In The Mother, Jennifer Lopez delivers a performance that surprises, moves, and thrills — a relentless blend of fierce assassin and devoted mother. The film introduces us to a woman who, after years of living in the shadows and wielding lethal power, abandoned her violent life to raise her daughter in safety. But peace, as she soon learns, is a fragile illusion.
From the beginning, the emotional core of the movie is not in its gunfights or covert operations — it’s in the tender, complicated bond between The Mother and her daughter. Lopez portrays her with both brutal strength and quiet vulnerability: she’s ready to eliminate any threat, but she’s also terrified of what her own history might do to the child she loves. Her internal struggle — to protect her daughter, to atone for her past, to survive — provides a depth that elevates The Mother beyond a typical action thriller.
Scenes of daily life — preparing meals, bedtime talks, small gestures of care — are lovingly interwoven with high-stakes action. These quieter moments feel just as important, grounding the film in real emotion. The daughter’s arc is equally powerful; she begins as innocent, curious, and unaware, but gradually senses something more in her mother’s eyes. Lopez and her on-screen child deliver a genuine chemistry that turns the film into a meditation on trust, sacrifice, and identity.
On the action front, The Mother doesn’t disappoint. Lopez’s character employs her deadly skills with precision — infiltrating secure locations, engaging in hand-to-hand combat, and navigating perilous chases. Yet, her motivations are always personal: she fights not for glory or vengeance, but to keep her daughter safe. Her talent in combining raw power with maternal instinct makes her journey compelling, as she is forced to reconcile who she was with who she wants to be.
Critically, the film received mixed reviews — it holds a 45/100 on Metacritic indicating “mixed or average” reception. On Rotten Tomatoes, it scores around 43% from critics, who praised Lopez’s presence but noted formulaic genre elements. Still, audiences responded more favorably, and Lopez’s star power combined with her action-hero transformation resonated deeply.
On social media and streaming platforms, The Mother became a viral phenomenon. Netflix viewing data showed it amassed 249.9 million hours watched in just the first half of 2023, making it the most-watched Netflix movie during that period. Samba TV reported that 2.8 million U.S. households tuned in during its opening weekend, with particularly strong engagement among Black (over-indexed by 33%) and Hispanic (over-indexed by 25%) audiences.
The buzz on social media mirrored that success: fans praised Lopez’s emotional range and her ability to carry an action film with heart. The hashtag #TheMother trended on Instagram and Twitter in multiple countries in the days after its release, with viewers sharing clips, fan art, and personal reflections on motherhood and redemption.
Clarification: About The Mother 2 (2025)
While many rumors have circulated online about a sequel, often called The Mother 2 (2025), there is no official confirmation from Netflix or Jennifer Lopez that such a project exists. As of now, the continued story remains speculation, fueled by fan-made posts and online concept art. Until an official announcement is made, it’s best to treat any sequel rumors with caution.
