Nineteen years ago, I directed a production of Kiss of the Spider Woman at 4th Wall Theatre in New Jersey and have waited ever since to see a revival of the show somewhere. I was thrilled when I heard the movie was being made and went the second day it opened. What Bill Condon has done with this film is remarkable. He’s written it using the late Terrence McNally’s musical script, yet he’s also gone back to the original 1976 novel by Manuel Puig to deepen what the 1993 Broadway musical first gave us.

Jennifer Lopez & Tonatiuh: 2025 Kiss of the Spider Woman

Many of the Kander and Ebb songs remain, though Condon keeps them all within the “movie within the movie,” not in the reality of the prison. When I first heard this, I was disappointed, but it’s surprisingly effective on screen. (And lucky for us, some songs made it into the film in clever ways I won’t spoil here.)

For those unfamiliar, the story centers on two very different cellmates in Argentina, set in 1983 for the film. Molina, a queer window dresser, passes the time by telling Valentin, a political revolutionary, about his favorite movie star. Two very different men, learning to depend on each other.

2006 4th Wall Theatre production with Jason Tamashausky, Alex Kanter & Frank Malvasi Photo by Sean Hennessy

I know you’re waiting for me to talk about J-Lo, who takes on the title role once played brilliantly by Chita Rivera on Broadway. Jennifer Lopez sparkles. She dances beautifully, gives great 50s film-star looks, and sings the score admirably. Condon expands her role so that the “film within the film” mirrors what Molina experiences in the real world. I get that J-Lo will be the reason some people see this film (and the reason others avoid it), but whichever camp you’re in, I promise you’ll enjoy her.

Tonatiuh & Jennifer Lopez : 2025 Kiss of the Spider Woman

Still, it’s not her story, even though she’s the title character. Condon goes deeper than both the 1985 film and the 1993 musical. The love story feels honest and grounded, and Molina is portrayed as more gender-fluid and less of the stereotypically flamboyant gay man we’ve often seen before. Maybe it’s because of where we are in 2025, but this version feels true to our time: both in how queer men are represented and in how the politics of Argentina echo our own headlines. It’s hard not to see our own world reflected in this gritty, real story contrasted against the technicolor fantasy of Molina’s mind. As a young gay man in the 80s, I remember being moved seeing William Hurt play an openly gay man on screen as it felt revolutionary then. Forty years later, Tonatiuh doesn’t hold back.

Yes, I love musical theater, so of course I was going to see this. But the film isn’t getting the audience it deserves. The marketing has been quiet; I haven’t seen much online or on TV. Still, hear me out…you want to see this for the breakout performance of Tonatiuh as Molina. He’s astonishing. His performance is layered, vulnerable, and quietly powerful. And that voice. The camera loves him. He lights up the screen whether in the dim grain of the prison sequences or the saturated dreamscapes of Molina’s imagination. He’s matched beautifully by Diego Luna as Valentin, who balances bravado and tenderness as his character shifts. Both are perfectly cast, and I hope Tonatiuh gets the recognition he deserves come awards season.

Tonatiuh & Diego Luna: 2025 Kiss of the Spider Woman

In many ways, this film is a love letter to cinema itself. Funny enough, when I directed Spider Woman years ago (before I ever made my own films) I ended the show with a short movie I created, showing what Molina felt toward his cellmate. Condon has taken Molina’s fantasies to new heights. The film’s closing moments soar, and it’s worth seeing on the big screen.

And a shoutout to the Broadway performers who appear in the movie. I’ve loved watching Max Clayton on stage for years, and he shines in every dance number here.

Reviews have been solid. Box office, not so much. If you love musical theater, please go see this film so Hollywood keeps making movie musicals.

Jennifer Lopez & Ensemble: 2025 Kiss of the Spider Woman

Author’s Note
Stories like Kiss of the Spider Woman remind us why art matters. It is about seeing ourselves on screen, even in places we once thought we could not exist. Theater and film both teach us empathy, and empathy is how we build a kinder world. If a movie musical can open one heart or spark one conversation, it is worth every frame.

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