The Testament of Ann Lee

Play trailer

1:22

The Testament of Ann Lee

R

Now Playing

2h 17m

Biography

History

Drama

Musical

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

102 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

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).

Now in Theaters

Now Playing

Buy Tickets

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.

Read Critics Reviews

David Fear

Rolling Stone

4h

The few full-blown examples of 18th century everyday people losing themselves to the holy-roller beat carries this film even more than the meticulous historical recreations. It’s a period film with 6/8 pulse.

Go to Full Review

Coleman Spilde

Salon.com

6h

As a film, Mona Fastvold’s magnificent religious epic, “The Testament of Ann Lee,” is the finest piece of cinema this year -- a startling and clear-headed work of genius, led by a remarkable Amanda Seyfried in the film’s titular role.

Go to Full Review

Zachary Barnes

Wall Street Journal

8h

Delivered in a style that evokes its historical moment while also cutting across time to the present, it lands with the enthralling, incantatory force of urgent prayer.

Go to Full Review

Mark Jackson

Epoch Times

4h

2.5/5

Compliments of the musical aspect, "The Testament of Ann Lee" tries to have something for everyone, meaning audiences will most likely either love or hate it.

Go to Full Review

Louisa Moore

Screen Zealots

4h

Admirable in its audacity and unforgettable in its execution, this film is unlike anything you have ever seen.

Go to Full Review

Shawn Edwards

Fox 4 Kansas City

6h

3/5

Not only the most bizarre musica lreleased this year, it's also the best.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Sam

5h

Amanda Seyfried pours body and soul into her captivating, Oscar-worthy performance as Ann Lee, charismatic leader of the Shakers religious sect, which came to America to escape persecution, only to be hounded in the Promised Land as well. While lacking their faith, I couldnt help but be caught up in their immersive worship, in which they literally shake and scream in a mixture of agony and ecstasy.

See more

diane

1d

amazing film! doesnt matter honestly, if you like it or not! It has a point of view, and it never wavers. Also, Amanda Seyfried is astonishing! What an original and spectacular film.

See more

Jennifer O

1d

I’ve never seen anything like this. A visual poem, and hauntingly beautiful.

See more

A L R

2d

Real good history film on the established church of the Shakers movement in the 18th century from its founding in England and making its way into then a young flourishing nation in the United States.

See more

Mateo

2d

A sort of integrated musical based on the founder of the Shakers using actual Shaker music. At times it feels so authentic that I needed subtitles, but it also blends history with legend to great effect, bordering on breaking the 4th wall without taking you out of the movie. The accompanying visuals are immersive, both convincing that it feels like it was shot during the period, yet also artistic and contemplative. Truly original and unlike anything else, it's like a Biblical epic for a nearly extinct religion.

See more

John M

4d

We saw this today. It opened in very limited theaters, but WOW, it's a brilliant, beautiful telling of Ann Lee's story! Inspiring and heartbreaking, she followed her spiritual calling fearlessly. Amanda Seyfried gives a remarkable performance! 🤯❤️‍🔥🤲

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Mona Fastvold

Director

Amanda Seyfried

Actor

Thomasin McKenzie

Actor

Lewis Pullman

Actor

Stacy Martin

Actor

Matthew Beard

Actor

The Testament of Ann Lee: Music Clip - Hunger and Thirst

2:51

View more videos

Awards Leaderboard: Best Movies of 2025

The Testament of Ann Lee: Featurette - Shooting on Film

1:29

The Testament of Ann Lee: Featurette - Music and Movement

3:11

The Testament of Ann Lee: Teaser Trailer

1:22

View more videos

View more photos

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: Andrew Morrison, Joshua Horsfield, Viktória Petrányi, Mona Fastvold, Brady Corbet, Gregory Jankilevitsch, Klaudia Śmieja, Lillian LaSalle, Mark Lampert
Screenwriter: Mona Fastvold, Brady Corbet
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)