Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalIMDb Stars to WatchSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Passion Play

  • 2010
  • R
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
4.5/10
9.1K
YOUR RATING
Bill Murray, Mickey Rourke, and Megan Fox in Passion Play (2010)
Down-and-out trumpet player Nate Pool (Rourke) meets Lily (Fox), an angelic creature working as a circus sideshow attraction. As they fall in love, the couple must stay one step ahead of the gangster (Murray) who wants Lily for himself.
Play trailer1:39
1 Video
33 Photos
Dark RomanceSupernatural FantasyDramaFantasyHorrorRomance

An angel under the thumb of a ruthless gangster is saved by a trumpet player down on his luck.An angel under the thumb of a ruthless gangster is saved by a trumpet player down on his luck.An angel under the thumb of a ruthless gangster is saved by a trumpet player down on his luck.

  • Director
    • Mitch Glazer
  • Writer
    • Mitch Glazer
  • Stars
    • Mickey Rourke
    • Megan Fox
    • Bill Murray
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    4.5/10
    9.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Mitch Glazer
    • Writer
      • Mitch Glazer
    • Stars
      • Mickey Rourke
      • Megan Fox
      • Bill Murray
    • 102User reviews
    • 54Critic reviews
    • 22Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Passion Play
    Trailer 1:39
    Passion Play

    Photos33

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 27
    View Poster

    Top cast53

    Edit
    Mickey Rourke
    Mickey Rourke
    • Nate Poole
    Megan Fox
    Megan Fox
    • Lily Luster
    Bill Murray
    Bill Murray
    • Happy Shannon
    Kelly Lynch
    Kelly Lynch
    • Harriet
    Rhys Ifans
    Rhys Ifans
    • Sam Adamo
    Chuck Liddell
    Chuck Liddell
    • Aldo
    Chris Browning
    Chris Browning
    • Cecil
    Mark Sivertsen
    Mark Sivertsen
    • Walt (Man #2)
    John Cenatiempo
    John Cenatiempo
    • Roland
    Rory Cochrane
    Rory Cochrane
    • Rickey
    Frank Bond
    Frank Bond
    • Man #1 (With Walt)
    Arron Shiver
    Arron Shiver
    • Russell
    Lora Martinez-Cunningham
    Lora Martinez-Cunningham
    • Nurse Kohl
    • (as Lora Cunningham)
    Robert Wisdom
    Robert Wisdom
    • Malcolm (Monk)
    Liezl Carstens
    Liezl Carstens
    • April
    Alexandra Essoe
    Alexandra Essoe
    • Audrey
    Brian Doyle-Murray
    Brian Doyle-Murray
    • Billy Berg
    Marc Miles
    Marc Miles
    • Jake
    • Director
      • Mitch Glazer
    • Writer
      • Mitch Glazer
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews102

    4.59K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    6trojans7

    passion for this movie is needed

    Don't know why but i liked this movie. i cant defend it so i wont you either like movies like this or you don't. i found it easy to watch and i really like mickey rourke he was perfect for this sad puppy clinging to life and its bitter truths. megan fox although i have not seen her in much was very beautiful and angelic. but for what it worth i do think critic on this medium where a bit harsh,and mean spirited on a film thats was made for the a limited crowd. bill murry i was going to say something very cleaver but alas all i can say is a very gifted actor. the blu-ray was very disappointing with no extras or commentary. there is no reason for a new release in 2013 to have nothing on the disk and on a blu-ray thats just unforgivable.
    7brianimdb-437-260206

    Never never 4 out of 10

    Very strong thought provoking movie with a great subtle twist! Having seen this movies rating of 4 out of ten on IMDb, I had very low expectations for this movie. Having just watched the film I would rate it at least a 7!

    Mickey Rourke produces his best performance since the wrestler and spun, to compare it it to his most recent work. Mickey is one of the best of all time when he is at this level, in a movie deserving of his skills.

    Passion play also stars Bill Murray who displays a performance to equal his excellent display in mad dog and glory, playing a similarly dark character Bill shows that he is equal to the best in a serious role.

    Having not been exposed to any of Megan Fox's past performances I can say she was excellent in her role and has great chemistry with Rourke. The score of the movie is perfect and added to the dream like atmosphere created by the movies director, in fact the whole production is top notch, professionally handled by a director who has created some really beautiful scenes. One you will watch more than once if you appreciate high quality acting and stylish direction.
    6gotohoward

    great small film highlighting the beauty of megan fox

    this movie was never intended to be a big film. I didn't read any reviews in entirety only to see if it had any positive feedback which gave me a go for watching it. I was really fooled by the ending where it all came together. The acting was mostly good, but sets could have been a little better. I was involved in the story and felt the love between Lily and Nate. I was surprised by Megan's good acting in it. She played it nicely without a lot of dialog for her to point out her flaws. The director did a good job of inserting her for loss of a better term.

    I'd recommend this highly without reservation, but would suggest lowering your expectation level if you looking for high end type film. Perfect for DVD...and I definitely would have seen it an art house theater without disappointment.
    7Wuchakk

    A second chance at redemption

    I know it's hip to slam 2010's "Passion Play," maybe because Megan Fox is an easy target, but the film doesn't deserve it. This is a reverent drama with outlandish aspects and a profound ending.

