S. HBO Max movie chart by August 23, 2026, per FlixPatrol data cited in the HBO Max chart report.