The Testament of Ann Lee

Amanda Seyfried stars as Ann Lee in a measured retelling of how a driven woman gathered followers around a radical devotional practice. The film tracks moments of faith, persuasion, and community-building as Ann's convictions take shape and attract devoted adherents. It privileges intimate scenes of worship, music, and argument, showing how belief becomes a social force rather than offering a blow-by-blow historical account. Thomasin McKenzie narrates and plays Mary Partington, while relationships with figures like William Lee and James Whittaker are sketched to reveal how personal loyalties and ideological tensions shape the emerging group.

Directed by Mona Fastvold from a story by Brady Corbet, the movie assembles a strong cast including Lewis Pullman, Thomasin McKenzie, Matthew Beard, and Christopher Abbott, and it leans on period detail and musical sequences to evoke its era.

Box office totals have not been widely reported, and the film has seen a selective theatrical rollout and festival play rather than a major wide release, so commercial figures remain limited at this time.

Critical responses have been generally favorable, reflected in an early 7.0/10 user vote average, and reviewers have commented on the film's focus on faith, authority, and the role of women in religious movements. The screenplay and performances emphasize how ritual, music, and leadership interact, and the pacing favors small, charged scenes over sweeping biography.

Early conversations around the film highlight how it prompts renewed interest in Shaker history and musical traditions, especially among viewers unfamiliar with the group. Amanda Seyfried's lead role and the movie's musical moments have drawn attention, and the film could encourage more audiences to read about the historical Shakers and their unusual communal practices.