Monster-in-Law Plot and Main Cast
Monster-in-Law is a 2005 American romantic comedy film directed by Robert Luketic. The story follows Charlotte Cantilini, played by Jennifer Lopez, a young woman whose plans for marriage are disrupted when her fiancé's mother, Viola Fields, portrayed by Jane Fonda, moves in. The film also stars Michael Vartan as Kevin Fields, Wanda Sykes as Lucy Wyman, and Tyler Posey as Morgan Cantilini. The screenplay was written by Anya Kochoff, and the production was led by Paula Weinstein and Scott Kroopf. For more on the film's production background, see the studio page on Sony Pictures Classics Sony Pictures Classics.
The film was produced by Revolution Studios and distributed by 20th Century Fox. Principal photography took place in Los Angeles, California, with additional scenes filmed in Pasadena. The runtime is 102 minutes, and the MPAA rating is PG-13 for comedic content and brief language. The film's marketing emphasized the clash between the bride and the mother-in-law, positioning it as a star-driven comedy vehicle for Jennifer Lopez and Jane Fonda.
Box Office Performance and Financial Data
Monster-in-Law earned approximately $154.7 million worldwide, with $80.7 million from the domestic United States box office and $74 million from international markets, according to The Numbers The Numbers. The production budget was reported at $40 million, making the film a commercial success relative to its cost. It opened at number one at the U.S. box office in its first weekend, grossing $23.7 million from 2,734 theaters.
The film's domestic gross placed it among the higher-grossing romantic comedies of 2005. Internationally, it performed strongly in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Latin America. The global box office total of $154.7 million represents a return of roughly 3.9 times the production budget before home media and ancillary revenue. For broader industry context on box office reporting, see Box Office Mojo Box Office Mojo.
Streaming Availability and Critical Reception
As of the latest available data, Monster-in-Law is available for digital rental and purchase on platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies. It is also included in select subscription streaming catalogs, with availability varying by region. The film's streaming presence is managed through digital distribution agreements with its rights holders at 20th Century Studios.
On Rotten Tomatoes, Monster-in-Law holds a 39% critics score based on 160 reviews, with an audience score of 54%. Metacritic reports a weighted score of 46 out of 100 based on 32 critics. The film received two MTV Movie Award nominations: Best Female Performance for Jennifer Lopez and Best Villain for Jane Fonda. For the full Rotten Tomatoes page, see the site Rotten Tomatoes.