Molly's Game
{{short description|2017 film by Aaron Sorkin}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Molly's Game
| image = Molly's Game.png
| alt = A side profile of a woman's face, she is wearing sunglasses and the image is in black and white
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Aaron Sorkin
| producer = {{Plainlist|
- Mark Gordon
- Amy Pascal
- Matt Jackson
}}
| screenplay = Aaron Sorkin
| based_on = Molly's Game
by Molly Bloom
| starring = {{Plainlist|
}}
| narrator =
| music = Daniel Pemberton
| cinematography = Charlotte Bruus Christensen
| editing = {{Plainlist|
- Alan Baumgarten
- Josh Schaeffer
- Elliot Graham
}}
| studio = {{Plainlist|
}}
| distributor = {{Plainlist|
- STX Entertainment (United States and China)
- Sierra/Affinity (International){{cite web|title='Molly's Game': Toronto Review|website=Screen International|first=Wendy|last=Ide|date=9 September 2017|access-date=December 3, 2021|url=https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/mollys-game-toronto-review/5122181.article|archive-date=October 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020173827/https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/mollys-game-toronto-review/5122181.article|url-status=live}}
}}
| released = {{Film date|2017|9|8|TIFF|2017|12|25|United States}}
| runtime = 141 minutes {{cite web|url=http://www.tiff.net/tiff/mollys-game/?v=mollys-game|title=Molly's Game|publisher=Toronto International Film Festival|access-date=August 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816105906/http://www.tiff.net/tiff/mollys-game/?v=mollys-game|archive-date=August 16, 2017|url-status=dead}}
| country = United States
| language = English
| gross = $59.3 million{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=mollysgame.htm|title=Molly's Game (2017)|publisher=Box Office Mojo|access-date=July 19, 2018|archive-date=July 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716231157/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=mollysgame.htm|url-status=live}}
}}
Molly's Game is a 2017 American biographical film written and directed by Aaron Sorkin (in his directorial debut), based on the 2014 memoir by Molly Bloom. It stars Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera, Jeremy Strong, Chris O'Dowd, Joe Keery, Brian D'Arcy James, and Bill Camp.
The film follows Bloom (Chastain), who becomes the target of an FBI investigation after the underground poker empire she runs for Hollywood celebrities, athletes, business tycoons, and the Russian mob is exposed.
Principal photography began in November 2016 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The film premiered on September 8, 2017, at the Toronto International Film Festival, and began a limited theatrical release in the United States on December 25, 2017, by STX Entertainment, then going to world-wide distribution January 5, 2018, and grossed $59 million worldwide.
Molly's Game received positive reviews, with particular praise for Sorkin's screenplay, as well as Chastain and Elba's performances, with that of the former considered one of the best of her career by some critics.{{cite web|url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/insidious-the-last-key-unlocks-few-scares/|title=Insidious: The Last Key Unlocks Few Scares|work=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango Media|last=Giles|first=Jeff|date=January 4, 2018|access-date=January 5, 2018|archive-date=January 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116134301/https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/insidious-the-last-key-unlocks-few-scares/|url-status=live}} The film earned Chastain a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress – Drama,{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/golden-globe-nominations-2018-nominees-full-list-1202634435/|title=Golden Globe Nominations: Complete List|work=Variety|publisher=Penske Business Media|date=December 11, 2017|access-date=December 11, 2017|first=Rebecca|last=Rubin|archive-date=December 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214021531/http://variety.com/2017/film/news/golden-globe-nominations-2018-nominees-full-list-1202634435/|url-status=live}} while Sorkin earned nominations for his screenplay at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, Writers Guild of America Awards, and BAFTA Awards.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-42618187|title=The Shape of Water leads Bafta nominations|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=January 9, 2018|access-date=January 9, 2018|archive-date=January 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109100631/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-42618187|url-status=live}}
Plot
Molly Bloom is a world-class mogul skier with Olympic aspirations, thanks to years of enforced training from her overbearing father. In a qualifying event for the 2002 Winter Olympics, she is severely injured, ending her career.
