Kiss of the Spider Woman (2025 film)

Set in an Argentinian prison in 1981 during the Dirty War, Luis Molina, a gay hairdresser, is serving an eight-year sentence for allegedly corrupting a minor. To escape the horrors of his imprisonment, Molina imagines films starring a classic screen actress named Ingrid Luna, including a role of the spider woman, who kills her prey with a kiss. Molina's life is upended when a Marxist, Valentin Arregui Paz, is brought into his cell, and the two form an unlikely bond.

{{Multiple image|perrow=3|total_width=350

| image1 = Jennifer Lopez at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival (cropped 3).jpg

| image2 = Diego Luna Berlinale 2017.jpg

| image3 = Tonatiuh at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival (cropped).jpg

| footer = The film stars Jennifer Lopez, Diego Luna and Tonatiuh Elizarraraz

}}

• Jennifer Lopez as Ingrid Luna/Aurora/The Spider Woman
• Diego Luna as Valentin Arregui/Armando
• Tonatiuh Elizarraraz as Luis Molina/Kendall Nesbitt
• Tony Dovolani as Johnny Desiderio
• Josefina Scaglione as Marta
• Bruno Bichir as The Warden
• Aline Mayagoitia as Paulina
• Lynn Favin as Villager
• Kevin Michael Brennan as Shady Mocambo Man
• Thomas Canestraro as Desiderio's Henchman
• Eduardo Ramos as Armando
• David Turner as Kendall Nesbitt
• Odain Watson as Villager

{{Multiple image|perrow=2|total_width=250

| image1 = Bill Condon at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival (cropped).jpg

| image2 = 2025 01 26 Sundance Film Festival-6 Full.jpg

| image3 = Tom Kirdahy at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival (cropped).jpg

| image4 = 2025 01 26 Sundance Film Festival-5 Full.jpg

| footer = Writer/director Bill Condon and producers Barry Josephson, Tom Kirdahy and Greg Yolen.

}}

In December 2023, Jennifer Lopez was announced to star as Ingrid Luna in a film adaptation of the musical with Bill Condon directing from his own screenplay. The independently-financed production was executive produced by Lopez, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Benny Medina through their Nuyorican Productions banner, while Barry Josephson, Tom Kirdahy and Greg Yolen served as producers. Choreographer Sergio Trujillo and co-choreographer Brandon Bieber created the dance sequences throughout. Christopher Scott choreographed “Gimme Love.” Upon the announcement, a casting call opened for an unknown to play the role of Molina.{{Cite web |last=Squires |first=Bethy |date=2023-12-07 |title=Jennifer Lopez to Star in Kiss of the Spider Woman Movie Musical |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/kiss-of-the-spider-woman-musical-movie-cast-details.html |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=Vulture |language=en |archive-date=December 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221185033/https://www.vulture.com/article/kiss-of-the-spider-woman-musical-movie-cast-details.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=2023-12-07 |title=Jennifer Lopez To Star In Feature Adaptation Of Broadway Musical 'Kiss Of The Spider Woman'; Bill Condon To Write & Direct |url=https://deadline.com/2023/12/jennifer-lopez-kiss-of-the-spider-woman-1235655935/ |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=December 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221185033/https://deadline.com/2023/12/jennifer-lopez-kiss-of-the-spider-woman-1235655935/ |url-status=live }} In March 2024, dancer Tony Dovolani announced on his Instagram page that he had joined the cast as a mob boss.{{Cite web|url= https://www.instagram.com/p/C5Bw0w0JdAk/?igsh=MXA2aWVidGFwM25vaA==|title="EXITING NEWS! Recording artist and film star, Jennifer Lopez, will star in a screen version of Kander and Ebb's 1992 musical Kiss of the Spider Woman. Our very own Tony Dovolani will play the role of a mob boss! #MustWatch #KissOfTheSpiderwoman #FADSct #fadsconnecticut fadsmassachusetts #jlo #jenniferlopez #tonydovolani"|website=www.instagram.com|language=en|access-date=2024-04-09}} In April, it was announced that Diego Luna and Tonatiuh Elizarraraz had joined the cast as Valentin Arregui and Luis Molina, with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon boarding the project as executive producers through the Artists Equity banner. Luna also served as an executive producer.{{Cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=9 April 2024 |title=Artists Equity Boards 'Kiss Of The Spider Woman' Adaptation Starring Jennifer Lopez, Diego Luna And Tonatiuh To Co-Star |url=https://deadline.com/2024/04/artists-equity-kiss-of-the-spider-woman-jennifer-lopez-diego-luna-tonatiuh-1235879443/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=April 9, 2024 |archive-date=April 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240409181503/https://deadline.com/2024/04/artists-equity-kiss-of-the-spider-woman-jennifer-lopez-diego-luna-tonatiuh-1235879443/ |url-status=live }} Colleen Atwood served as costume designer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/kiss-of-the-spider-woman-review-jennifer-lopez-diego-luna-tonatiuh-bill-condon-1236118593/|title='Kiss of the Spider Woman' Review: Bill Condon's Uneven Adaptation of the Kander and Ebb Musical Shines Brightest in Jennifer Lopez's Dazzling Star Turn|first=David|last=Rooney|website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=January 27, 2025}} Composer and pianist Sam Davis wrote the incidental underscore for the dialogue scenes.{{Cite web|url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2025/01/25/sam-davis-scoring-bill-condons-kiss-of-the-spider-woman/#google_vignette|title=Sam Davis Scoring Bill Condon's 'Kiss of the Spider Woman' | Film Music Reporter}}

