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Characters & Themes

Bombshell (2019) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 109 min · English
Echo score 62
JustWatch #1,098 74
Directed by
Jay Roach
Starring
Charlize Theron, Connie Britton, John Lithgow, Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie, Alanna Ubach
Budget
$32M

Three female journalists at a major American television network grapple with the complexities of ambition, integrity, and power dynamics. As they uncover a shocking scandal involving the network’s powerful CEO, they must confront difficult choices and navigate a cutthroat environment where their own achievements are threatened by the very system they once upheld. The story explores the challenges faced by women in media and the consequences of speaking truth to power.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (4)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Bombshell
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Bombshell (2019)

Where can you watch Bombshell? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channels and Amazon Video: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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4 main characters · contains spoilers

Bombshell Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Bombshell (2019), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Megyn Kelly

    played by Charlize Theron

    Megyn Kelly is a determined and influential journalist at Fox News, known for her courage to confront powerful figures like Donald Trump. Despite facing severe backlash and harassment, she evolves throughout the story, ultimately finding the strength to speak out against systemic abuses within her workplace.

    • 📰 Journalist
    • 💪 Resilient
    • ⚖️ Advocate
  • Gretchen Carlson

    played by Nicole Kidman

    Gretchen Carlson is a pioneering news anchor whose fight against sexism in the workplace becomes a catalyst for change. Her journey reflects personal growth and empowerment, as she transforms from a victim to an advocate, leading a lawsuit against Roger Ailes and inspiring others to come forward.

    • 📺 News Anchor
    • 👩‍⚖️ Challenger
    • 💔 Survivor
  • Kayla Pospisil

    played by Margot Robbie

    Kayla Pospisil is a young, ambitious conservative who idolizes the Fox News brand but faces the harsh realities of workplace harassment. Her internal conflict and eventual solidarity with Megyn and Gretchen represent a journey of awakening and empowerment as she learns to reclaim her voice.

    • 🌟 Aspiring Professional
    • 💔 Conflicted
    • 🤝 Ally
  • Roger Ailes

    played by John Lithgow

    Roger Ailes is portrayed as a powerful yet paranoid figure who manipulates the media landscape to maintain control. His actions exemplify the systemic misogyny within the industry, serving as the antagonist that the main characters unite against in their quest for justice.

    • 👔 Executive
    • 🏛️ Manipulator
    • ⚖️ Abuser

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:39

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Setting

Where and When Does Bombshell Take Place?

The setting of Bombshell (2019): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

2016

The film takes place in 2016, a pivotal year marked by the contentious presidential election. During this time, societal issues related to gender equality, harassment, and media's role in politics became increasingly prominent, especially as Donald Trump emerged as a central figure in the election.

Location

Fox News Headquarters, Republican National Convention

The movie is set primarily in the Fox News Headquarters, a significant media hub known for its influence on American politics and Republican narratives. The Republican National Convention serves as a critical backdrop, symbolizing the intersection of media and political power during elections.

  • 🏢 Workplace
  • 🗳️ Political Venue

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:39

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3 major themes

Bombshell Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Bombshell (2019) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Workplace Harassment

    The film emphasizes the pervasive issue of workplace harassment, particularly in high-stakes environments like Fox News. It explores how the toxic culture can silence women's voices and undermine their careers, showcasing the struggle of the main characters as they confront their experiences of sexual misconduct.

  • Justice and Empowerment

    Justice and empowerment are core themes as the women band together to challenge the oppressive systems at Fox. Their collective stand against Roger Ailes symbolizes hope, resilience, and the importance of speaking out against injustice, illustrating a transformative journey towards self-advocacy.

  • Media Influence

    The influence of media in shaping public opinion and political landscapes is a significant theme. The film critiques how media figures navigate their power dynamics, often complicating their ethical responsibilities amidst personal and professional conflicts.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:39

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Character & theme questions

Bombshell Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Bombshell (2019): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is Bombshell set?

The movie is primarily set at Fox News Headquarters in New York City, one of America's most influential media hubs known for shaping political narratives. Key scenes also take place at the Republican National Convention, highlighting the intersection between media and politics during election season.

  • fox news headquarters
  • new york
  • republican national convention
  • setting
  • location
Q2

What year is Bombshell set in?

Bombshell takes place in 2016, during the highly contentious presidential election that saw Donald Trump emerge as the Republican nominee. This timing is significant because it was a pivotal moment for gender equality issues and media scrutiny in American politics.

  • 2016
  • election year
  • presidential election
  • time period
  • trump
Q3

What does Bombshell say about workplace harassment?

The film prominently explores how toxic workplace cultures at powerful institutions like Fox News silence women's voices and threaten their careers. It shows how harassment extends beyond individual actions to systemic abuse of power that permeates the corporate environment.

  • workplace harassment
  • sexual misconduct
  • toxic culture
  • fox news
  • women empowerment
Q4

How does Bombshell explore justice and empowerment?

The film portrays justice and empowerment as the central journey of its female protagonists. Megyn Kelly, Gretchen Carlson, and Kayla Pospisil band together to challenge the oppressive system at Fox News, transforming from victims into advocates who inspire others to speak out.

  • justice
  • empowerment
  • courage
  • speaking out
  • collective action
Q5

What does Bombshell say about media influence?