Instead of attending law school immediately, Molly takes a yearlong sabbatical and moves to Los Angeles. Becoming a bottle service waitress at a club, she soon meets Dean, an ostentatious but unsuccessful real estate developer. She becomes his office manager and is soon involved in running his underground poker games at "The Cobra Lounge". Many famous and wealthy individuals, including movie stars, investment bankers and sports players, are involved in Dean's game. Molly earns large sums of money in tips alone.
Initially unfamiliar with poker, Molly quickly learns how to appeal to the players for tips. In particular, she hopes to please the most successful player, a film star named Player X, by attracting new players to the game. Dean, upon seeing that Molly is becoming increasingly independent in running the games, attempts to control, and then fires her.
Molly, having contacts through years of running the game, creates her own poker games. She rents a hotel penthouse and hires a staff. Additionally, she contacts club and casino employees to spread the word about her games. Player X, along with many others, leaves Dean's games to play at Molly's. Increasingly successful, as Molly gains more money, she is pressured by Player X to raise the stakes. Harlan Eustice, a skilled, conservative and successful player, joins Molly's game.
One night, after accidentally losing a hand to the notoriously worst player, Brad Marion, Harlan becomes increasingly compulsive, suffering heavy losses; later, Molly finds out that Player X, who enjoys ruining people's lives more than the game itself, has been funding him to keep him playing. After Molly berates him for his unethicality, Player X decides to change venue for his games. Others join him, leaving Molly.
Molly moves to New York City to begin a new underground poker game. After reaching out to many wealthy New Yorkers, Molly finds enough players for several weekly games. Despite continuous success, she fears being unable to cover her losses when players cannot pay. Her dealer convinces her to begin taking a percentage of large pots, recouping her potential losses but making her game an illegal gambling operation.
Brad is indicted for running a Ponzi scheme; Molly is investigated and questioned as to who attended her games. At this time, she becomes increasingly addicted to drugs, as the games have taken their toll. Her players also begin to include wealthy individuals from the Russian mafia, among others.
Molly is approached by the Italian mafia, who offer their services to extort money from non-paying players. After she declines, she is attacked in her home, held at gunpoint and her mother's life is threatened. As she is about to return to her poker games, the FBI conducts a raid after Douglas Downey, a player infatuated with Molly, informs on her. Molly's assets are seized, and she returns home to live with her mother.
Two years later, Molly has published a book, naming only a few individuals that played in her games. Arrested by the FBI, she is indicted for involvement in illegal gambling with the mafia. She enlists the help of Charlie Jaffey, a high-profile lawyer in New York, who agrees to help after learning she has been protecting innocent people affected by her poker games. While she is in New York awaiting trial, her father, Larry, seeks her out and attempts to reconcile. He admits he was overbearing and that he treated Molly differently than her brothers, because she had known about his marital infidelity.
Charlie reads Molly's book and becomes interested in helping her case, as he feels she has not committed serious enough wrongdoing to merit prison. He negotiates a deal for Molly to receive no sentence and for her money to be returned in exchange for her hard drives and digital gambling records. Molly declines this deal, fearing that the information about her players would be released, and she pleads guilty. The judge, deciding that she had committed no serious crimes, sentences her to 200 hours community service, one year probation and a $200,000 fine.
