MovieBias

See all results for ""
BrowseAnalyticsAbout

Mona Lisa Smile (2003)

Mona Lisa Smile poster

Mona Lisa Smile (2003)

Overview

Katherine Watson is a recent UCLA graduate hired to teach art history at the prestigious all-female Wellesley College, in 1953. Determined to confront the outdated mores of society and the institution that embraces them, Katherine inspires her traditional students, including Betty and Joan, to challenge the lives they are expected to lead.


Starring Cast


Where to watch

Apple TV logoApple TV
Google Play logoGoogle Play
Fandango
Powered byJustWatch

Rating & Dimensions

Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Leans Progressive

Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
Christianity: Negative

Viewer Rating
5.3

Overview

Katherine Watson is a recent UCLA graduate hired to teach art history at the prestigious all-female Wellesley College, in 1953. Determined to confront the outdated mores of society and the institution that embraces them, Katherine inspires her traditional students, including Betty and Joan, to challenge the lives they are expected to lead.


Starring Cast


Where to watch

Apple TV logoApple TV
Google Play logoGoogle Play
Fandango
Powered byJustWatch

Detailed Bias Analysis

Analyzing...
Leans Progressive

Primary

The film's central conflict critiques the restrictive traditional gender roles of the 1950s, advocating for women's intellectual independence and self-determination, which aligns with progressive values.

The movie features traditional casting, with a predominantly white main cast that reflects its 1950s setting. However, its narrative centrally and explicitly critiques traditional gender roles and societal expectations for women, advocating for female empowerment and challenging patriarchal norms.

Secondary

The film critiques the conservative societal expectations and gender roles prevalent in 1950s America, which were often deeply intertwined with traditional Christian values. It portrays these norms, and the institutions/adherents upholding them, as oppressive to women's intellectual and personal freedom, advocating for a more progressive and independent path.

Mona Lisa Smile does not feature any explicit LGBTQ+ characters or themes. The story centers on a progressive art history professor challenging traditional gender roles and expectations for women at a 1950s college, without addressing queer identities or experiences.

Mona Lisa Smile is a period drama set in 1953 at Wellesley College, focusing on women's education and societal roles. The film's narrative does not include any identifiable transsexual characters or explore transgender themes, resulting in no depiction.

The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.

Mona Lisa Smile features an original screenplay with characters created specifically for the film. There are no pre-existing canonical or historical figures whose gender was altered for this movie.

Mona Lisa Smile is an original screenplay, not an adaptation of existing material or a biopic of historical figures. The characters were created for this film, meaning there is no prior canonical or historical race to be altered.


Viewer Rating Breakdown

5.3

Viewer Rating

Combines user and critic ratings from four sources

User Ratings

IMDB logo
6.6
The Movie Database logo
6.9

Critic Ratings

Rotten Tomatoes logo
3.3
Metacritic logo
4.5

More Like This

Queen Christina poster
Leans Progressive
7.5
Queen Christina
 (1934)

Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Low
LGBTQ: Positive
The King and I poster
Center
7.7
The King and I
 (1956)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Low
Hawaii poster
Leans Progressive
6.6
Hawaii
 (1966)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
The New World poster
Leans Progressive
6.7
The New World
 (2005)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
A Single Man poster
Leans Progressive
7.8
A Single Man
 (2009)

Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Positive
Prayers for Bobby poster
Progressive
7.8
Prayers for Bobby
 (2009)

Political: Strong Left
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Positive
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande poster
Progressive
7.9
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande
 (2022)

Political: Strong Left
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Positive
West Side Story poster
Progressive
7.9
West Side Story
 (2021)

Political: Strong Left
Diversity: High
LGBTQ: Positive
Hairspray poster
Progressive
7.7
Hairspray
 (2007)

Political: Strong Left
Diversity: High
LGBTQ: Positive
Carmen Jones poster
Leans Progressive
6.6
Carmen Jones
 (1954)
Political: Center
Diversity: High
Respect poster
Leans Progressive
6.6
Respect
 (2021)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
Brokeback Mountain poster
Progressive
8.2
Brokeback Mountain
 (2005)

Political: Strong Left
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Positive
Hamilton poster
Progressive
8.7
Hamilton
 (2025)
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: High
Schindler's List poster
Progressive
9.2
Schindler's List
 (1993)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: High
Hostiles poster
Progressive
6.9
Hostiles
 (2017)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: High
Torch Song Trilogy poster
Progressive
7.5
Torch Song Trilogy
 (1988)

Political: Strong Left
Diversity: High
LGBTQ: Positive
Kill the Messenger poster
Leans Progressive
6.8
Kill the Messenger
 (2014)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
The Inventor poster
Leans Progressive
6.6
The Inventor
 (2023)
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: Moderate
Harriet poster
Progressive
7.0
Harriet
 (2019)
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: High
The Threesome poster
Leans Progressive
6.7
The Threesome
 (2025)

Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Positive
MovieBias

Privacy PolicyTerms of ServiceCookies PolicyAI Policy

Copyright 2026 © moviebias.com