The Testament of Ann Lee

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The Testament of Ann Lee

R

In Theaters Dec 25

2h 17m

Biography

History

Drama

Musical

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58 Reviews

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From award-winning writer-director Mona Fastvold (The World to Come, The Brutalist) comes the extraordinary true legend of Ann Lee, founder of the devotional sect known as the Shakers. Academy Award nominee Amanda Seyfried stars as the Shaker's irrepressible leader, who preached gender and social equality and was revered by her followers. The Testament of Ann Lee captures the ecstasy and agony of her quest to build a utopia, featuring more than a dozen traditional Shaker hymns reimagined as rapturous movements with choreography by Celia Rowlson-Hall (Vox Lux) and original songs & score by Academy Award winner Daniel Blumberg (The Brutalist).

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In Theaters Dec 25

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Critics Consensus

Illuminated by Amanda Seyfried's sterling performance, The Testament of Ann Lee accepts The Shakers' founder on her own terms and reaches its own rhapsodic highs as a result.

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Mona Fastvold

Director

Amanda Seyfried

Actor

Thomasin McKenzie

Actor

Lewis Pullman

Actor

Christopher Abbott

Actor

Tim Blake Nelson

Actor

Nick Howells

London Evening Standard

The Testament of Ann Lee is a wild, wonderful tribute to one hell of a woman and Seyfried is the glowing flame at its heart.

Rated: 5/5

Oct 14, 2025

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Adam Nayman

The Ringer

[The film] tempts unintentional hilarity, like a very special episode of Drunk History. For the most part, though, the film takes Ann and her angst seriously, and Seyfried powers through a performance that earns its instant tour de force reputation.

Sep 16, 2025

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Alexander Mooney

Slant Magazine

This protean fable is tremulous, tricky, and intrepid, much like its pious protagonist.

Rated: 2.5/4

Sep 13, 2025

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Pedro Paunero

EscribiendoCine

The historical reconstruction transforms this ambiguity into a driving force for interpretation. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 8/10

Nov 29, 2025

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Fastvold found the harmonic register of the Shaker belief system and never wavers from that heightened perspective. The effect may be immersive for some; I found it rather monotonous, though fascinating from a historical perspective.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 25, 2025

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Cameron Meier

MeierMovies.com

Like Shakerism, "Testament" is unique, ill-conceived and unpleasant.

Rated: 1.75/5

Nov 20, 2025

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The Testament of Ann Lee: Teaser Trailer

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Synopsis

From award-winning writer-director Mona Fastvold (The World to Come, The Brutalist) comes the extraordinary true legend of Ann Lee, founder of the devotional sect known as the Shakers. Academy Award nominee Amanda Seyfried stars as the Shaker's irrepressible leader, who preached gender and social equality and was revered by her followers. The Testament of Ann Lee captures the ecstasy and agony of her quest to build a utopia, featuring more than a dozen traditional Shaker hymns reimagined as rapturous movements with choreography by Celia Rowlson-Hall (Vox Lux) and original songs & score by Academy Award winner Daniel Blumberg (The Brutalist).

Director: Mona Fastvold
Producer: Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold, Gregory Jankilevitsch, Joshua Horsfield, Lillian LaSalle, Viktória Petrányi, Mark Lampert, Andrew Morrison, Klaudia Śmieja
Screenwriter: Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold
Distributor: Searchlight Pictures
Production Co: Kaplan Morrison, ArtClass Flms, Proton Cinema, Intake Films, Curious Gremlin, Göta Film AB, Göteborg, Annapurna Pictures, Mizzel Media, Film i Väst, FirstGen Content, Mid March Media, 4 Little Monsters, Carte Blanche
Rating: R (Violence|Bloody Images|Sexual Content|Graphic Nudity)
Genre: Biography, History, Drama, Musical
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 2h 17m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)