Cast
{{Cast listing|
- Jessica Chastain as Molly Bloom
- Piper Howell as 7-year-old Molly Bloom
- Samantha Isler as Teen Molly Bloom
- Idris Elba as Charlie Jaffey, Molly's lawyer
- Kevin Costner as Larry Bloom, Molly's father and a clinical psychologist
- Michael Cera as Player X, a composite character based on interactions with Tobey Maguire and the popularity of Leonardo DiCaprio, as the two actors always played together.{{cite web |title=The Real Celebrity Stories Behind ‘Molly’s Game’ |url=https://www.theringer.com/2017/12/27/movies/mollys-game-real-celebrity-stories |website=www.theringer.com |language=en |date=27 December 2017}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jessica-chastain-aaron-sorkins-mollys-game-molly-bloom-sexual-misconduct-claims-michael-cera-player-1070323|title='Molly's Game' Team Talks Making Timely Tale of Female Empowerment|first=Hilary|last=Lewi|date=December 25, 2017|access-date=December 29, 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|archive-date=December 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227235753/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jessica-chastain-aaron-sorkins-mollys-game-molly-bloom-sexual-misconduct-claims-michael-cera-player-1070323|url-status=live}}
- Jeremy Strong as Dean Keith, the real estate developer who brings Molly into the world of underground poker; inspired by Darin Feinstein
- Chris O'Dowd as Douglas Downey, the man who introduces Molly to the Russian mob and brings them to the table
- J. C. MacKenzie as Harrison Wellstone
- Brian d'Arcy James as Brad Marion, a hedge fund manager
- Bill Camp as Harlan Eustice, a card sharp who gets in over his head
- Graham Greene as Judge Dustin Foxman
- Justin Kirk as Jay
- Angela Gots as B
- Natalie Krill as Winston
- Joe Keery as Cole
- Michael Kostroff as Louis Butterman
- Claire Rankin as Charlene Bloom, Molly's mother and Larry's wife
- Jon Bass as Shelly Habib
- Kjartan Hewitt as Player
- Jacob Blair as Jeremy Bloom, Molly's brother
- Dan Lett as David Segan
- Rachel Skarsten as Leah
- Dov Tiefenbach as Club Customer
- David Reale as LA Player
- Jake Goldsbie as LA Player
- Chris Owens as LA Player
- Thomas Hauff as Mr. Sernovitz
- Ari Cohen as NY Player
}}
Production
=Development=
File:Aaron Sorkin at PaleyFest 2013.jpg, who made his directorial debut on the film]]
On November 12, 2014, Mark Gordon's The Mark Gordon Company bought the feature film adaptation rights to Molly Bloom's memoir, Molly's Game, which Gordon produced. Aaron Sorkin was hired to adapt the memoir into a screenplay.{{cite news|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|title=Mark Gordon & Aaron Sorkin Team On Molly Bloom High-Stakes Poker Memoir|url=https://deadline.com/2014/11/molly-bloom-poker-mark-gordon-aaron-sorkin-1201282683/|access-date=January 8, 2016|work=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Business Media|date=November 12, 2014|language=en-US|archive-date=January 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108014510/http://deadline.com/2014/11/molly-bloom-poker-mark-gordon-aaron-sorkin-1201282683/|url-status=live}} Bloom had already approached Sorkin, as he was her "favorite writer".{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-42279034|title='Poker princess' Molly Bloom on her stranger-than-fiction life|publisher=BBC|work=BBC News|date=December 10, 2017|access-date=January 3, 2018|archive-date=December 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228140732/http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-42279034|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-true-story-behind-mollys-game-is-wild/|title=The true story behind "Molly's Game" is wild|first=Noel|last=Ransome|publisher=Vice Media|work=Vice|date=December 27, 2017|access-date=January 3, 2018|archive-date=January 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103133806/https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/j5v5gp/the-true-story-behind-mollys-game-is-wild|url-status=live}} On January 7, 2016, it was announced that Sorkin would make his directorial debut on the film, for Sony Pictures Entertainment, while Amy Pascal also produced.{{cite news|last=Kit|first=Borys|title=Aaron Sorkin to Make Directorial Debut With Underground Poker Drama 'Molly's Game'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/aaron-sorkin-make-directorial-debut-853102|access-date=January 8, 2016|work=The Hollywood Reporter|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=January 7, 2016|archive-date=January 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110165254/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/aaron-sorkin-make-directorial-debut-853102|url-status=live}} With this being his directorial debut, Sorkin specifically worked very closely with his cinematographer, Charlotte Bruus Christensen.