Bombshell critically examines how media figures navigate power dynamics and their ethical responsibilities. The film shows how Fox News shaped Republican narratives and public opinion, while also revealing the personal and professional conflicts that complicate journalistic integrity.

  • media influence
  • fox news
  • journalism
  • political power
  • ethics
Q6

Who is Megyn Kelly in Bombshell?

Megyn Kelly is portrayed as a determined and influential journalist at Fox News who gained national attention for confronting Donald Trump about his derogatory comments toward women. Throughout the film, she evolves from facing severe backlash to finding the strength to speak out against systemic abuse within her workplace.

  • megyn kelly
  • charlize theron
  • journalist
  • fox news anchor
  • trump confrontation
Q7

Who is Gretchen Carlson in Bombshell?

Gretchen Carlson is depicted as a pioneering news anchor who becomes a catalyst for change by fighting against sexism in the workplace. Her decision to sue Roger Ailes transforms her from a victim of harassment into an advocate for justice, inspiring other women to come forward.

  • gretchen carlson
  • nicole kidman
  • lawsuit
  • roger ailes
  • pioneer
Q8

Who is Kayla Pospisil in Bombshell?

Kayla Pospisil is a young, ambitious conservative who idolizes Fox News but confronts the harsh realities of workplace harassment. Her internal conflict and eventual solidarity with Megyn and Gretchen represent an awakening as she learns to reclaim her voice and stand up against abuse.

  • kayla pospisil
  • margot robbie
  • young journalist
  • awakening
  • solidarity
Q9

Who is Roger Ailes in Bombshell?

Roger Ailes is portrayed as the powerful, manipulative CEO of Fox News who exemplifies systemic misogyny in the media industry. He uses his position to maintain control over journalists and suppress victims of harassment, serving as the central antagonist whom the main characters unite against.

  • roger ailes
  • john lithgow
  • fox news CEO
  • antagonist
  • power abuse
Q10

Why is the Republican National Convention important in Bombshell?

The Republican National Convention serves as a critical backdrop in Bombshell because it represents the height of political and media power intersecting during the 2016 election. The setting underscores how Fox News's influence extends deeply into American political processes and narratives.

  • republican national convention
  • 2016 election
  • political backdrop
  • media politics
Q11

What is the emotional tone of Bombshell?

Bombshell has a tense, emotionally heavy tone driven by the psychological pressure of confronting a powerful, predatory system. While the ending is bittersweet, with the antagonist ousted and a settlement won, it comes at the cost of non-disclosure agreements and lasting personal trauma, leaving a feeling of qualified victory rather than pure triumph.

  • emotional tone
  • bittersweet
  • settlement
  • aftermath
  • harassment consequences
Q12

What is the main character arc in Bombshell?

The primary character arc follows women's journey from complicity and fear to collective courage and truth-telling. Each protagonist, Megyn, Gretchen, and Kayla, faces their own struggle with speaking out, but ultimately unites to challenge the systemic abuse of power at Fox News.

  • character arc
  • women journey
  • courage
  • truth telling
  • collective action

Movie threads

More Movies Like Bombshell, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Bombshell tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Corporate Whistleblower Dramas like Bombshell

True stories of individuals risking everything to expose systemic corruption. If you were captivated by Bombshell's tense portrayal of exposing systemic wrongdoing, explore more movies like it. This collection features true stories and dramatizations of individuals confronting powerful institutions, offering similar themes of moral courage, high-stakes risk, and the complex fallout of truth-telling.

  • tense
  • dramatic
  • courageous
  • investigative
  • unsettling
  • serious
  • Tone: tense, serious, dramatic
  • Pacing: steady, investigative
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically follow a protagonist or group who uncovers a deep-seated injustice or crime within a powerful organization. The plot revolves around their internal conflict, the gathering of evidence, and the escalating tension as they decide to become whistleblowers, facing retaliation and moral dilemmas along the way.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a focus on real-world ethical crises, a tense and often anxious tone, and a narrative structure built on investigation and confrontation. They explore the grey areas of ambition, integrity, and the personal sacrifices required for institutional change.

Movies with Bittersweet Triumphs like Bombshell

Stories where victory is hard-won but comes with a significant cost. For viewers who appreciated Bombshell's nuanced ending—where justice is achieved but personal costs remain—this group highlights similar stories. Find movies like Bombshell where characters fight powerful forces and earn a victory that feels real, raw, and emotionally complex, rather than a simple happy ending.

  • bittersweet
  • heavy
  • empowering
  • dramatic
  • resigned
  • courageous
  • Tone: bittersweet, heavy, empowering
  • Pacing: steady, emotionally driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The emotional journey in these films moves from oppression and injustice towards a hard-fought confrontation. The climax results in a tangible change or victory, but the resolution acknowledges the trauma endured and the compromises made, resulting in an ending that feels both empowering and sobering.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared emotional arc and conclusion. They deliver a heavy emotional weight and explore serious themes, culminating in an ending that balances a sense of accomplishment with the lingering pain of the struggle, creating a powerfully resonant and realistic feeling.

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Movies Like Bombshell

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Every angle

Bombshell (2019) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Bombshell in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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