The Misfits movie just returned to the big screen in a stunning 4K restoration on June 5, 2026, as the world celebrates what would have been Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday.
John Huston’s elegiac anti-western The Misfits, Marilyn Monroe’s final film, was released in cinemas in the UK and Ireland on 5 June to mark the centenary of Monroe’s birth.
Marilyn Monroe was born on June 1, 1926, and is now celebrating her centenary.
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This is not just a movie screening. This is a global tribute to cinema’s most enduring icon.
📌 Quick Facts: The Misfits (1961)
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Movie | The Misfits |
| Year | 1961 |
| Director | John Huston |
| Screenplay | Arthur Miller |
| Runtime | 2 hrs 4 min |
| Lead Cast | Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, Montgomery Clift |
| IMDb Rating | 7.2/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 94% (34 Reviews) |
| Budget | ~$4 Million |
| Box Office | $4.1 Million (Initial US Release) |
| 4K Restoration | BFI, released June 5, 2026 |
| Streaming | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Plex (Free) |
Why Is The Misfits Movie Trending in 2026?
The film is experiencing an extraordinary revival thanks to Marilyn Monroe’s centennial.
Here is a timeline of the major 2026 events driving renewed interest:
| Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Marilyn Monroe 100th Birthday Celebration (MM100) Launched | Early 2026 | Global |
| Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon Exhibition Opens | May 31, 2026 | Academy Museum, Los Angeles |
| Marilyn Monroe 100th Birthday Guinness World Record Attempt | May 30, 2026 | Palm Springs |
| Marilyn Monroe’s 100th Birthday | June 1, 2026 | Worldwide |
| Marilyn Monroe: Self-Made Star Season Opens at BFI Southbank | June 1, 2026 | London |
| Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait Exhibition Opens | June 4, 2026 | National Portrait Gallery, London |
| The Misfits 4K Restoration Returns to Cinemas | June 5, 2026 | UK & Ireland |
More than 1,000 people dressed as Marilyn Monroe filled downtown Palm Springs, setting a new world record as the city celebrated what would have been the Hollywood icon‘s 100th birthday, with a total of 1,037 participants surpassing the previous record of 254.
When a city of over 1,000 Marilyns breaks a world record for you, your legacy is secure forever.
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What Is The Misfits About?
While filing for a divorce, beautiful ex-stripper Roslyn Taber (Marilyn Monroe) ends up meeting aging cowboy-turned-gambler Gay Langland (Clark Gable) and former World War II aviator Guido Racanelli (Eli Wallach). The two men instantly become infatuated with Roslyn, and the three decide to move into Guido’s half-finished desert home together. When grizzled ex-rodeo rider Perce Howland (Montgomery Clift) arrives, the unlikely foursome strike up a business capturing wild horses.
The neo-western was written by Monroe’s then-husband, Arthur Miller, intended as a gift, offering Monroe a more complex, dramatic role. Their marriage imploded during the heated production, but Monroe delivers one of her finest performances.
Complete Star Cast & Characters
| Actor | Character | Notable Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marilyn Monroe | Roslyn Taber | Her final completed film; born June 1, 1926 |
| Clark Gable | Gay Langland | His final film; died 12 days after filming ended |
| Montgomery Clift | Perce Howland | Made only 3 more films before his death in 1966 |
| Eli Wallach | Guido Racanelli | Former WWII aviator; lasted longest of all cast |
| Thelma Ritter | Isabelle Steers | Roslyn’s landlady; died 1969 |
| Kevin McCarthy | Raymond Taber | Roslyn’s ex-husband |
| Estelle Winwood | Church Lady | Collecting money in bar scene |
| James Barton | Older Man | Died in 1962 |
The Misfits is remembered as the final completed film for both Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe.
Gable suffered a heart attack two days after filming ended and died on November 16, 1960.
Less than 18 months later, on August 5, 1962, Monroe died of an apparent drug overdose at the age of 36.
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The Tragic Fates of the Cast
The other principal cast members also met poignant fates: James Barton died in 1962; Clift died in 1966 after making only three more films; Thelma Ritter died in 1969.
| Cast Member | Year of Death | Age | Years After The Misfits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clark Gable | 1960 | 59 | Died before release |
| Marilyn Monroe | 1962 | 36 | 1 year after |
| James Barton | 1962 | 71 | 1 year after |
| Montgomery Clift | 1966 | 45 | 5 years after |
| Thelma Ritter | 1969 | 63 | 8 years after |
| Estelle Winwood | 1984 | 101 | 23 years after |
| Kevin McCarthy | 2010 | 96 | 49 years after |
| Eli Wallach | 2014 | 98 | 53 years after |
| Arthur Miller (Writer) | 2005 | 89 | 44 years after |
| John Huston (Director) | 1987 | 81 | 26 years after |
No film in history carries this much real-life mortality in its cast. Every frame feels like a goodbye that nobody realized they were saying.
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Behind the Scenes: What Made This Film So Haunted
| Behind-the-Scenes Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Arthur Miller wrote the film as ‘a valentine’ for his wife Monroe | Their marriage collapsed during filming |
| Monroe was nearly always an hour late to the set | Sometimes not showing up at all |
| Director John Huston was often drunk | And reportedly fell asleep on set |
| Clark Gable insisted on doing some of his own stunts | But not the most dangerous scenes |
| Photographer Inge Morath later married Arthur Miller | Monroe’s former husband |
| Monroe revealed she fantasized Gable was her father | She never knew her biological father |
The other actors and Huston did not complain to Monroe about her lateness; they knew they needed her to finish the movie.
Gable reminisced, saying, “Long ago, if an actor was late, they were fired.”
