the take
Mother Mary is basically if the Wicked press tour was an entire movie. it's one of those films you might not like while you're watching it, and then you read all the think pieces and suddenly it's so smart. but for the average viewer just sitting there? not into it. if you want the pop star experience, watch Miley Cyrus's Black Mirror episode. if you want the design, watch Phantom Thread. or honestly, just watch Project Runway. and don't mess it up.
this is the hosts' commentary and speculation for entertainment, not a statement of fact about anyone in it.
the backstory
Mother Mary is a 2026 A24 psychological drama written and directed by David Lowery. Anne Hathaway plays Mother Mary, a world-famous pop star preparing a comeback show after an onstage accident, and Michaela Coel plays Sam Anselm, the fashion designer and estranged collaborator she runs to for a dress. Hunter Schafer and FKA twigs are also in it, and the original songs, all sung by Hathaway, come from Jack Antonoff and Charli XCX.
It opened in theaters on April 17, 2026, got mixed reviews and grossed about $3 million on a $20 million budget, which fits the hosts' read that critics liked it more than regular viewers. It has been streaming on HBO Max in the US since August 21.
The hosts' references: the Wicked press tour is the famously emotional 2024 promo run with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too is the 2019 Black Mirror episode where Miley Cyrus plays a pop star. Phantom Thread is Paul Thomas Anderson's 2017 movie about a 1950s couturier. And "don't fuck it up" is technically RuPaul's sign-off on Drag Race. On Project Runway it's Heidi Klum's "one day you're in, the next day you're out" and Tim Gunn's "make it work."
where it's from
transcript
auto-transcribed from the clip audio. speakers aren't labeled and there may be small errors.
- 0:00Mother Mary is like if the Wicked press tour was an entire movie.
- 0:06Yes. Mother Mary is one of those movies that you may not like it when you watch it, but then if you go online and you read all the think pieces about it, you're like, oh my God, it's so smart.
- 0:16But to the average viewer, just watching it, not into it.
- 0:20Like, if you want to get the pop star experience, truly watch Miley Cyrus' Black Mirror episode.
- 0:26And if you want to get the design, like, watch the Phantom Thread.
- 0:29Watch, like, Project Runway.
- 0:30Watch Project Runway, literally.
- 0:33And don't fuck it up.
faq
- What is Mother Mary about?
- A pop star (Anne Hathaway) preparing a comeback show after an onstage accident reunites with her estranged costume designer (Michaela Coel) to make one last dress, and has to confront their past.
- Who made Mother Mary?
- David Lowery wrote, directed and edited it, and A24 released it in the US.
- Where can I watch Mother Mary?
- It's streaming on HBO Max in the US, since August 21, 2026.
