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Ethan Coen’s 'Honey Don’t!' Earns Ovation at Cannes Premiere

The second entry in Coen and Tricia Cooke’s lesbian B-movie trilogy dazzled with Margaret Qualley’s lead performance but drew mixed reviews for its uneven plotting.

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Director Ethan Coen poses on the red carpet during arrivals for the screening of the film "Honey Don't!" presented as part of midnight screenings at the 78th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 24, 2025. REUTERS/Manon Cruz
Director Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke pose on the red carpet during arrivals for the screening of the film "Honey Don't!" presented as part of midnight screenings at the 78th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 24, 2025. REUTERS/Manon Cruz
Director Ethan Coen, screenwriter Tricia Cooke, and cast members Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza, and Talia Ryder pose on the red carpet during arrivals for the screening of the film "Honey Don't!" presented as part of midnight screenings at the 78th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 24, 2025. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

Overview

  • The film premiered in the Midnight Screenings section at Cannes 2025, receiving a 6.5-minute standing ovation from the audience.
  • Margaret Qualley stars as Honey O’Donahue, a private investigator navigating a noir-inspired mystery involving a corrupt church leader played by Chris Evans.
  • Critics praised Qualley’s charismatic performance and the film’s subversive humor but noted flaws in its storytelling and tonal consistency.
  • Aubrey Plaza co-stars as Honey’s love interest, a no-nonsense cop, adding depth to the film’s exploration of queer relationships.
  • Focus Features will release 'Honey Don’t!' in U.S. theaters on August 22, 2025, as part of Coen and Cooke’s planned lesbian B-movie trilogy.