On March 20, 2024, Lopez announced that production on the film had begun, with the intention to have a fast turnaround time so she can launch her This Is Me... Live tour on June 26, which was later cancelled on May 31.{{Cite web |last=Geisinger |first=Gabriella |title=Jennifer Lopez musical 'Kiss Of The Spider Woman' begins production |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/jennifer-lopez-musical-kiss-of-the-spider-woman-begins-production/5191811.article |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=Screen |date=March 21, 2024}} Principal photography began in New Jersey on March 21, 2024.{{cite web|first=Gabriella|last=Geisinger|url=https://www.kftv.com/news/2024/03/21/kiss-of-the-spider-woman-jennifer-lopez-now-filming-new-jersey|title='Kiss of the Spider Woman' starring Jennifer Lopez begins production|website=Kemps Film and TV Production Services Handbook|date=March 21, 2024|access-date=March 21, 2024|archive-date=March 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240321213328/https://www.kftv.com/news/2024/03/21/kiss-of-the-spider-woman-jennifer-lopez-now-filming-new-jersey|url-status=live}}{{cite web|first=Adam B.|last=Vary|url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/jennifer-lopez-kiss-of-the-spider-woman-musical-bill-condon-1235825197/|title=Jennifer Lopez Attached to Star in 'Kiss of the Spider Woman' Musical Film From 'Dreamgirls' Director Bill Condon (EXCLUSIVE)|website=Variety|date=December 7, 2023|access-date=December 21, 2023|archive-date=December 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231216103457/https://variety.com/2023/film/news/jennifer-lopez-kiss-of-the-spider-woman-musical-bill-condon-1235825197/|url-status=live}} On May 10, Lopez confirmed on Live with Kelly and Mark that she completed filming on her scenes and that she lost weight for the role of Aurora, describing the shoot as "equal parts exhilarating and exhausting".{{cite magazine |first=Joey |last=Nolfi| url=https://ew.com/jennifer-lopez-kiss-of-the-spider-woman-movie-singing-dancing-8646495 | title=Jennifer Lopez teases 'singing and dancing' in 'Kiss of the Spider Woman' movie | magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=May 10, 2024}} Production wrapped on June 16, 2024.{{cite web |last1=Tonatiuh |title=And just like that… Kiss of the Spider Woman is wrapped! This has been one of the most rewarding and beautiful experiences of my life. Thank you @billcondon3 @tomkirdahy @barryjayj @diegoluna_ @jlo @artistsequity @christogram611 @erikasanz @shaluga111 and the rest of the incredible folks in the cast and crew for making NY and Uruguay a blast. 🧡 |url=https://www.instagram.com/iamtonatiuh/p/C8SazHEua48/?img_index=1 |website=Instagram |access-date=17 June 2024 |archive-date=December 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241212133441/https://www.instagram.com/iamtonatiuh/p/C8SazHEua48/?img_index=1 |url-status=live }}

The film is dedicated to the memories of Ebb (who died in 2004), McNally (who died in 2020 from COVID-19) and Chita Rivera (who originated the title role on stage and died in 2024).

