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Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

  • 2020
  • R
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
60K
YOUR RATING
Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)
Chicago, 1927. A recording session. Tensions rise between Ma Rainey (Viola Davis), her ambitious horn player (Chadwick Boseman), and the white management determined to control the legendary "Mother of the Blues." Based on Pulitzer Prize winner August Wilson's play.
Play trailer2:21
33 Videos
99+ Photos
Period DramaDramaMusic

Tensions rise when trailblazing blues singer Ma Rainey and her band gather at a recording studio in Chicago in 1927.Tensions rise when trailblazing blues singer Ma Rainey and her band gather at a recording studio in Chicago in 1927.Tensions rise when trailblazing blues singer Ma Rainey and her band gather at a recording studio in Chicago in 1927.

  • Director
    • George C. Wolfe
  • Writers
    • Ruben Santiago-Hudson
    • August Wilson
  • Stars
    • Viola Davis
    • Chadwick Boseman
    • Glynn Turman
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    60K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • George C. Wolfe
    • Writers
      • Ruben Santiago-Hudson
      • August Wilson
    • Stars
      • Viola Davis
      • Chadwick Boseman
      • Glynn Turman
    • 435User reviews
    • 228Critic reviews
    • 87Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 83 wins & 192 nominations total

    Videos33

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:21
    Official Trailer
    The Rise of Viola Davis
    Clip 4:01
    The Rise of Viola Davis
    The Rise of Viola Davis
    Clip 4:01
    The Rise of Viola Davis
    Best Moments From the 2021 Oscars Telecast
    Clip 2:54
    Best Moments From the 2021 Oscars Telecast
    Art of the Crew | Production Design
    Clip 1:02
    Art of the Crew | Production Design
    Art of the Crew | Makeup and Hairstyling
    Clip 1:01
    Art of the Crew | Makeup and Hairstyling
    Art of the Crew | Costume Design
    Clip 1:10
    Art of the Crew | Costume Design

    Photos134

    View Poster
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    + 128
    View Poster

    Top cast52

    Edit
    Viola Davis
    Viola Davis
    • Ma Rainey
    Chadwick Boseman
    Chadwick Boseman
    • Levee
    Glynn Turman
    Glynn Turman
    • Toledo
    Colman Domingo
    Colman Domingo
    • Cutler
    Michael Potts
    Michael Potts
    • Slow Drag
    Jeremy Shamos
    Jeremy Shamos
    • Irvin
    Jonny Coyne
    Jonny Coyne
    • Sturdyvant
    Taylour Paige
    Taylour Paige
    • Dussie Mae
    Dusan Brown
    Dusan Brown
    • Sylvester
    Joshua Harto
    Joshua Harto
    • Policeman
    Quinn VanAntwerp
    Quinn VanAntwerp
    • Band Singer
    Chloe Davis
    Chloe Davis
    • Ma Rainey's Dancer
    Mayte Natalio
    • Ma Rainey's Dancer
    Johanna Elmina Moise
    Johanna Elmina Moise
    • Ma Rainey's Dancer
    • (as Johanna Moise)
    Onyxx Noel
    • Ma Rainey's Dancer
    LaWanda Hopkins
    • Ma Rainey's Dancer
    Sierra Stewart
    • Ma Rainey's Dancer
    Malaiyka Reid
    Malaiyka Reid
    • Ma Rainey's Dancer
    • Director
      • George C. Wolfe
    • Writers
      • Ruben Santiago-Hudson
      • August Wilson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews435

    6.959.8K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    8Xstal

    Black Magic...

    A lesson in the art of acting and film making, as an exceptional cast of extremely talented actors portray several hours in a recording studio, the tensions as taut as any wire, the crimes of the times and their effects on those involved in full view - crimes perpetuated into today, sadly.
    yurik-lee

    Poor adaptation of a below average play

    Horrific overacting and a script that rambles and goes nowhere. Most of the film is taken up with individual stories about how the white man was evil, which became very tiresome very quickly. A few very daft plot twists that never went anywhere. This was more 'panto' than serious drama and those involved should be ashamed of the mess they produced. This film literally had no redeeming features
    5BabyIDontCare

    Disappointing

    I would have much rather seen a proper biopic of Ma Rainey than this movie version of a play where, with the exception of one chap banging on and on about his shoes, very little actually happens.
    8kjeltprent

    Performances!

    This film is full of good performances. Chadwick Boseman and Viola Davis shine in this movie. Chadwick was incredible. I am very happy to see him one more time, and what a performance he gives. The story felt a bit short. The story is not that special but I'll say it again, the performances are so good. That's why I give this film a 7.

    Thank you Chadwick Boseman, R.I.P.
    8atractiveeyes

    Nice

    It's a beautiful movie. The performances are amazing and mind blowing specially by Viola Davis, that gives the year's best female performance, and Chadwick Boseman. The character study is great as well. The screenplay is awesome with many interesting and powerful lines. Cinematography, music, costumes and locations are all nice too. Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is a very nice movie but still it feels like it's missing something.

    The Legacy of Chadwick Boseman

    The Legacy of Chadwick Boseman

    Chadwick Boseman is known for his iconic performances in Get on Up, Black Panther, and his final role in the musical drama Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. IMDb takes a celebratory look at his career in film and television.
    Watch the video
    Editorial Image
    3:38

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In 2015, Denzel Washington announced that he would be bringing all ten of August Wilson's "Century Cycle" plays to the big or small screen. Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is the second filmed Wilson adaptation Washington has produced in this cycle, after Fences (2016). In September 2020, Washington told the New York Times that the third film in the series would be The Piano Lesson, and that he hoped to cast his own son John David Washington and Samuel L. Jackson, with Barry Jenkins directing.
    • Goofs
      The action of the film takes place on July 2, 1927. Ma Rainey's car in the film is a Model A Ford which were not introduced to the public until December 1927.
    • Quotes

      Ma Rainey: They don't care nothin' about me. All they want is my voice. Well, I done learned that. And they gonna treat me the way I wanna be treated, no matter how much it hurt them.

    • Crazy credits
      During the first part of the credits, actual photographs of the real Ma Rainey and the musicians who inspired the characters in the play are shown.
    • Connections
      Featured in Sky News @Breakfast: Episode dated 19 December 2020 (2020)
    • Soundtracks
      Deep Moaning Blues
      Written by Ma Rainey (as Gertrude 'Ma' Rainey)

      Produced and Arranged by Branford Marsalis

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    FAQ18

    • How long is Ma Rainey's Black Bottom?Powered by Alexa
    • Did Viola Davis do her own singing or was it dubbed?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 18, 2020 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • La madre del blues
    • Filming locations
      • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
    • Production companies
      • Escape Artists
      • Mundy Lane Entertainment
      • Netflix
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 34m(94 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.00 : 1

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