Paper Spiders (2021)
96%RT Audience Score: 94%
Awards & Nominations: 4 wins & 1 nomination
A coming-of-age drama that thoughtfully handles hard-hitting themes, Paper Spiders is anchored by heartbreaking performances from its leads.
If you’re in the mood for a movie that’ll make you feel all the feels, Paper Spiders is the one for you. It’s a coming-of-age flick that tackles some heavy stuff, but does it with grace and sensitivity. The actors really bring their A-game, and you’ll be reaching for the tissues before you know it. Seriously, these performances are so good, they’ll break your heart into a million little pieces. But in a good way, you know? Like, you’ll be crying, but you’ll also be like, “Wow, that was some damn fine acting.” So grab some popcorn, settle in, and get ready to feel all the feels.
Production Company(ies)
Cranium Entertainment, Idiot Savant Pictures, Particular Crowd
Distributor
Entertainment Squad
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Syracuse, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
TV-MA
Year of Release
2021
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:1h 50m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): May 7, 2021 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 22, 2021
Genre(s)
Drama/Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Lili Taylor, Stefania Owen, Peyton List, Ian Nelson, Max Casella, David Rasche, directed by Inon Shampanier, written by Natalie Shampanier, drama, comedy, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Randy Myers, Guy Lodge, Katie Walsh, Teo Bugbee, Sheri Linden, Ezequiel Boetti, Jackie K Cooper, Danielle Solzman, Robin Holabird, David Kaplan, Staci Layne Wilson, Milana Vujkov, produced by Ash Christian, Anne Clements, PG, mental illness, coming-of-age, mother-daughter relationship, anxiety, college, new neighbor, paranoid delusions, interventions, reality, healing, bittersweet, English, Entertainment Squad
Worldwide gross: $2,992
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,254
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,154
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 355
US/Canada gross: $2,992
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,254
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,835
US/Canada opening weekend: $2,992
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $3,254
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,834
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Stefania Owen – Melanie
Peyton List – Lacy
Ian Nelson – Daniel
Max Casella – Gary
David Rasche – Bill Hoffman
Director(s)
Inon Shampanier
Writer(s)
Natalie Shampanier
Producer(s)
Ash Christian, Anne Clements
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
4 wins & 1 nomination
Academy Awards
All Critics (44) | Top Critics (5) | Fresh (44)
The screenplay from Natalie Shampanier is astute and purposeful. “Paper Spiders” doesn’t put a happy face on any of this, but it does instill hope and understanding.
May 27, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4
Randy Myers
San Jose Mercury News
TOP CRITIC
If the film’s flirtations with full-tilt melodrama occasionally strain credibility, a pair of intuitive, thoughtfully inhabited performances pull proceedings back from the edge every time.
May 25, 2021
Guy Lodge
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Personal experience brings a rare honesty and authenticity to this film about mental illness.
May 7, 2021
Katie Walsh
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
It is a pleasure to see Lili Taylor sink her teeth into a starring role, and she plays her character’s manic descent with a palpable and heartbreaking practicality.
May 6, 2021
Teo Bugbee
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
A sensitive blend of YA, PSA and nuanced characterizations.
September 3, 2020
Sheri Linden
Hollywood Reporter
TOP CRITIC
A film that avoids at all cost to fall into cheesiness. [Full review in Spanish]
May 12, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
Ezequiel Boetti
Otroscines.com
Outstanding acting and a script that takes a sober look at mental illness.
December 20, 2021 | Rating: 6/10
Jackie K. Cooper
jackiekcooper.com
Drawing upon personal experiences, Paper Spiders benefits from Lili Taylor and Stefania LaVie Owen’s performances.
November 1, 2021
Danielle Solzman
Solzy at the Movies
Paper Spiders never tries to cushion reality. Its purpose comes without a solution, simply a realization that many share this difficult situation.
October 29, 2021
Robin Holabird
KUNR (Reno, NV)
The Shampaniers have crafted a compelling screenplay and the ensemble cast does an exemplary job bringing it to life.
September 3, 2021
David Kaplan
Kaplan vs. Kaplan
Paper Spiders is a low-fi indie with a lot of heart that provides much food for thought through an entertaining, bittersweet storyline.
August 30, 2021
Staci Layne Wilson
Fantastica Daily
A well-crafted, moving, bittersweet portrait of a deteriorating psyche, and the way any human suffering can be transcended with an open heart.
August 21, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Milana Vujkov
Lola On Film…
Plot
A mother and daughter’s relationship is tested as the mother’s mental health deteriorates, causing her to experience paranoid delusions, in the coming-of-age drama Paper Spiders.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Lili Taylor’s performance in Paper Spiders is described as “heartbreaking” by critics.
Inon-Shampanier.jpg
