Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysSan Diego Comic-ConSummer Watch GuideToronto Int'l Film FestivalSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

The Black Godfather

  • 2019
  • TV-MA
  • 1h 58m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
Clarence Avant in The Black Godfather (2019)
Follows the life of Clarence Avant, the ultimate, uncensored mentor and behind-the-scenes rainmaker in music, film, TV and politics.
Play trailer2:20
1 Video
50 Photos
BiographyDocumentary

Follows the life of Clarence Avant, the ultimate, uncensored mentor and behind-the-scenes rainmaker in music, film, TV and politics.Follows the life of Clarence Avant, the ultimate, uncensored mentor and behind-the-scenes rainmaker in music, film, TV and politics.Follows the life of Clarence Avant, the ultimate, uncensored mentor and behind-the-scenes rainmaker in music, film, TV and politics.

  • Director
    • Reginald Hudlin
  • Stars
    • Clarence Avant
    • Hank Aaron
    • Gwen Adolph
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    1.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Reginald Hudlin
    • Stars
      • Clarence Avant
      • Hank Aaron
      • Gwen Adolph
    • 13User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
    • 69Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 4 wins & 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:20
    Trailer

    Photos49

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 44
    View Poster

    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Clarence Avant
    Clarence Avant
    • Self
    Hank Aaron
    Hank Aaron
    • Self
    Gwen Adolph
    Gwen Adolph
    • Self - Clarence Avant's Biographer
    Dina R. Andrews
    Dina R. Andrews
    • Self
    Alex Avant
    Alex Avant
    • Self - Son of Clarence, Founder of All Star Entertainment
    Jacqueline Avant
    Jacqueline Avant
    • Self - Wife of Clarence
    Nicole Avant
    Nicole Avant
    • Self - Daughter of Clarence Avant
    Irving Azoff
    Irving Azoff
    • Self - Former Chairman of MCA Records
    Danny Bakewell
    Danny Bakewell
    • Self - Civil Rights Activist
    Candace Bond-McKeever
    Candace Bond-McKeever
    • Self - Former Executive at Motown Records
    Jim Brown
    Jim Brown
    • Self - Legendary Pro Football Hall of Famer
    Cherrelle
    Cherrelle
    • Self
    Bill Clinton
    Bill Clinton
    • Self - 42nd President of the United States of America
    Oscar Cohen
    Oscar Cohen
    • Self - President of Associated Booking Corporation
    Sean 'Diddy' Combs
    Sean 'Diddy' Combs
    • Self
    Shakim Compere
    Shakim Compere
    • Self - Film Producer, Co-Founder of Flavor Unit Entertainment
    Tony Cornelius
    Tony Cornelius
    • Self - Son of Don Cornelius
    Clive Davis
    Clive Davis
    • Self - Founder of Arista Records
    • Director
      • Reginald Hudlin
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews13

    7.51.5K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    9jay-84250

    An amazing watch!

    I was inspired the entire time and finished feeling ready to take on the world. Clarence Avant is a name I never knew, but a name I now will never forget!
    9SnobReviews

    "The Black Godfather" is pure gold.

    "The Black Godfather" is off the wall. An incredible and informative film that will surprise you and make you wish you could have a friend like Clarence Avant.

    In this documentary, follow the life of Clarence Avant; the ultimate mentor behind-the-scenes of the music, film, and TV industries and politics.

    Uncensored and uninterrupted, "The Black Godfather" digs deep into the life of a man not many people know of. This film talks about the struggles he faced and the successes that came after deliberately never giving up. Avant is admired by all the people you look up to. He's the rock and mentor to many of those people. Overall, a fascinating doc that everyone should see.

    Stream it now on Netflix.
    ersbel

    So the guy is famous, yet unknown to the general public

    So the guy is famous, yet unknown to the general public. That's a good base. And everything goes downhill from there. Because someone calls him "the godfather". Why make it racial? If it's racial it means that he killed as many people as Don Corleone? No. Just someone generating click bait.

    Than the famous singers are cut short. The less famous singers have a hard time putting a sentence. That's okay, they are skilled at putting out musical notes, not words. But what's the point to have them there if they can't speak? A picture and a mention would suffice.

    And that is the key of this documentary. Amateurs wanted to get to movers and shakers and used this documentary as the vehicle. And that's fine. A crap documentary as an excuse for doing some networking. But what's the thing with the politicians? One frame with a collage and itemized mentions would have sufficed.
    10JoeRussell1

    Brilliant.

    As far as documentaries go, this is simply a gem. Inspiring, entertaining, funny, thoughtful and very well made. It shines light on a real positive side of Hollywood and the music business that is rarely talked about... people connecting people, not for financial gain, but for art.

    This film has some excellent interviews with some of the most influential figures of the 20th and 21st century. I doubt that Reggie (the director) considers him a national treasure... but he is.

    I recommend this documentary to everyone on earth.
    10Directator

    Interesting Life and Career

    I was hooked within minutes of watching. I'm convinced the most interesting man in the world is really Clarence Avant.

    More like this

    Quincy
    7.6
    Quincy
    Reversing Roe
    7.5
    Reversing Roe
    Grass is Greener
    7.1
    Grass is Greener
    The Accidental Twins
    7.2
    The Accidental Twins
    Luther: Never Too Much
    8.1
    Luther: Never Too Much
    The Black Godfather
    4.4
    The Black Godfather
    Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali
    6.9
    Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali
    Shark Whisperer
    6.9
    Shark Whisperer
    Sidney
    7.8
    Sidney
    The Disruptors
    7.2
    The Disruptors
    Invisible Beauty
    7.2
    Invisible Beauty
    Michael Che Matters
    7.2
    Michael Che Matters

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The following featured in this film died w/in one to three years of its release: Sid Sheinberg 3/7/19; Bill Withers 3/30/20; Oscar Cohen 4/10/20; Andre Harrell 5/7/20; Hank Aaron 1/22/21; Cicely Tyson 1/28/21; Jacqueline Avant 12/1/21; Jimmy Thomas 4/25/22.
    • Connections
      Features Mission: Impossible (1966)
    • Soundtracks
      Letter to My Godfather
      Written by Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo

      Performed by Pharrell Williams

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ

    • How long is The Black Godfather?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 7, 2019 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Netflix
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 黑人音樂教父
    • Production companies
      • Boardwalk Pictures
      • Makemake
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 58 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.