{{cite web |last1=Dillon |first1=Mark |title=Molly’s Game: High-Stakes Production |url=https://theasc.com/articles/mollys-game-high-stakes?utm |website=American Cinematographer |access-date=13 March 2025}} On February 18, 2016, Sony exited the project,{{cite news|last=Sneider|first=Jeff|title=Sony Drops Aaron Sorkin's 'Molly's Game,' Film to Be Shopped at Cannes|url=https://www.thewrap.com/sony-drops-aaron-sorkins-mollys-game-film-to-be-shopped-at-cannes/|access-date=May 7, 2016|work=TheWrap|date=May 6, 2016|language=en-US|archive-date=May 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510113420/http://www.thewrap.com/sony-drops-aaron-sorkins-mollys-game-film-to-be-shopped-at-cannes/|url-status=live}} and on May 13, 2016, STX Entertainment came on board, and subsequently bought the film's US and Chinese distribution rights for $9 million.{{cite news|last=Donnelly|first=Matt|title=STX Circles Aaron Sorkin's 'Molly's Game' Rights for $9 Million|url=https://www.thewrap.com/stx-circling-aaron-sorkins-mollys-game-rights-for-9-million/|access-date=May 26, 2016|work=TheWrap|date=May 13, 2016|archive-date=May 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160522083553/http://www.thewrap.com/stx-circling-aaron-sorkins-mollys-game-rights-for-9-million/|url-status=live}}
=Casting=
On February 18, 2016, Sorkin offered Jessica Chastain the lead role in the film, but the negotiations between them had then not yet begun.{{cite news|last=Sneider|first=Jeff|title=Jessica Chastain Offered Lead in Aaron Sorkin's 'Molly's Game'|url=https://www.thewrap.com/jessica-chastain-offered-lead-in-aaron-sorkins-directorial-debut-mollys-game-exclusive/|access-date=May 7, 2016|work=TheWrap|date=February 18, 2016|language=en|archive-date=May 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505101422/http://www.thewrap.com/jessica-chastain-offered-lead-in-aaron-sorkins-directorial-debut-mollys-game-exclusive/|url-status=live}} On May 6, 2016, Idris Elba joined the film to star alongside Chastain. Sorkin stated that "the casting of Jessica and Idris in the two lead roles is any filmmaker's dream come true, they're two of the greatest actors of their generation, paired for the first time, and their chemistry will be electric."{{cite news|last=Kroll|first=Justin|title=Idris Elba in Talks to Join Jessica Chastain in Aaron Sorkin's 'Molly's Game' (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/idris-elba-aaron-sorkin-mollys-game-1201760301/|access-date=May 7, 2016|work=Variety|publisher=Penske Business Media|date=May 6, 2016|language=en|archive-date=November 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110235503/http://variety.com/2016/film/news/idris-elba-aaron-sorkin-mollys-game-1201760301/|url-status=live}} On September 7, 2016, Michael Cera joined the cast as Player X, a celebrity poker player.{{cite magazine|last1=Robinson|first1=Will|title=Michael Cera in talks for Aaron Sorkin's poker biopic Molly's Game|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2016/09/07/michael-cera-aaron-sorkin-mollys-game|date=September 7, 2016|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|publisher=Time|access-date=November 9, 2016}} On October 17, 2016, Kevin Costner joined as Molly Bloom's father,{{cite news|last1=Kroll|first1=Justin|title=Kevin Costner Eyes Aaron Sorkin's 'Molly's Game' With Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/kevin-costner-aaron-sorkin-mollys-game-1201891523/|date=October 17, 2016|work=Variety|publisher=Penske Business Media|access-date=November 9, 2016|archive-date=November 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116225349/http://variety.com/2016/film/news/kevin-costner-aaron-sorkin-mollys-game-1201891523/|url-status=live}} and on October 21, 2016, Brian d'Arcy James was added.{{cite news|last1=N'Duka|first1=Amanda|title='Molly's Game' Adds Brian d'Arcy James; Andrew J. West Cast In 'Antiquities'|url=https://deadline.com/2016/10/mollys-game-brian-darcy-james-andrew-j-west-antiquities-1201840581/|date=October 21, 2016|work=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Business Media|access-date=November 9, 2016|archive-date=November 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111061706/http://deadline.com/2016/10/mollys-game-brian-darcy-james-andrew-j-west-antiquities-1201840581/|url-status=live}} On November 9, 2016, Chris O'Dowd, Jeremy Strong, Bill Camp, and Graham Greene joined the cast as well.{{cite news|last1=Sneider|first1=Jeff|title=Chris O'Dowd joins Jessica Chastain and Idris Elba in Aaron Sorkin's 'Molly's Game'|url=http://mashable.com/2016/11/09/chris-odowd-joins-aaron-sorkin-mollys-game-jessica-chastain-idris-elba/#TgOuo.l87mq2|date=November 9, 2016|work=Mashable|publisher=Ziff Davis|access-date=April 23, 2018|archive-date=December 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171225022712/http://mashable.com/2016/11/09/chris-odowd-joins-aaron-sorkin-mollys-game-jessica-chastain-idris-elba/#TgOuo.l87mq2|url-status=live}}
