Thelma

Movie Trailer

Release Date
June 21, 2024 (United States)

Genre
Comedy-Drama

Cast & Crew

• June Squibb as Thelma
• Fred Hechinger as Daniel “Danny” Markowitz
• Richard Roundtree as Ben
• Parker Posey as Gail
• Clark Gregg as Alan
• Malcolm McDowell as Harvey
• Nicole Byer as Rochelle
• Quinn Beswick as Colin
• Coral Peña as Allie
• Aidan Fiske as Michael
• Bunny Levine as Mona
• Ruben Rabasa as Winston

Director
Josh Margolin

Producers

• Zoë Worth
• Chris Kaye
• Nicholas Weinstock
• Benjamin Simpson
• Karl Spoerri
• Viviana Vezzani

Writer
Josh Margolin

Production Company
Bandwagon, Zurich Avenue, Invention Studios

Running Time
98 minutes

Languages
English

Maturity Rating
PG-13

Content Advisory

• Mild language
• Themes of aging and family
• Light violence

Movie Story
Thelma is a 2024 American comedy-drama film that follows the story of Thelma Post (June Squibb), a 93-year-old woman living alone in Los Angeles. Her loving but aimless grandson, Daniel “Danny” Markowitz (Fred Hechinger), frequently visits her, though Thelma often finds his constant assistance a bit patronizing. One day, Thelma falls victim to a phone scam where the caller, posing as Danny, convinces her to send $10,000 to a local address. Realizing she has been scammed, Thelma decides to take matters into her own hands.

Ignoring her family’s concerns, Thelma sets out on a mission to retrieve her stolen money. She attempts to contact old friends for help, only to find that most have either passed away or moved on. Eventually, she enlists the reluctant assistance of Ben (Richard Roundtree), a widower and old friend whom she had been avoiding since her husband’s death. The two embark on an adventurous journey through Los Angeles, using Ben’s two-person scooter to track down the scammer.

Meanwhile, Danny, along with his mother Gail (Parker Posey) and stepfather Alan (Clark Gregg), realizes Thelma is missing and begins a frantic search for her. During this time, Danny reflects on his own life, expressing his frustrations about his recent breakup and his perceived lack of purpose beyond caring for his grandmother.

As Thelma and Ben get closer to the scammer’s location, their journey leads them through a series of dangerous and comical situations. Ben’s scooter is eventually destroyed, and the two argue about Thelma’s independence and Ben’s feelings of inadequacy after his wife’s death. Despite these challenges, the pair eventually reconcile and continue their quest.

They finally confront the scammer, Harvey (Malcolm McDowell), and his grandson Michael (Aidan Fiske) at a rundown antique store. After a tense standoff, Thelma manages to recover her money and even teaches Harvey a lesson about valuing what truly matters in life. The film ends on a hopeful note, with Thelma and Ben forging a renewed friendship and Thelma reassuring Danny that he will find his way in life.

Special Effects
Thelma relies more on strong performances and character-driven storytelling than on special effects. The film uses practical settings to convey the journey through Los Angeles, with the focus remaining on the interactions between the characters rather than on elaborate visual effects.

Box Office Performance
Thelma grossed $2.3 million during its opening weekend in the United States and Canada from 1,290 theaters, finishing eighth at the box office. As of July 2024, the film had earned a total of $9.8 million worldwide, indicating a solid performance for a film of its genre.

Filming Locations

• Los Angeles, California, USA

Notable Quotes

• “Sometimes, you have to lose something to realize what you really need.” – Thelma
• “Life doesn’t end at 93, it just gets more interesting.” – Ben
• “We may be old, but that doesn’t mean we’re out of the game.” – Thelma

Behind-the-Scenes
Thelma premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 18, 2024, and was later released theatrically by Magnolia Pictures. The film is noted for its strong performances, particularly by June Squibb and Richard Roundtree, who deliver heartfelt and humorous portrayals of elderly characters on a mission. This film marks Richard Roundtree’s final feature role before his passing in 2023, adding an emotional layer to his performance.

Final Verdict
Thelma is a heartwarming and humorous exploration of aging, independence, and the bonds that hold families together. With standout performances by June Squibb and Richard Roundtree, the film manages to balance comedy with poignant moments, making it a delightful watch for audiences of all ages. It’s a film that reminds us that adventure and growth can happen at any stage in life.

IMDb Rating
7.1/10