    THE PLOT: Nate Poole (Mickey Rourke) is a down-on-his-luck musician in the Southwest who gets on the bad side of a mob boss, Happy (Bill Murray). In his flight he stumbles upon Lily (Fox) at a carnival, a "freak" with wings. They discern a deep connection and take off together with Happy & his hoods on their trail.

    The film is very similar to 2008's "The Wrestler," which also starred Roarke. In both films Rourke plays a languishing has-been. In both films he struggles with his love for a young woman. In "The Wrestler" it's his daughter; in "Passion Play" it's an exceptional young woman with whom he has a love connection.

    What surprised me is Fox' acting. She's known for playing the stereotypical hot chick, but here she plays a sweet, innocent woman struggling with an abnormality, and she does it very convincingly.

    Also, Rourke (Nate) and Fox (Lily) have good chemistry. Yes, Nate is about 30 years older than Lily, but – it doesn't matter – their connection is real, sort of like Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson in "Lost in Translation."

    The score is reverent and moving and fits the tone of the film.

    The ending is both surprising and effective, even though there are obvious clues. See "COMMENTARY ON ENDING" below.

    The film was shot in New Mexico and runs 94 minutes.

    GRADE: B

    ***SPOILER ALERT*** (Don't read until you've seen the film)

    COMMENTARY ON THE ENDING: Although some interpret the ending to mean the bulk of the story is Nate's death dream, it more likely indicates that Nate was in some type of purgatorial spiritual realm where God offers a second chance for the lost. Nate passes the test and is ushered into eternal bliss. Since it's some type of spiritual realm where God is sovereign, the reality may be set-up in a holographic sense, similar to Star Trek's Holodeck. In that case, the people Nate experiences aren't real at all; they're there simply as a part of Nate's test.

    At any rate, the ending gives the story purpose in an eternal scope. Instead of some silly fantasy about a hard-luck musician meeting some ultra-beautiful woman with wings who learns to fly while simultaneously delivering the man from some serious heavies (why sure!), the story becomes a tale of eternal redemption for a languishing dumb bastage who foolishly messed around with a mob boss' wife.

    At the end you see Nate smiling with true joy as the angel sweeps him off to heavenly bliss. God gave him a second chance at redemption and he escapes this piece-of-sh** world.
    7fadiltobi

    Megan Fox can act like that???!!!

    Cut to the bottom, The cast amazed me like crap!. Never thought mickey nor Megan can ever act like this!! Trust me, This is no joke!...

    You don't wanna know what other people say or think about this flick until you watch it by your own eyes. I know... Reviews and critics gives some touch but you need to understand that it differs by person to person.

    I didn't expect an Oscar or Globe class story line in this movie(Nor it delivered) but plain simply, This movie took the level of actors who we thought "boring!" into a "What?!She/He can act like that?!" level! It was NOT boring from the start and contained an original script with the touch of Bill Murray which somehow worked like a charm. I got no bad things to tell about Megan Fox's acting as i mentioned above.

    I never wanted to make reviews just like others do. just give it a plain look will ya! ;) "Every movie deserves a watch and that's how it suppose to be"

    Best Emmys Moments

    Best Emmys Moments
    Discover nominees and winners, red carpet looks, and more from the Emmys!

    More like this

    Cerebrum
    4.3
    Cerebrum
    K-Shop
    5.9
    K-Shop
    On the Line
    5.1
    On the Line
    Return of the Mack
    8.8
    Return of the Mack
    The Tip
    6.2
    The Tip
    Dreadspace
    6.7
    Dreadspace
    Agent of Death
    5.3
    Agent of Death
    Beyond Existence
    4.1
    Beyond Existence
    Taurus
    4.6
    Taurus
    Stormfall: Rise of Balur - Megan Fox Commercial
    6.2
    Stormfall: Rise of Balur - Megan Fox Commercial
    Whispers of the Witching Hour
    8.0
    Whispers of the Witching Hour
    Crimes of Fashion
    4.8
    Crimes of Fashion

    Related interests

    Kim Min-hee and Kim Tae-ri in The Handmaiden (2016)
    Dark Romance
    Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson in Ghostbusters (1984)
    Supernatural Fantasy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
    Fantasy
    Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby (1968)
    Horror
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Was featured on the comedy podcast How Did This Get Made
    • Goofs
      When Nate gets his drink from Lily in her caravan you can see him putting his glass on the table. A few seconds later it's a total different type of glass.
    • Quotes

      [I'm not an angel. I'm a bird woman]

    • Connections
      Featured in Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #1.16 (2011)
    • Soundtracks
      If you Live
      Allen Toussaint - Piano

      Christian McBride - Upright Bass

      Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah - Trumpet

      Kendrick Scott - Drums

      Levon Henry - Tenor Saxophone

      Produced by Joe Henry

      Recorded at Avatar Studios, NYC, January 2010

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ18

    • How long is Passion Play?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 2, 2011 (Taiwan)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Đam Mê
    • Filming locations
      • Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
    • Production companies
      • Annapurna Productions
      • Rebecca Wang Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $8,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $3,669
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $2,100
      • May 8, 2011
    • Gross worldwide
      • $25,603
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 34m(94 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.