Pain and Glory
Performance & Direction: Pain and Glory Review
Last updated: January 26, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Pain and Glory (2019) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 7.4/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Drama.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Drama is often anchored by its ensemble, and Pain and Glory features a noteworthy lineup led by Antonio Banderas . Supported by the likes of Asier Etxeandia and Leonardo Sbaraglia , 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.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of Pain and Glory (2019) is generally positive. With an audience rating of 7.4/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
Story & Plot Summary: Pain and Glory
Quick Plot Summary: Pain and Glory is a Drama film that explores complex human emotions and relationships through detailed character development. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Story Breakdown
This character-driven narrative explores the internal and external conflicts that define the human experience. Salvador Mallo, a filmmaker in the twilight of his career, remembers his life: his mother, his lovers, the actors he worked with. The sixties in a small village in Valencia, the eighties in Madrid, the present, when he feels an immeasurable emptiness, facing his mortality, the incapability of continuing filming, the impossibility of separating creation from his own life. The need of narrating his past can be his salvation. The screenplay takes time to develop its characters, allowing audiences to connect emotionally with their struggles and triumphs. Each scene builds upon the last, creating a cumulative emotional impact.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: We meet the main character in their ordinary world, establishing the emotional baseline before the inciting incident disrupts their life.
- Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. The arc is present but occasionally predictable.
- Climax & Resolution: The emotional climax brings character arcs to their natural conclusion, providing catharsis while staying true to the story's core themes.
Ending Explained: Pain and Glory
Ending Breakdown: Pain and Glory resolves its central conflict while maintaining thematic consistency. The finale has been praised for its approach to drama resolution.
The emotional climax centers on character transformation, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes with clear resolution of its central conflicts, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Main characters complete meaningful transformations, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the drama themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Pain and Glory reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch Pain and Glory?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Drama films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want a character-driven story with emotional moments
Box Office Collection: Pain and Glory
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $10.8M |
| Worldwide Gross | $37.4M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
Pain and Glory Budget
The estimated production budget for Pain and Glory is $10.8M. 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.
Top Cast: Pain and Glory
All Cast & Crew →
Where to Watch Pain and Glory Online?
Streaming Hub🎟️ Rent on
Amazon VideoPain and Glory Parents Guide & Age Rating
2019 AdvisoryWondering about Pain and Glory age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Pain and Glory is 114 minutes (1h 54m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 7.4/10, and global performance metrics, Pain and Glory is classified as a HIT. It remains an essential part of the 2019 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pain and Glory worth watching?
Pain and Glory is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Drama movies. It has a verified rating of 7.4/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Pain and Glory parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Pain and Glory identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Pain and Glory?
The total duration of Pain and Glory is 114 minutes, which is approximately 1h 54m long.
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Critic Reviews for Pain and Glory
If you were to tell me that ‘Pain and Glory’ was Pedro Almodóvar’s final film, I would be inclined to believe you. Rarely has the act of looking back on one's past been so vividly and honestly depicted, and so richly and emotionally satisfying. You can feel the need for this film to exist in every frame, a need to understand and reflect and celebrate and mourn. It is a portrait of an artist at a crossroads, entering the last act of their lives, looking back at what they have created and the battlefield left in their wake, and facing the terror of never creating again. ‘Pain and Glory’ is an intensely beautiful film, one that hangs in the air around you like a perfume for days after. The more I think back on it, the more certain I am that I’ve seen a masterwork. I cannot wait to see it again. - Daniel Lammin Read Daniel's full article... https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-pain-and-glory-almodovar-delivers-a-rhapsodic-masterwork
This is a wonderful notional career retrospective of filmmaker "Salvador Mallo" (Antonio Banderas) who has a reached an age where he struggles with painkillers and mobility issues - and so embarks on a bit of nostalgia reliving his life. This will one day be described as a classic. Almodóvar at his most pure, grafting the fiction to the fact in such a beautifully crafted way that it is almost impossible to know how you feel whilst you watch it. Banderas is wonderful. He delivers the emotion and the humour - and there is enough of the latter to adequately temper the more emotional aspects of his performance - with consummate skill. Penélope Cruz who always seems more stunning every time she appears on screen plays his mother and even sings - what more could you ask for? In theory, there ought be little joy in this retrospective, but the self-discovery delivers a surprising amount of fulfilment and there is humour to be found here, too.
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