Molly Bloom herself discussed Chastain's portrayal of her character with ET Canada stating, "We spent a little time together. She didn't have much time for prep or research," Bloom told ET Canada's Matte Babel. "I was blown away by her performance by how right it was and how deep and understood I felt by her performance."{{cite web|url=https://etcanada.com/news/289906/molly-bloom-talks-jessica-chastains-performance-in-mollys-game-incident-with-tobey-maguire/|title=Molly Bloom Talks Jessica Chastain's Performance In 'Molly's Game', Incident With Tobey Maguire|first=Rachel|last=West|date=January 16, 2018|publisher=Corus Entertainment|work=Entertainment Tonight Canada|access-date=April 23, 2018|archive-date=June 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180608174519/https://etcanada.com/news/289906/molly-bloom-talks-jessica-chastains-performance-in-mollys-game-incident-with-tobey-maguire/|url-status=dead}}
=Filming=
Principal photography began on November 9, 2016, in Toronto.{{cite web|url=http://entertainmentone.com/about-eone/news-events/principal-photography-begins-on-aaron-sorkin's-mol|title=PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY BEGINS ON AARON SORKIN'S MOLLY'S GAME STARRING JESSICA CHASTAIN AND IDRIS ELBA|publisher=Entertainment One|date=November 9, 2016|access-date=November 9, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127191555/http://entertainmentone.com/about-eone/news-events/principal-photography-begins-on-aaron-sorkin%E2%80%99s-mol|archive-date=November 27, 2016}} Production concluded on February 9, 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.dga.org/~/media/Files/Production%20List/CPLBAFull%20pdf.pdf?531|title=Molly's Game|work=Current Basic Agreement Production List|publisher=Directors Guild of America|access-date=January 20, 2017|archive-date=December 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221091256/http://www.dga.org/~/media/Files/Production%20List/CPLBAFull%20pdf.pdf?531|url-status=live}}
Release
Molly's Game premiered on September 8, 2017, at the Toronto International Film Festival. It was also the closing film at AFI Fest on November 16, 2017, replacing All the Money in the World.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/11/mollys-game-kevin-spacey-afi-all-the-money-in-the-world-1202206651/|title=Aaron Sorkin's 'Molly's Game' Replaces Kevin Spacey Film At AFI Fest|first=Greg|last=Evans|date=November 12, 2017|access-date=November 13, 2017|work=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Business Media|archive-date=August 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821185058/https://deadline.com/2017/11/mollys-game-kevin-spacey-afi-all-the-money-in-the-world-1202206651/|url-status=live}} It began a limited release in North America on December 25, 2017, before expanding wide on January 5, 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2017/10/idris-elba-aaron-sorkin-jessica-chastain-mollys-game-new-christmas-day-release-1202182861/|title='Molly's Game' To Open Christmas Day Instead Of Thanksgiving Stretch|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=October 6, 2017|work=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Business Media|access-date=October 6, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=October 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006022019/http://deadline.com/2017/10/idris-elba-aaron-sorkin-jessica-chastain-mollys-game-new-christmas-day-release-1202182861/|url-status=live}} The film was previously slated to be released on November 22, 2017, before being moved to the Christmas date in October 2017.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/mollys-game-happytime-murders-melissa-mccarthy-stx-sets-dates-1202486046/|title=STX Sets Dates for 'Molly's Game,' 'Happytime Murders' With Melissa McCarthy|website=Variety|publisher=Penske Business Media|first=JD|last=Knapp|date=July 1, 2017|access-date=July 2, 2017|archive-date=July 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704022121/http://variety.com/2017/film/news/mollys-game-happytime-murders-melissa-mccarthy-stx-sets-dates-1202486046/|url-status=live}}
Reception
=Box office=
Molly's Game grossed $28.8 million in the United States and Canada, and $30.5 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $59.3 million.
