Uglies

Uglies

Watch in the UK

Watch in the US

Data provided by

4 / 10

1 Review

Rate this movie:

4 Based on 1 Votes

10

0
9

0
8

0
7

0
6

0
5

0
4

1
3

0
2

0
1

0

Overview

In a futuristic dystopia with enforced beauty standards, a teen awaiting mandatory cosmetic surgery embarks on a journey to find her missing friend.

Media

Uglies | Official Trailer | Netflix

Cast

Director:

McG

Writer:

Whit Anderson, Jacob Forman, Vanessa Taylor, Scott Westerfeld

Release Date:

2024-09-12

Run Time:

100m

Tagline:

In a world of extreme beauty, anyone normal is ugly.

Genres:

Action Adventure Science Fiction

Keywords:

absurd based on young adult novel beauty standards cliché cosmetic surgery dystopia missing friend teenager

Financials and Popularity

Budget: Not Declared

Revenue: Not Declared

Vote Average: 5.7/10

Vote Count: 933 Votes

Movie Popularity: 3.6321

Spoken Languages: English

Review

View all reviews

Insomniacs Reviews
- 30 April 2026 at 10:00 pm

4 Based on 1 Votes
10

0
9

0
8

0
7

0
6

0
5

0
4

1
3

0
2

0
1

0
⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 4/10 THE SUMMARY In a post-apocalyptic future, everyone is born "Ugly" and must undergo mandatory plastic surgery at sixteen to become a "Pretty." Tally Youngblood (Joey King) is counting down the days until her transformation, but when her friend escapes to join a rebel group called the Smoke, Tally is forced into a dangerous mission by the authorities. She has to find the rebels and lead the city to them, or risk never being made Pretty. As she discovers the truth behind the procedure, she has to decide if being perfect is worth losing her identity. THE PROS The film has a decent visual shine to it, and some of the futuristic tech, like the hoverboards, provides a few fun action sequences. It hits a 4 because Joey King gives an honest, earnest performance as Tally, trying her best to sell the emotional weight of a world that feels a bit like a throwback to the 2010s YA craze. There are some gritty, interesting ideas buried in the plot about societal control and the obsession with beauty standards, which are fair shouts for a modern audience. It’s an easy watch if you’re looking for something light that doesn't require much brain power. THE CONS It stays at a 4 because it feels about ten years too late. The "dystopian teen" genre has been done to death, and this version doesn't add anything new to the mix, often feeling like a remix of 'Divergent' or 'The Hunger Games'. It misses a higher mark because the world-building is a bit thin; the city looks like a generic CGI landscape, and the logic behind the "Uglies" vs "Pretties" is never fully fleshed out beyond surface-level aesthetics. The pacing can feel a bit rushed, especially in the final act, leaving the transition from "loyal citizen" to "rebel leader" feeling unearned and a bit of a "head scratcher." THE VERDICT 4/10. An honest attempt at reviving the YA dystopian genre that ultimately falls flat. It’s a bit of a middle-of-the-road experience that will likely appeal to younger fans of the book series but lacks the grit and depth to stand out as an epic. INSOMNIAC TRIVIA • The film is based on the 2005 novel by Scott Westerfeld, which was actually one of the books that originally sparked the massive interest in dystopian teen fiction long before 'The Hunger Games' movie.• Joey King was a massive fan of the book series growing up and spent years actively pursuing the role of Tally, eventually becoming an executive producer to help get the project off the ground.• Director McG utilized several unique filming locations and digital sets to create the contrast between the sterile, perfect city and the raw, overgrown nature of the "Smoke" rebel camp. THE VIBE Like a filter on a photo that’s been over-edited. It smells of expensive perfume, clean glass, and the metallic tang of a high-speed hoverboard.

Videos

Uglies | Official Trailer | Netflix

Cast

Jan Luis Castellanos

Jay DeVon Johnson

Ashton Essex Bright

Related Movies To

Uglies

Normal

Normal

7 / 10

1 Review

Interim sheriff Ulysses, called to the snowbound town of Normal, MN, uncovers an international criminal conspiracy at the heart of the seemingly quaint whistle-stop when he comes to the aid of a bank-robbing couple caught up in a deadly mess.

Run time: 91m Tagline: Small town. Big secret. Release: 2026-04-16

Director: Ben Wheatley

Stars: Alex MacMillan Billy MacLellan Bob Odenkirk Brendan Fletcher Henry Winkler Jess McLeod Lena Headey Peter Shinkoda Reena Jolly Ryan Allen

Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Ghost War

Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War

7 / 10

1 Review

When an international covert mission unravels a deadly conspiracy, Ryan is forced back into the world of espionage to confront a rogue black-ops unit.