• Prologue – Orchestra
• Her Name is Aurora – Molina, Aurora and Aurora's Men
• And the Moon Grows Dimmer – Aurora
• Where You Are – Aurora and Aurora's Man{{cite web|url=https://nextbestpicture.com/kiss-of-the-spider-woman/|title=Kiss of the Spider Woman|date=January 29, 2025|first=Cody|last=Dericks|website=Next Best Picture|access-date=February 4, 2025}}
• Come – Spider Woman
• I Do Miracles – Aurora and Marta
• A Visit – Spider Woman and Molina
• She's a Woman – Molina
• Gimme Love – Aurora, Molina and Aurora's Men
• Never You – Aurora
• Anything for Him – Spider Woman, Molina and Valentin
• Kiss of the Spider Woman – Spider Woman
• Only in the Movies / His Name was Molina – Molina and the People in His Life

In adapting the musical to the screen, Condon cited Bob Fosse's 1972 film adaptation of another Kander and Ebb musical, Cabaret, as a source of inspiration. This resulted in cutting almost every song set in reality at the prison Molina and Arregui are held at (including "Dressing Them Up" and "The Day After That") and only keeping the ones set in the "fantasies" Molina comes up with, in order to create a stark contrast between the grittiness of prison life in Argentina during the Dirty War and the Technicolor lavishness and beauty of a classic MGM musical film. As a result, the aspect ratio also shifts between the {{ratio|1.85|1}} format during the prison scenes and the {{ratio|1.33|1}} format during the fantasy sequences.{{cite web|url=https://playbill.com/article/what-changes-have-been-made-for-the-jennifer-lopez-led-kiss-of-the-spider-woman-movie-musical|title=What Changes Have Been Made for the Jennifer Lopez-Led Kiss of the Spider Woman Movie Musical?|date=January 25, 2025|first=Molly|last=Higgins|website=Playbill|access-date=February 4, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2025/01/kiss-of-the-spider-woman-sundance-bill-condon-jennifer-lopez-interview-1236267838/|title=Sundance: Bill Condon On Revisiting Kiss Of The Spider Woman After 40 Years & Turning Jennifer Lopez Loose In An MGM-Style Musical|date=January 25, 2025|first=Mike Jr.|last=Fleming|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=February 4, 2025|archive-date=January 26, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126224839/https://deadline.com/2025/01/kiss-of-the-spider-woman-sundance-bill-condon-jennifer-lopez-interview-1236267838/|url-status=live}}