On Christmas Day, the film debuted with $1.04 million from 271 theaters.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/12/last-jedi-dwayne-johnson-jumanji-zac-efron-greatest-showman-box-office-1202230784/|title='Last Jedi' Now At $99M, 'Jumanji' Huge At $72M+; 'All The Money In The World' Opens To $2.6M – Christmas Weekend|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|work=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Business Media|date=December 26, 2017|access-date=December 26, 2017|archive-date=February 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223172216/http://deadline.com/2017/12/last-jedi-dwayne-johnson-jumanji-zac-efron-greatest-showman-box-office-1202230784/|url-status=live}} In its first full weekend, the film grossed $2.3 million, finishing 13th at the box office.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/01/last-jedi-jumanji-new-years-weekend-box-office-2018-1202233711/|title='Last Jedi' & 'Jumanji' Duel For No. 1 Over New Year's Weekend As 2017 Box Office Closes With $11.1B – Sunday Update|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|work=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Business Media|date=December 31, 2017|access-date=December 31, 2017|archive-date=December 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231071613/http://deadline.com/2017/12/last-jedi-jumanji-new-years-weekend-box-office-2018-1202233711/|url-status=live}} The film expanded wide on January 5, 2018, alongside the opening of Insidious: The Last Key, and was projected to gross around $6 million from 1,608 theaters in its opening weekend.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/01/insidious-the-last-key-last-jedi-jumanji-post-holiday-box-office-preview-1202234863/|title='Insidious: The Last Key' To Scare Up Biz In Strong Holiday Holdover Period – Box Office Preview|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|work=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Business Media|date=January 3, 2018|access-date=January 3, 2018|archive-date=January 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131081026/https://deadline.com/2018/01/insidious-the-last-key-last-jedi-jumanji-post-holiday-box-office-preview-1202234863/|url-status=live}} It ended up debuting to $6.9 million, finishing 7th at the box office.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/01/insidious-the-last-key-last-jedi-jumanji-weekend-box-office-1202236009/|title='Jumanji' Goes Wild With $36M; 'Insidious' Rises To $29M+ – Sunday AM B.O. Update|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|work=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Business Media|date=January 7, 2018|access-date=January 7, 2018|archive-date=January 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107174859/http://deadline.com/2018/01/insidious-the-last-key-last-jedi-jumanji-weekend-box-office-1202236009/|url-status=live}} The following weekend it dropped 44% to $3.9 million, finishing 11th.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/01/the-commuter-proud-mary-jumanji-paddington-2-mlk-weekend-box-office-1202241724/|title='Jumanji' Roars To $34M; 'The Post' Still The Most With $22M+; 'The Commuter' Punches $16M: MLK Weekend Box Office Update|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|work=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Business Media|date=January 14, 2018|access-date=January 15, 2018|archive-date=January 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114020415/http://deadline.com/2018/01/the-commuter-proud-mary-jumanji-paddington-2-mlk-weekend-box-office-1202241724/|url-status=live}} In its third week of wide release the film grossed $1.7 million, finishing 19th.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/01/den-of-thieves-12-strong-jumanji-welcome-to-the-jungle-weekend-box-office-1202262795/|title=January Slows As 'Jumanji' Takes No. 1 For 3rd Weekend With $19M To $20M; Older Guy Pics '12 Strong' & 'Den Of Thieves' In Mid-Teens|work=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Business Media|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|date=January 21, 2018|access-date=January 21, 2018|archive-date=January 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180121051949/http://deadline.com/2018/01/den-of-thieves-12-strong-jumanji-welcome-to-the-jungle-weekend-box-office-1202262795/|url-status=live}}
The film also grossed a total of $4.5 million in France and $5.3 million in the United Kingdom.{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=mollysgame.htm|title=Molly's Game: Foreign Box Office|website=Box Office Mojo|publisher=IMDb|access-date=March 14, 2018|archive-date=May 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504223259/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=mollysgame.htm|url-status=live}}
=Critical response=
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 82% based on 309 reviews, with an average rating of 7.10/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Powered by an intriguing story and a pair of outstanding performances from Jessica Chastain and Idris Elba, Molly's Game marks a solid debut for writer-director Aaron Sorkin."{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mollys_game_2017|title=Molly's Game (2017)|work=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango Media|access-date=April 5, 2021|archive-date=January 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111034932/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mollys_game_2017/|url-status=live}} On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 71 out of 100, based on 46 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/mollys-game|title=Molly's Game Reviews|work=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=January 16, 2018|archive-date=April 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428065314/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/mollys-game|url-status=live}} Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale.