Run time: 105m Tagline: No operation stays dark forever. Release: 2026-05-20

Director: Andrew Bernstein

Stars: Alex Brockdorff Betty Gabriel Douglas Hodge JJ Feild John Krasinski Max Beesley Mckenna Bridger Michael Kelly Sienna Miller Wendell Pierce

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu

8 / 10

1 Review

The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin and his young apprentice Grogu.

Run time: 132m Tagline: If you're searching for new adventure, "this is the way." Release: 2026-05-20

Director: Jon Favreau

Stars: Dave Filoni Hemky Madera Jeremy Allen White Jonny Coyne Martin Scorsese Matthew Willig Paul Sun-Hyung Lee Pedro Pascal Sigourney Weaver Steve Blum

Children of Men

Children of Men

10 / 10

1 Review

In 2027, in a chaotic world in which humans can no longer procreate, a former activist agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea, where her child's birth may help scientists save the future of humankind.

Run time: 109m Tagline: The year 2027: the last days of the human race. No child has been born for 18 years. He must protect our only hope. Release: 2006-09-22

Director: Alfonso Cuarón

Stars: Charlie Hunnam Chiwetel Ejiofor Clare-Hope Ashitey Clive Owen Danny Huston Julianne Moore Michael Caine Oana Pellea Pam Ferris Peter Mullan

Oldboy

Oldboy

10 / 10

1 Review

With no clue how he came to be imprisoned, drugged and tortured for 15 years, a desperate man seeks revenge on his captors.

Run time: 120m Tagline: 15 years of imprisonment, five days of vengeance. Release: 2003-11-21

Director: Park Chan-wook

Stars: Choi Min-sik Ji Dae-han Kang Hye-jung Kim Byeong-ok Lee Seung-shin Oh Dal-su Oh Tae-kyung Yoo Ji-tae Yoo Yeon-seok Yoon Jin-seo

Collections

Uglies

This movie is not part of any collection.

Reviews for

Uglies

Comment (1)

Insomniacs Reviews
- 30 April 2026 at 11:00 PM

⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 4/10
THE SUMMARY
In a post-apocalyptic future, everyone is born “Ugly” and must undergo mandatory plastic surgery at sixteen to become a “Pretty.” Tally Youngblood (Joey King) is counting down the days until her transformation, but when her friend escapes to join a rebel group called the Smoke, Tally is forced into a dangerous mission by the authorities. She has to find the rebels and lead the city to them, or risk never being made Pretty. As she discovers the truth behind the procedure, she has to decide if being perfect is worth losing her identity.
THE PROS
The film has a decent visual shine to it, and some of the futuristic tech, like the hoverboards, provides a few fun action sequences. It hits a 4 because Joey King gives an honest, earnest performance as Tally, trying her best to sell the emotional weight of a world that feels a bit like a throwback to the 2010s YA craze. There are some gritty, interesting ideas buried in the plot about societal control and the obsession with beauty standards, which are fair shouts for a modern audience. It’s an easy watch if you’re looking for something light that doesn’t require much brain power.
THE CONS
It stays at a 4 because it feels about ten years too late. The “dystopian teen” genre has been done to death, and this version doesn’t add anything new to the mix, often feeling like a remix of ‘Divergent’ or ‘The Hunger Games’. It misses a higher mark because the world-building is a bit thin; the city looks like a generic CGI landscape, and the logic behind the “Uglies” vs “Pretties” is never fully fleshed out beyond surface-level aesthetics. The pacing can feel a bit rushed, especially in the final act, leaving the transition from “loyal citizen” to “rebel leader” feeling unearned and a bit of a “head scratcher.”
THE VERDICT
4/10. An honest attempt at reviving the YA dystopian genre that ultimately falls flat. It’s a bit of a middle-of-the-road experience that will likely appeal to younger fans of the book series but lacks the grit and depth to stand out as an epic.
INSOMNIAC TRIVIA
• The film is based on the 2005 novel by Scott Westerfeld, which was actually one of the books that originally sparked the massive interest in dystopian teen fiction long before ‘The Hunger Games’ movie.
• Joey King was a massive fan of the book series growing up and spent years actively pursuing the role of Tally, eventually becoming an executive producer to help get the project off the ground.
• Director McG utilized several unique filming locations and digital sets to create the contrast between the sterile, perfect city and the raw, overgrown nature of the “Smoke” rebel camp.
THE VIBE
Like a filter on a photo that’s been over-edited. It smells of expensive perfume, clean glass, and the metallic tang of a high-speed hoverboard.

Leave a Review Cancel reply