Jennifer Lopez was visibly emotional as her new film, Kiss of the Spider Woman, received a standing ovation at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Attending the premiere in a dazzling, web-inspired gown and towering black heels, the superstar choked back tears as she shared a deeply personal moment with the audience.
Lopez, who stars in the musical adaptation of Kiss of the Spider Woman, told the packed crowd at the Eccles Theatre that starring in the film had fulfilled a lifelong dream. “I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life,” she said, reflecting on her childhood memories of watching West Side Story. “The reason I even wanted to be in this business is because my mom would sit me in front of the TV and West Side Story would come on once a year. I was mesmerized and was like, ‘That’s what I want to do.’ This is the first time I actually got to do it.”
She also credited director Bill Condon, who has worked on iconic movie musicals like Chicago and Dreamgirls, for making her dream come true. Condon, attending his first Sundance since 1998’s Gods and Monsters, echoed Lopez’s sentiments, expressing his long-held desire to bring Kiss of the Spider Woman to the screen.
Set during Argentina’s “Dirty War,” the film follows Luis Molina (Tonatiuh), a queer window dresser imprisoned for his sexuality, who captivates his cellmate, Valentin (Diego Luna), with stories of his favorite movie diva, portrayed by Lopez. The premiere attracted considerable buzz, with many in attendance hoping to see the film distributed by a studio or streaming service.
Lopez shared the stage with Condon and Tonatiuh, who is making his major film debut in the role of Molina. The screening was attended by several studio and streaming executives, as well as enthusiastic fans, with one shouting “I love you, J.Lo!” during the post-screening Q&A.
The film is based on Manuel Puig’s novel, previously adapted into a 1985 Oscar-winning film and a Broadway musical. While it features the glamour of the Golden Age of cinema, the story also incorporates timely political themes, particularly surrounding LGBTQ rights and social issues. Condon introduced the film by quoting a line from President Trump’s 2017 inauguration speech about gender, and noted that the film’s message advocates love and kindness as a means of bridging societal divides.
Tonatiuh, who relates personally to his character, shared his own experience as a queer Latinx individual, recalling the challenges he faced in his career due to his identity. “The thing I fought so much to love about myself got stamped out of me,” he said. “But when I got this script, I knew this person spiritually. I understood someone who felt like a loser in their own life and got to be their own hero by falling in love.”
As the festival continues, Kiss of the Spider Woman stands out as one of the most talked-about films at Sundance 2025, leaving audiences eagerly anticipating its next steps in finding a distributor.