Peter Debruge of Variety praised Sorkin's script, saying, "... Molly's Game delivers one of the screen's great female parts — a dense, dynamic, compulsively entertaining affair, whose central role makes stunning use of Chastain's stratospheric talent."{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/festivals/mollys-game-review-jessica-chastain-1202552430/|title=Toronto Film Review: 'Molly's Game'|website=Variety|publisher=Penske Business Media|first=Peter|last=Debruge|date=September 8, 2017|access-date=September 9, 2017|archive-date=September 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909083423/http://variety.com/2017/film/festivals/mollys-game-review-jessica-chastain-1202552430/|url-status=live}} Mike Ryan of Uproxx gave the film 9/10, writing, "Molly's Game is a perfect story for Sorkin. There's poker, the Russian mafia, the Italian mafia, celebrities, and sports. The only thing missing for Sorkin's wheelhouse is President Bartlet. And at over two hours long, the film still feels tight and never fails to entertain."{{cite web|last=Ryan|first=Mike|url=http://uproxx.com/movies/mollys-game-review-tiff/|title=TIFF Review: Jessica Chastain Absolutely Owns Aaron Sorkin's 'Molly's Game'|website=Uproxx|date=September 8, 2017|access-date=September 9, 2017|archive-date=September 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909040021/http://uproxx.com/movies/mollys-game-review-tiff/|url-status=live}}
Writing for Rolling Stone, Peter Travers gave the film 3 out of 4 stars, saying, "Molly's Game bristles with fun zingers, electric energy and Sorkin's brand of verbal fireworks – all of which help enormously when the movie falters in fleshing out its characters. Still, in his first film with a female protagonist, the writer-director has hit on a timely theme: the tribulations of being a woman in a man's world."{{cite magazine |last=Travers |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Travers|title='Molly's Game' Review: Jessica Chastain Turns Poker Biopic Into Royal Flush|url= https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/peter-travers-mollys-game-is-a-royal-flush-w514644|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=December 23, 2017|access-date=December 25, 2017}} Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter praised Chastain's portrayal of Molly Bloom, saying "Chastain roars through the performance with a force and take-no-prisoners attitude that keeps one rapt." McCarthy also stated: "Sorkin keeps things rolling relentlessly and gets fine results from the actors down the line [...]. [...] The film looks sharp and a trio of editors keeps thing pacey despite the 140-minute running time." It concluded: "One strong woman and many rich men make for a good show."{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/mollys-game-review-1037071|title='Molly's Game': Film Review: TIFF 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=September 8, 2017 |access-date=December 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310131420/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/mollys-game-review-1037071|archive-date=March 10, 2018|first=Todd|last=McCarthy}}
=Accolades=
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{wikiquote}}
- {{Official website}}
- {{IMDb title}}
- {{Mojo title|mollysgame}}
- [http://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/mollys-game/ Molly's Game] at History vs. Hollywood
{{Aaron Sorkin}}
Category:2017 biographical drama films
Category:2017 crime drama films
Category:American biographical drama films
Category:American crime drama films
Category:Crime films based on actual events
Category:Drama films based on actual events
Category:Lionsgate Canada films
Category:Scanbox Entertainment films
Category:Films based on biographies
Category:Films directed by Aaron Sorkin
Category:Films with screenplays by Aaron Sorkin
Category:Films produced by Amy Pascal
Category:Films scored by Daniel Pemberton
Category:Films set in Los Angeles
Category:Films set in New York City
Category:Films shot in New York City
Category:Films shot in Toronto
Category:American nonlinear narrative films
Category:STX Entertainment films
Category:2017 directorial debut films
Category:Films about the Russian Mafia
Category:2010s English-language films
Category:Films produced by Mark Gordon (producer)
Category:English-language biographical drama films