The Prom
Performance & Direction: The Prom Review
Last updated: February 21, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is The Prom (2020) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 6.1/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Romance.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Romance is often anchored by its ensemble, and The Prom features a noteworthy lineup led by Meryl Streep . Supported by the likes of James Corden and Nicole Kidman , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: The Prom
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 2020, The Prom is a Romance, Comedy film directed by Ryan Murphy. The narrative explores the complexities of love and relationships with emotional depth and authenticity. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Meryl Streep.
Story Breakdown
The title presents its narrative with careful attention to pacing and character development. After the PTA of a conservative high school in Indiana bans same-sex couples from attending the annual prom, a gang of flamboyant Broadway stars try to boost their image by showing up to support two lesbian students. The story unfolds naturally, allowing viewers to become invested in the outcome while maintaining engagement throughout.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: The title establishes its world and central conflict efficiently in the opening act.
- Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. Meryl Streep's arc is present but occasionally predictable.
- Climax & Resolution: The climax brings together the narrative threads, providing resolution while staying true to the established tone.
Ending Explained: The Prom
Ending Breakdown: Directed by Ryan Murphy, The Prom concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to romance resolution.
The conclusion addresses the core thematic questions involving Meryl Streep, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the romance themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of The Prom reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch The Prom?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Romance films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of Meryl Streep or the director
- Want solid genre entertainment
Box Office Collection: The Prom
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Worldwide Gross | $187.4K |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
Top Cast: The Prom
All Cast & Crew →
Where to Watch The Prom Online?
Streaming Hub📺 Stream on
NetflixThe Prom Parents Guide & Age Rating
2020 AdvisoryWondering about The Prom age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of The Prom is 131 minutes (2h 11m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.1/10, and global performance metrics, The Prom is classified as a ABOVE AVERAGE. It remains an essential part of the 2020 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Prom worth watching?
The Prom is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Romance movies. It has a verified rating of 6.1/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find The Prom parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for The Prom identifies it as PG-13. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of The Prom?
The total duration of The Prom is 131 minutes, which is approximately 2h 11m long.
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Critic Reviews for The Prom
'The Prom' could have been something special like the show was on Broadway, but instead of listening to the message the show has about negative effect star-power and acceptance, the movie actively dodges those themes. Removing Corden doesn't fix this mess, but it would have been a start. I can't say I don't recommend it; these are great songs and sung well here. I would catch myself smiling at the musical numbers, and I haven't stopped listening to the soundtrack. The film's opening credits are just the actor's names in the logo font, and I got chills with the score and seeing that on the big screen, with Rannells and Kidman reason alone to watch, along with newcomer Pellman. I love musicals - they have an energy no other genre has, but the lesson from 'The Prom' is the same as 'Cats': make something that's not for the masses, but true to the story. Also, the movie gets Streep to rap in the credit's song, and that's honestly amazing. - Chris dos Santos Read Chris' full article... https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-the-prom-the-good-the-bad-and-the-james-corden
If you enjoy reading my Spoiler-Free reviews, please follow my blog @ https://www.msbreviews.com I really love musicals, but Netflix's attempt at a cheerful, joyful, colorful, and culturally significant film turns out to be one of the most cringe-worthy, awfully stereotypical, ridiculously exaggerated movies of the year. From the astoundingly over-the-top (and honestly, somewhat insulting) performance from James Corden and Jo Ellen Pellman's one-dimensional debut to the contradictory narrative, Ryan Murphy's first feature film since 2010's Eat, Pray, Love is a massive disappointment. The Prom is supposed to celebrate equality by supporting an inclusive prom where everyone can go and feel comfortable being themselves. However, it restrains itself from showing a homosexual kiss or really any sort of intimacy, leaving that to the very last second of the movie, but it doesn't have any problems in fully developing a heterosexual relationship meanwhile. The breaking out into songs (which are a bit too many) mostly feels incredibly forced, making the whole film look more like a collection of sketches than an actual movie. A few excellent performances (Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, Andrew Rannells, Keegan-Michael Key), a couple of quite entertaining musical numbers, some nice choreography and camera work (Matthew Libatique), and an admittedly ambitious production design save this film from being a complete trainwreck, but it's still a disaster. Rating: D+
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This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.