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Critical Reception: Then vs. Now
Initially spurned by critics and audiences, the film is now regarded as a masterpiece in the filmographies of Huston, Gable and, crucially, Monroe.
| Source | Score / Verdict |
|---|---|
| Rotten Tomatoes | 94% (34 Reviews) |
| IMDb | 7.2/10 |
| Filmaffinity | 7.4/10 |
| Letterboxd | Highly Praised |
| BFI | Classified as a Classic |
BFI’s restoration notes state: “Infused with the promises of what could have been if she had been given more time to explore her skills as a dramatic performer, Marilyn Monroe delivers one of her very best performances.”
The BFI noted that “Gable and Clift are superb, but the film would not have soared without Monroe.”
For more critically acclaimed hidden gems, browse our underrated movies on OTT.
The Marilyn Monroe Centennial: What’s Happening Globally
| Event / Product | Location / Platform | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon Exhibition | Academy Museum, Los Angeles | May 31, 2026+ |
| Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait Exhibition | National Portrait Gallery, London | June 4, 2026+ |
| Marilyn Monroe: Self-Made Star Film Season | BFI Southbank, London | June to July 2026 |
| The Misfits 4K Restoration Re-release | UK & Ireland Cinemas | June 5, 2026 |
| Guinness World Record (1,037 Monroe look-alikes) | Palm Springs, USA | May 30, 2026 |
| Marilyn Monroe 100 Official Centenary Book | Amazon / Retailers | May 5, 2026 |
| Lisa Eldridge Marilyn Monroe Makeup Collection | Global | June 2026 |
| GUESS Marilyn Monroe Capsule Collection | Rinascente Milan + Global | Spring/Summer 2026 |
| Monroe Exhibitions | Milan (Mudec), Paris (Cinémathèque) | 2026 |
As Hollywood geared up for what would have been Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday June 1, brands across fashion, beauty and publishing unveiled a wave of licensed collaborations and immersive experiences celebrating the screen icon’s enduring legacy, spanning from collectible teddy bears and Champagne bottles to cat-eye sunglasses and museum exhibitions.
Where to Watch The Misfits Movie in India (2026)
You can buy The Misfits on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home as download or rent it on Amazon Video, Fandango At Home, Apple TV Store online.
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You can also stream the title for free on Hoopla and Plex Player.
| Platform | Availability | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix | Available (Select Regions) | Subscription |
| Amazon Prime Video | Rent / Purchase | Varies |
| Apple TV | Rent / Purchase | Varies |
| Plex | Free | Ad-supported |
| Pluto TV | Free (US) | Ad-supported |
| Hoopla | Free (with library card, US) | Free |
For Indian viewers, Netflix (check regional availability) and Amazon Prime Video (rent/purchase) are the most accessible options.
For more streaming updates, visit our OTT release calendar for June 2026.
Key Crew Behind the Camera
| Department | Name |
|---|---|
| Director | John Huston |
| Screenplay | Arthur Miller (adapted from his 1957 short story) |
| Cinematography | Russell Metty |
| Music | Alex North |
| Producer | Frank E. Taylor |
| Studio | Seven Arts Pictures |
| Distributor | United Artists |
Few cinematographers could rival Russell Metty, whose CV included visual gems like Bringing Up Baby (1938), Touch of Evil (1958), Spartacus (1960) and a whole host of eye-catching Douglas Sirk titles.
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5 Reasons to Watch The Misfits in 2026
- Marilyn Monroe delivers one of her very best performances, and with the 4K restoration, every nuance in her face is visible like never before
- It is the final completed film for both Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe, making every scene feel like an unintentional farewell
- The BFI’s 4K restoration brings the Nevada desert to startling life, with the sweeping plains having a mythic feel in their grandeur
- The BFI’s nationwide re-release coincides with a complete retrospective of Monroe’s career at BFI Southbank, aiming to challenge the simplistic narratives that have defined Monroe for decades
- Monroe was a spirited performer and ambitious creative who “revolutionised the promotion machine, challenged the studio system and became the first woman since the silent era to set up her own production company”
Marilyn Monroe’s Complete Filmography: The Essential Ones
| Film | Year | Director | IMDb |
|---|---|---|---|
| All About Eve | 1950 | Joseph L. Mankiewicz | 8.2 |
| Niagara | 1953 | Henry Hathaway | 7.0 |
| Gentlemen Prefer Blondes | 1953 | Howard Hawks | 7.2 |
| How to Marry a Millionaire | 1953 | Jean Negulesco | 7.0 |
| The Seven Year Itch | 1955 | Billy Wilder | 7.1 |
| Bus Stop | 1956 | Joshua Logan | 6.8 |
| Some Like It Hot | 1959 | Billy Wilder | 8.2 |
| Let’s Make Love | 1960 | George Cukor | 5.9 |
| The Misfits | 1961 | John Huston | 7.2 |
| Something’s Got to Give | 1962 | George Cukor | Unfinished |
Across 29 movies, she created a visual vocabulary that continues to fuel both high and low culture.
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Final Verdict
The Misfits movie is not just a film. It is a final act.
Clark Gable died 12 days after filming wrapped. Marilyn Monroe followed 18 months later.
Every frame carries the weight of what was lost, and the 4K restoration in 2026 makes that weight even heavier.
As the world celebrates Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday, this is the film that shows you who she really was: not a blonde bombshell, but a deeply talented actress who carried an entire movie on the force of her vulnerability.
In her final interview, Monroe, who never knew her father, revealed that she often fantasized Gable was her father, underscoring the personal weight she attached to their collaboration.
Watch this film. Watch it for Marilyn. Watch it for Gable. Watch it for the ghost of something beautiful that ended too soon.
Stream it on Netflix or watch it for free on Plex today.
Stay tuned to Movierulzmn for more classic film retrospectives, OTT updates, and entertainment news.
