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MOVIE DECISION GUIDE
Parallel Mothers
CAST & DIRECTOR
Directed by Pedro Almodóvar. With Penélope Cruz, Milena Smit, Israel Elejalde.
6.8/10
MOVIHERO RATINGWHAT IT'S ABOUT
Two unmarried women who have become pregnant by accident and are about to give birth meet in a hospital room: Janis, in her late-thirties, unrepentant and happy; Ana, a teenager, remorseful and frightened.
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6.8/10
MOVIHERO RATINGYOUR WATCHLISTTwo unmarried women who have become pregnant by accident and are about to give birth meet in a hospital room: Janis, in her late-thirties, unrepentant and happy; Ana,…
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RELEASE SNAPSHOT
Release snapshot for Parallel Mothers.
MoviHero lists October 8, 2021 as the release date for Parallel Mothers. Pedro Almodóvar is the listed director. The listed cast includes Penélope Cruz as Janis, Milena Smit as Ana, Israel Elejalde as Arturo, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón as Teresa. A trailer and 5 stills are available on this page.
Release dateOctober 8, 2021
GenresDrama
Runtime2h 3m
DirectorPedro Almodóvar
CastPenélope Cruz as Janis, Milena Smit as Ana, Israel Elejalde as Arturo, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón as Teresa
TrailerAvailable on this page
Images5 stills
BEFORE YOU PRESS PLAY
Is Parallel Mothers right for tonight?
Pacing, attention and emotional impact are estimates from the current MoviHero Watch Profile, not verified scene-by-scene reviews.
How much time should I set aside?
Parallel Mothers runs 2h 3m. Allow extra time for breaks.
Is it slow or fast?
The current MoviHero pacing estimate is 4/10: a more patient pace.
Is it a good choice when I am tired?
The attention estimate is 6/10. Expect to follow the story rather than use it as background viewing.
How emotionally intense is it?
The emotional-impact estimate is 7/10, suggesting a moderate emotional load. This does not tell you whether the ending is happy or sad.
CHANGE ONE THING
Like this, but...
These share a listed genre with Parallel Mothers. Profile differences are estimates, not a guarantee of the same story or mood.
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But less emotionally intenseHotel Alcohol2026 · 1h 45mEstimated emotional impact: 5/10 versus 7/10. Shared genre: drama.
But less demandingAngels Near Death2026 · 1h 12mEstimated attention required: 4/10 versus 6/10. Shared genre: drama.
MOVIE RATING
MoviHero Rating
MoviHero Rating: 6.8/10 from 1,073 votes. Updated Nov 2, 2026.
Rating data supplied by TMDB, shown on a 10-point scale. MoviHero audience ratings are calculated separately from scores submitted here.
MOVIHERO AUDIENCE RATING
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WHAT WATCHING IT FEELS LIKE
Watch Profile
Seven estimates of the viewing experience, based on the stored Watch Profile. These are separate from the movie rating and are not verified scene-by-scene assessments.
Pacing4/10
Emotional Impact7/10
Mind-Bending5/10
Scary1/10
Violence5/10
Rewatchability5/10
Attention Required6/10
VIEWER REVIEWS
What viewers say about Parallel Mothers
Selected viewer reactions, in their own words. These excerpts reflect individual opinions, not an overall verdict.
Viewer reaction
“Parallel Mothers: Ghosts That Won't Be Buried Pedro Almodóvar has always had something to say, but "Parallel Mothers" may be his most ambitious statement to…”
Viewer reaction
“Parallel Mothers bespeaks a creative fatigue on the part of writer/director Pedro Almodóvar.”
Selected review excerpts supplied by TMDB. Opinions belong to their original authors.
A CLOSER LOOK
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CAST & CREW
The people who make it land.
CHARACTERS IN THIS MOVIE
Follow the character.
Reviewed MoviHero character guides connected to this movie.
otherTeresaTeresa appears in Parallel Mothers (2021).Open character guide otherArturoArturo appears in Parallel Mothers (2021).Open character guide otherElenaElena appears in Parallel Mothers (2021).Open character guide otherJanisJanis appears in Parallel Mothers (2021).Open character guide otherAnaAna appears in Parallel Mothers (2021).Open character guide
SIMILAR GENRES & STORY THEMES
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MOVIHERO ESTIMATEOutgrowth
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