Young Mothers

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1:29

Young Mothers

Jan 2026

1h 45m

Drama

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Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

64 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Five young mothers living in a shelter strive for a better future for themselves and kids amidst challenging upbringings.

Critics Consensus

Quietly powerful and profoundly humanistic, Young Mothers deftly balances social observation with intimate character study to craft an essential portrait of resilience.

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Thelma Adams

AARP Movies for Grownups

Jan 23

5/5

Another is the dignity that the filmmakers allow these young women, even when they make the bad choices one would expect from hormonally challenged teenage girls. Never judgmental and deeply moving, this lean Dardenne drama wields a big impact.

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Tim Grierson

Los Angeles Times

Jan 16

Despite their clear affection for these women, the Dardenne brothers never sugarcoat their characters’ unenviable circumstance or latch onto phony bromides to alleviate our anxiety. And yet “Young Mothers” contains its share of sweetness and light.

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Peter Rainer

Christian Science Monitor

Jan 16

4/5

The Dardennes’ mobile camera and exclusive use of natural light is sometimes indistinguishable from what often passes for docudrama-style “realism.” What rescues the film from such an undue comparison is the quality of empathy on view.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Apr 18

3.5/4

The film is incredibly moving and predictably aching in its multi-layered portraits, brimming with the Dardennes’ profound empathy.

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Amparo Cabal

EscribiendoCine

Apr 8

7/10

...this Franco-Belgian co-production maintains the realistic style that has characterized the [Dardenne brothers] throughout their career, allowing them to focus on the humanity of the characters. [Full review in Spanish]

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Daniel Barnes

Dare Daniel

Feb 20

3.5/5

While it doesn't have the crackling tension and overall impact of previous efforts from the Dardenne brothers, their observational empathy and refusal to sentimentalize or manipulate elevates even a relatively minor effort like Young Mothers.

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Vincent S

@Vin_E_At_The_Movies Mar 27

"Young Mothers" is a very compelling, emotional and subtly powerful drama with natural, great performances from its young cast. The feelings are real, the situations are real and this drama sucks you in.

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Roy J

Jan 26

Dardenne brothers never miss. Such a compelling movie that made me invested in all the young mother characters. Such facilities are doing good work!

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jan 12

The worldwide gross is $1,345,748.00.

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MB C

@MB.Cinema Jan 11

A restrained social drama that observes teenage motherhood without judgment or melodrama....Set inside a shelter for young mothers, the film follows several girls facing addiction, abandonment, and impossible choices....Its screenplay favors parallel stories over a single plot, capturing life as fragmented and unresolved....This approach lends realism and empathy, but limits emotional depth for each character....There is no central climax, only accumulating crises shaped by family, society, and absence....Quiet, compassionate, and uneven, Young Mothers leaves a lingering sense of vulnerability rather than clear answers....

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Jean-Pierre Dardenne

Director

Luc Dardenne

Director

Elsa Houben

Julie

Babette Verbeek

Jessica

Janaina Halloy

Ariane

Lucie Laruelle

Perla

Young Mothers: Trailer 1

1:29

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Synopsis

Five young mothers living in a shelter strive for a better future for themselves and kids amidst challenging upbringings.

Director: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
Screenwriter: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
Distributor: Music Box Films
Production Co: Les Films du Fleuve, The Reunion, Archipel 35
Genre: Drama
Original Language: French (France)
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 9, 2026, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 24, 2026
Box Office (Gross USA): $11.3K
Runtime: 1h 45m