Anniversary – Review and Summary

What is originally sold as a revenge story becomes a movie about the fall of democracy in America.

ByAmari Allah Hours Posted on

Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.

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“Anniversary” Film Details

  • Director(s): Jan Komasa
  • Writer(s): Lori Rosene-Gambino
  • Based On Work By: Jan Komasa, Lori Rosene-Gambino
  • Distributor: Lionsgate
  • Runtime: 1 Hour(s) and 52 Minutes
  • Public Release Date (In Theaters): October 31, 2025
  • Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Political
  • Content Rating: Rated R
  • Primary Language: English
  • Official Site Link

Movie Summary

Ellen Taylor is a professor at Georgetown, Liz’s former professor, and the two had a strained relationship in class. In fact, Ellen is so rooted in her beliefs of democracy and liberalism, that it could be submitted she is less open to discussion and more open to ways you agree with her. This led to Liz, who believes in a one-party system, not experiencing a debate with Ellen as much as a thrashing. Years later, Liz appears at Ellen’s anniversary party with Ellen’s only son, Josh, and Josh is enamored by Liz.

Ellen doesn’t like Liz, doesn’t think she has changed, and she goes to poison the well quickly with her husband, Paul, who just wants everyone to get along. However, within five years, Liz finds herself winning the debate as she takes their conversation from the classroom to the American people.

Cast and Characters

Ellen (Diane Lane)

  • Character Summary: Ellen is a prominent professor at Georgetown, enough to be asked to debate people on live television, who has strongly held liberal views – to the point there is no conversation, you either agree with her or you don’t.

Josh (Dylan O’Brien)

  • Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
  • Character Summary: Josh is Ellen and Paul’s only son, who, at one time, wanted to be a writer. However, unlike his sisters, he didn’t find success quickly, early into adulthood, or at all, and resigned himself to becoming an editor. This is how he met Liz, and their story began.

Liz (Phoebe Dynevor)

  • Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
  • Character Summary: Liz is one of Ellen’s former students, with whom she debated fiercely in class, to the point of embarrassing Liz. Nearly a decade later, Liz reappears in Ellen’s life as her only son’s girlfriend with a best-selling book and a movement behind her.

Paul (Kyle Chandler)

  • Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
  • Character Summary: Paul is a chef, the peace maker of the family, who struggles to integrate Liz into the family because of everyone’s adverse reaction to her – with Josh not helping matters at all.

Birdie (Mckenna Grace)

  • Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
  • Character Summary: Birdie is the youngest of the Taylor children, who often can be seen looking into a microscope, and who has ambitions to get into virology.

Anna (Madeline Brewer)

  • Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
  • Character Summary: Anna is the Taylor’s eldest child and eldest daughter, who is a political comedian.

Cynthia (Zoey Deutch)

  • Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
  • Character Summary: Cynthis is the middle daughter of the Taylor family who, with her husband Rob, are environmental lawyers.

Rob (Daryl McCormack)

  • Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
  • Character Summary: Rob is Cynthia’s husband, who is an environmental lawyer like she is, and as Josh and Liz have children, it leads to him pushing Cynthia for them to do the same.

What To Expect In “Anniversary” (Rated R) – Content Overview

  • Dialog:
    • Cursing: Throughout
  • Graphic Imagery or Violence:
    • Gun Violence: Occasional Use
    • Gore/ Blood/ Body Horror: Bleeding
    • Notable Violence: Self-Harm (Depiction of Suicide)
  • Miscellaneous:
    • Drinking: Yes
    • Drug Use: Recreational
    • Smoking: Yes

Review and Commentary

Highlight(s)

Each Character’s Storyline Made It So They Weren’t Expendable [82/100]

While the trailer may lead you to believe all eyes will be on Ellen and Liz, featuring their respective spouses, Paul and Josh, Ellen and Paul have other children who not only take up space but are notable. Birdie, the youngest, finds herself influenced by Liz, to Ellen’s horror, and she plays a fun piece of the puzzle as it becomes unclear whose side she might be on. Paul and Ellen’s eldest, Anna, is a queer comedian who is the first one to experience Liz’s rise in political power, causing massive headaches for the Taylor family.

Then there is Cynthia, who, admittedly, isn’t necessarily an interesting character, but her relationship with Rob not only draws you in but also presents a storyline that could potentially make you cry. Altogether, whether as an individual or who they mainly play off, nearly everyone has the ability to capture your attention.

On The Fence

Sold One Thing But Got Another [76/100]

But here comes the problem: The original selling point of the movie, Liz’s revenge on Ellen, isn’t direct. On top of that, Liz slowly but surely fades to the background, and Josh ends up often playing her surrogate. Then, to make matters worse, despite the drastic change that happens throughout the country, the majority of the Anniversary happens in or around Ellen’s home. So while you may get the claustrophobic feeling that Ellen is being suffocated by those influenced by Liz’s ideology throughout her neighborhood, it sometimes doesn’t feel like enough.

Mind you, this could be because, after watching The Girlfriend, I wanted Ellen and Liz to butt heads more, truly tear the family apart by having people take sides, or at least, after being separated for 8 years, debate once again. For one of the strangest things about Anniversary is that Liz sold 10+ million books, is considered the catalyst or leader of a major political movement, but you rarely, if ever, get to see her in her element, and present herself as powerful enough to go toe to toe with Ellen.

Again, Josh ends up being her surrogate, and often when we see Liz, she is presented as the dutiful wife, not someone who is the reason Josh means anything to anyone, besides the rest of the Taylors. It feels like such a waste, even if you want to take this all as soft power vs. soft power or Liz’s revenge being shifting their conversation/debate to a bigger stage, outside Georgetown, to show Liz may lose the debate there, when speaking in theory, but in practice, on a national stage? Liz is the one whose political theories resonate.

Overall

Our Rating (79/100): Mixed (Divisive)

Anniversary leans a bit too much towards political commentary than a revenge thriller, and while you can’t deny Liz’s pursuit of revenge is well executed, the way it is done may feel like you were sold on one thing, given another, and while it isn’t the worst thing, it isn’t what you thought was being advertised.

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Amari is the founder and head writer of Wherever-I-Look.com and has been reviewing media since 2010. He approaches each production with hope, rooting for every story to succeed, and believes criticism should come from unmet potential, while praise is reserved for work that meets or exceeds expectations.