Is Eileen Worth Watching?
Answer: Maybe not, Eileen is likely a skip if you enjoy Thriller movies.
It features a runtime of 98 minutes and offers a standard storyline that appeals to mature audiences.

Verdict:Eileen is a confirmed FLOP based on our analysis of audience ratings and box office momentum.
With a rating of 5.9/10, it has delivered a mixed experience for fans of the Thriller, Crime genre.
Answer: Maybe not, Eileen is likely a skip if you enjoy Thriller movies.
It features a runtime of 98 minutes and offers a standard storyline that appeals to mature audiences.
Last updated: January 18, 2026
Released in the dynamic cinematic landscape of 2023, Eileen emerges as a significant entry in the Thriller, Crime domain. The narrative core of the film focuses on a sophisticated exploration of During a bitter 1964 Massachusetts winter, young secretary Eileen becomes enchanted by Rebecca, the glamorous new counselor at the prison where she works. Unlike standard genre fare, Eileen attempts to deconstruct traditional tropes, offering a conventional take on its central themes.
The success of any Thriller is often anchored by its ensemble, and Eileen features a noteworthy lineup led by Thomasin McKenzie . Supported by the likes of Anne Hathaway and Shea Whigham , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
In summary, our editorial assessment of Eileen (2023) is mixed. With an audience rating of 5.9/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
Quick Plot Summary: Eileen is a Thriller, Crime film that builds tension through unpredictable twists and keeps audiences guessing until the final reveal. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
The plot weaves a complex web of mystery and suspense. During a bitter 1964 Massachusetts winter, young secretary Eileen becomes enchanted by Rebecca, the glamorous new counselor at the prison where she works. Their budding friendship takes a twisted turn when Rebecca reveals a dark secret — throwing Eileen onto a sinister path. Information is revealed strategically, keeping viewers engaged as they piece together clues alongside the protagonist. The narrative maintains momentum through well-timed revelations and unexpected turns.
Ending Breakdown: Eileen attempts to tie together its various plot elements. The finale presents its approach to thriller resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
The final moments of Eileen reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Eileen incorporates elements from real criminal cases. As a thriller, crime film, it navigates the space between factual accuracy and narrative engagement.
The film takes creative liberties to enhance dramatic impact. Core events maintain connection to source material while adapting for theatrical presentation.
Creative interpretation shapes the final narrative, focusing on emotional truth over strict chronology.
Accuracy Assessment: Eileen adapts its source material for dramatic purposes. The film prioritizes thematic resonance over documentary precision.
Consider Watching If:
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $16.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $1.6M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
The estimated production budget for Eileen is $16.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.










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Fandango At HomeAnalyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 5.9/10, and global collection metrics, Eileen stands as a challenging project for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 2023 cinematic year.
Eileen has received mixed reviews with a 5.9/10 rating, making it a moderate success with the audience.
Eileen is a mixed bag. It might be worth watching if you're a fan of Thriller, Crime movies, but read reviews first.
Eileen is currently available for streaming on Hulu. You can also check for it on platforms like Hulu depending on your region.
Thomasin McKenzie is quite good as the eponymous, rather timid, prison secretary who lives a rather pedestrian life watching the couples make out in the car-park, or fantasising about a quickie with one of her colleagues, before returning home to her retired cop/dipso father replete with two bottles! The arrival of new psychologist "Rebecca" (Anne Hathaway) injects a little life into her dull routine. This assertive sophisticate takes an interest in "Eileen", they go for a drink - there's even some flirting - before "Rebecca" shares a secret with her new friend that involves a young man in prison accused of the brutal murder of his father, and of just what his mother might know of the crime and it's causes. The first hour is quite intriguing but that sense of anticipation is let down by a last half hour that is really quite undercooked and the denouement, well that is just incomplete - on just about every level. The acting and writing is fine - nothing more, but I left the screening thinking that something was missing. What exactly was the point here? It's a good looking film - effort has certainly gone into the aesthetic but I'm not sure I'm really any the wiser.
Rarely have I seen a film as implausible, unfocused and meandering as this second feature outing from director William Oldroyd. After an impressive debut with “Lady Macbeth” (2016), the filmmaker has stumbled seriously in this latest effort, a supposed psychological mystery/thriller that never finds traction and yet somehow manages to go wildly off the rails in the final act. This cinematic misfire examines the relationship that develops between two women who work at a young men’s prison in 1960s small town Massachusetts. Eileen (Thomasin McKenzie) is a reserved, awkward, often-bullied, sexually repressed administrative assistant, and Rebecca (Anne Hathaway) is the facility’s newly hired, sophisticated, worldly, Harvard-educated psychologist. They quickly strike up a close yet somewhat unlikely bond with less-than-subtle (but apparently never-consummated) sexual overtones, a story thread that seems to be heading somewhere but never does. In large part that’s because the protagonists end up becoming involved in a hare-brained scheme worthy of Lucy and Ethel, only with significant implications, a scenario that comes out of left field and sends the narrative into serious, unexplained head-scratching territory. While the picture features a fine production design, a palette of creative cinematography, and capable Independent Spirit Award-nominated supporting performances by Hathaway and Marin Ireland, there’s not much else here that’s engaging, riveting or worthwhile, elements essential to a good mystery/thriller offering. Whatever the filmmaker was going for here obviously never comes to fruition, thanks to either its poorly composed script or its mishandled execution (or a combination thereof). Indeed, this is one of those films where virtually the entire project truly would have been better off left on the cutting room floor.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.