Kiss of the Spider Woman is scheduled to be released in the United States on October 10, 2025.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2025/04/jennifer-lopez-kiss-of-the-spider-woman-release-date-1236366662/|title='Kiss Of The Spider Woman' Weaving Fall Awards Corridor Theatrical Release|date=April 11, 2025|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=April 11, 2025}} It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 26, 2025, marking Condon's first film premiere at the festival since Gods and Monsters (1998), and received a standing ovation from the audience, which reportedly left Lopez in tears.{{cite web|title=Sundance 2025: JLo, Sly Stone, Putin, Ayo Edebiri, André Holland, & Ex-NZ PM Jacinda Ardern Films Among Park City Festival Offerings|website=Deadline Hollywood|first1=Anthony|last1=D'Alessandro|first2=Dominic|last2=Patten|date=11 December 2024|access-date=11 December 2024|url=https://deadline.com/2024/12/sundance-film-festival-lineup-2025-movies-1236200107/|archive-date=January 23, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123160426/https://deadline.com/2024/12/sundance-film-festival-lineup-2025-movies-1236200107/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|first1=Anne|last1=Thompson|first2=Ryan|last2=Lattanzio|url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/interviews/sundance-2025-team-favorite-movies-buys-watch-for-1235074997/|title=The Sundance Team on 2025 Standouts and a Few Likely Hot Buys, from 'Spider Woman' Jennifer Lopez to a 'High-Octane' Rose Byrne|website=IndieWire|date=December 11, 2024|access-date=January 27, 2025|archive-date=January 26, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126112353/https://www.indiewire.com/features/interviews/sundance-2025-team-favorite-movies-buys-watch-for-1235074997/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|first1=Chris|last1=Gardner|first2=Mia|last2=Galuppo|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/jennifer-lopez-kiss-of-the-spider-woman-movie-sundance-bill-condon-1236118447/|title=Jennifer Lopez Tears Up, Bill Condon Gets Political at Electric 'Kiss of the Spider Woman' Sundance Debut|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=January 26, 2025|access-date=January 27, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2025/film/news/jennifer-lopez-kiss-of-the-spider-woman-sundance-premiere-standing-ovation-1236286690/|title=Jennifer Lopez Tears Up as Sundance Premiere of Kiss of the Spider Woman Gets Standing Ovation: 'I've Been Waiting for This Moment My Whole Life'|date=January 26, 2025|first1=Rebecca|last1=Rubin|first2=Brent|last2=Lang|website=Variety|access-date=February 4, 2025|archive-date=February 2, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250202101134/https://variety.com/2025/film/news/jennifer-lopez-kiss-of-the-spider-woman-sundance-premiere-standing-ovation-1236286690/|url-status=live}} It later held additional screenings at the festival, with all showings of the film being sold-out in advance of the premiere.{{cite web|url=https://festival.sundance.org/program/film/67531e26707ccd95bf08845e|title=Kiss of the Spider Woman|website=Sundance Film Festival|access-date=February 4, 2025|archive-date=January 25, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125225336/https://festival.sundance.org/program/film/67531e26707ccd95bf08845e|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/business/sundance-2025-movies-that-could-sell-1235084294/|title=18 Movies That Could Sell Big at Sundance 2025|date=January 23, 2025|first=Brian|last=Welk|website=IndieWire|access-date=February 4, 2025|archive-date=January 24, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124024735/https://www.indiewire.com/news/business/sundance-2025-movies-that-could-sell-1235084294/|url-status=live}} In February 2025, AGC Studios boarded onto the film to handle international sales to buyers at the 2025 European Film Market, while William Morris Endeavor and CAA Media Finance will handle U.S. sales.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2025/02/jennifer-lopez-musical-kiss-of-the-spider-heads-efm-for-agc-1236280842/|title=Jennifer Lopez Musical 'Kiss Of The Spider Woman' To Tempt International Buyers At EFM For AGC|first=Andreas|last=Wiseman|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=February 6, 2025}} In March 2025, Lionsgate, Roadside Attractions and LD Entertainment were reportedly in final talks to acquire North American distribution rights to the film; the deal closed not long after, with Mickey Liddell joining the executive producing team, alongside plans for a wide theatrical awards season release sometime in fall that year. Searchlight Pictures and Mubi also expressed interest in the rights a month prior to Lionsgate's purchase.{{cite web|title='Kiss Of The Spider Woman' Dancing To North American Deal With Roadside Attractions, Lionsgate & LD Entertainment|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|date=23 March 2025|access-date=24 March 2025|url=https://deadline.com/2025/03/kiss-of-the-spider-woman-roadside-attraction-lionsgate-1236283349/}}{{cite web|title='Kiss Of The Spider Woman' Sets Fall Awards Season Release After Closing Roadside Attractions, Lionsgate & LD Deal|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|date=25 March 2025|access-date=25 March 2025|url=https://deadline.com/2025/03/kiss-of-the-spider-woman-jennifer-lopez-release-date-1236348913/}}

