A Monster Calls is a 2016 dark fantasy drama film directed by J. A. Bayona and written by Patrick Ness, based on his novel of the same name. The film stars Sigourney Weaver, Felicity Jones, Toby Kebbell, Lewis MacDougall, and Liam Neeson, and tells the story of Conor (MacDougal), a child whose mother (Jones) is terminally ill; one night, he is visited by a giant tree-like monster (Neeson), who states that he will come back each night and tell him three stories.
A Monster Calls premiered on September 10, 2016 at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival. It was then released in Spain on October 7, 2016 and in the United Kingdom on January 1, 2017. In the United States, the film began a limited release in on December 23, 2016, followed by a wide release on January 6, 2017. It received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its themes, directing, performances and visual effects, although the writing was considered by some as overly dark. The film was a domestic disappointment grossing just $3.7 million, and has grossed $41 million worldwide.