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IMDbPro

First Lady of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story

  • Video
  • 2023
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
145
YOUR RATING
First Lady of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story (2023)
BiographyDrama

Inspired by the true life of Detroit native Tonesa Welch. It charts Welch's rise from a teenager's mother to a drug dealer, she is referred to by federal prosecutors as "The First Lady of th... Read allInspired by the true life of Detroit native Tonesa Welch. It charts Welch's rise from a teenager's mother to a drug dealer, she is referred to by federal prosecutors as "The First Lady of the BMF"Inspired by the true life of Detroit native Tonesa Welch. It charts Welch's rise from a teenager's mother to a drug dealer, she is referred to by federal prosecutors as "The First Lady of the BMF"

  • Director
    • Vivica A. Fox
  • Writers
    • Gabrielle Collins
    • Tressa Azarel Smallwood
  • Stars
    • Leon
    • Michelle Mitchenor
    • Tobias Truvillion
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.5/10
    145
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Vivica A. Fox
    • Writers
      • Gabrielle Collins
      • Tressa Azarel Smallwood
    • Stars
      • Leon
      • Michelle Mitchenor
      • Tobias Truvillion
    • 8User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations total

    Photos3

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    Top cast49

    Edit
    Leon
    Leon
    • Emerson
    Michelle Mitchenor
    Michelle Mitchenor
    • Tonesa Welch
    Tobias Truvillion
    Tobias Truvillion
    • Harvey
    Scott Swope
    Scott Swope
    • Federal Agent
    Jessica 'Jess Hilarious' Moore
    Jessica 'Jess Hilarious' Moore
    • Lisa
    Tristin Fazekas
    • Meech
    Daphnique Springs
    Daphnique Springs
    • Carla
    Kelsey Delemar
    Kelsey Delemar
    • Waitress
    Anita Moore
    Anita Moore
    • FBI Agent
    Tonesa Welch
    • The Real Tonesa Welch
    Sonia Debreczeni
    Sonia Debreczeni
    • Federal agent
    Brian Foreman
    Brian Foreman
    • Prison Guard
    Chaz Riddle
    Chaz Riddle
    • Federal agent
    Sharrie McCain
    Sharrie McCain
    • Female Prison Inmate
    Jermaine Brown
    Jermaine Brown
    • Terry Flenory Lieutenant
    • (credit only)
    John K Gary
    John K Gary
    • Federal Agent
    Mikeski
    Mikeski
    • Party Goer…
    Kevin Ricardo Tate
    Kevin Ricardo Tate
    • Marlon
    • Director
      • Vivica A. Fox
    • Writers
      • Gabrielle Collins
      • Tressa Azarel Smallwood
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews8

    5.5145
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    Featured reviews

    4deseire

    She should have just stayed quiet or kept it in the book.

    She literally told the world she was stupid and didnt care about her kids. Pawning them off on her parents. Was a gold digger and took all the credit. This was the worst. I didnot know kellie played the mom. Leon always do him. Dude play Meech can only play thug roles. Love him. She truly never had her kids. I know whomever wrote this had to ask her did she really want to put thisout to the world. She the smartest and dumbest one. And the hardest out of all of them. She know everything but didn't know her son and nephews were in the game. She made Tee look so damn young and dumb. Terry, i get it.
    10msjuliacarter

    "All money isn't good money," and that's the truth!

    As someone who works with young girls, I've seen how challenging it is to overcome the stigma of a criminal record.

    What I like most about the film is that it's not just about what went wrong. I work with young girls who have no clue about what they'll do after they get released. The First Lady of BMF was able to pick herself up and rebuild her life. Further, she put her hands down to lift others out of their unfortunate situation. That's almost unheard of, and I wish more men would follow her example.

    • Looking at you BMF


    I strongly recommend young black & brown women watch this movie and learn - we don't need more glamorous drug dealers... our urban communities have far too many of them, either incarcerated or deceased.
    7thomasseery

    First Lady

    All a bit predictable and full of the usual pantomime villains and girls who stick together and fight back against their abusers.

    It's nothing that you haven't seen before but I guess as a true story it's worth watching ( even though it might not be accurate) I enjoyed it though and it's a good time filler.

    The acting isn't great but the plot moves along nicely.

    All about the easy money and the good life gone wrong and seen for the folly it is.

    Her neglect of her children doesn't make it easy to like her but you can sympathise as you can imagine what it must have been like for a single mother back then.
    2robertpbukaty-98920

    Hustle and flow? They didn't show the hustle and the movie has NO FLOW

    The acting.... Mediocre at best. Growing up with ABC after school specials, they had 1000X better production quality! Still watching at this moment, but it is like nails on a chalkboard. Would rather be asleep or watching paint dry or grass grow! Guessing that any other production about BMF is nowhere near this bad! From the beginning, it is monotone. It continues to do so, I know we have too much gratuitous violence in entertainment, but even a little to show the reality of BMF. They ran the show in motor city and I guarantee it wasn't unicorns and rainbows, which is the air about this movie.
    10francoischristana

    There's consequences behind every decision!

    Some women are not ready to be mothers for a variety of reasons, including individual preferences, professional ambitions, financial concerns, and a perceived lack of a supporting partner. Tonesa was invited to a high-end lifestyle and accepted it without hesitation. She rapidly grew intrigued by "the game" and desired more. But, as a woman in a male-dominated world, she was told to remain in her place. As soon as the king fell, she resolved to take charge and put her thoughts into effect. She began climbing the ladder, taking over multiple territories, and she favor a new king to accompany her, Terry. She just didn't expect karma to bite her.

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    Storyline

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      Featured in Number One on the Call Sheet: Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Women in Hollywood (2025)

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • October 5, 2023 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Production company
      • MegaMind Media
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      • 1h 44m(104 min)
    • Color
      • Color

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