{{RT prose|82|6.7|39|Weaving a visually sumptuous web of musical intrigue, Kiss of the Spider Woman showcases beauty in tragedy through wondrous performances by Jennifer Lopez, Tonatiuh Elizarraraz and Diego Luna.|access-date=March 17, 2025|ref=yes}} {{Metacritic film prose|60|15|ref=yes|access-date=February 5, 2025}}

Fionnuala Halligan of Screendaily lamented that despite the "committed" and "sincere" cast, "it's disappointing that what they are peddling has become so distorted".{{Cite web|website=ScreenDaily|title='Kiss Of The Spider-Woman': Sundance Review|date=January 27, 2025|first=Fionnuala|last=Halligan|url=https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/kiss-of-the-spider-woman-sundance-review/5201122.article|access-date=January 27, 2025|archive-date=January 27, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127035853/https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/kiss-of-the-spider-woman-sundance-review/5201122.article|url-status=live}} Pete Hammond of Deadline Hollywood wrote about a "stunning new film adaptation" in which Condon demonstrates that the musical genre is "still fresh and alive and relevant even on the budget of independent filmmaking".{{Cite web|website=Deadline Hollywood|title='Kiss Of The Spider Woman' Review: Bill Condon's Film Version Brilliantly Reinvents Broadway Musical And Finally Gives Jennifer Lopez The Role She Was Born To Play – Sundance Film Festival|first=Pete|last=Hammond|date=January 26, 2025|url=https://deadline.com/2025/01/kiss-of-the-spider-woman-review-bill-condons-film-version-jennifer-lopez-sundance-film-festival-1236268769/|access-date=January 27, 2025|archive-date=January 27, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127182551/https://deadline.com/2025/01/kiss-of-the-spider-woman-review-bill-condons-film-version-jennifer-lopez-sundance-film-festival-1236268769/|url-status=live}}

{{ill|David Rooney (critic)|de|David Rooney (Journalist)|lt=David Rooney}} of The Hollywood Reporter delivered as a bottom line the following assessment: "entertaining, even if it soars only intermittently".{{Cite web|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=January 26, 2025|title='Kiss of the Spider Woman' Review: Bill Condon's Uneven Adaptation of the Kander and Ebb Musical Shines Brightest in Jennifer Lopez's Dazzling Star Turn|first=David|last=Rooney|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/kiss-of-the-spider-woman-review-jennifer-lopez-diego-luna-tonatiuh-bill-condon-1236118593/|access-date=January 27, 2025|archive-date=January 27, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127042326/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/kiss-of-the-spider-woman-review-jennifer-lopez-diego-luna-tonatiuh-bill-condon-1236118593/|url-status=live}} Ryan Lattanzio of IndieWire gave the film a 'C+' rating, wondering what's a "star-making performance [Tonatiuh's] when the package surrounding the actor is otherwise so ordinary and un-cosmic?"{{Cite web|website=IndieWire|url=https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/kiss-of-the-spider-woman-review-jennifer-lopez-1235088738/|date=January 26, 2025|access-date=January 27, 2025|title='Kiss of the Spider Woman' Review: Jennifer Lopez Is an Out-of-this-World Diva in a Musical Movie That Struggles to Land Back on Earth|first=Ryan|last=Lattanzio|archive-date=January 27, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127104006/https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/kiss-of-the-spider-woman-review-jennifer-lopez-1235088738/|url-status=live}} {{ill|Peter Debruge|de}} of Variety praised how Condon gives Tonatiuh his Jennifer Hudson moment in "She's a Woman".{{Cite web|website=Variety|title='Kiss of the Spider Woman' Review: Jennifer Lopez Provides Welcome Escape From Grim World of Argentine Prisoners|first=Peter|last=Debruge|date=January 26, 2025|url=https://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/kiss-of-the-spider-woman-review-jennifer-lopez-1236286799/|access-date=January 27, 2025|archive-date=January 27, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127181806/https://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/kiss-of-the-spider-woman-review-jennifer-lopez-1236286799/|url-status=live}}

{{reflist}}

• {{IMDb title|30400277}}

{{Kiss of the Spider Woman}}

{{Bill Condon}}

{{Ben Affleck}}

{{Matt Damon}}

Category:2025 musical films

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