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
    OscarsEmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalHispanic Heritage MonthIMDb Stars to WatchSTARmeter 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
IMDbPro

Motives

  • Video
  • 2004
  • R
  • 1h 27m
IMDb RATING
5.2/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
Vivica A. Fox and Shemar Moore in Motives (2004)
Home Video Trailer from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Play trailer1:20
2 Videos
18 Photos
DramaThriller

Motive is an edgy thriller that centers around Emery Simms, a highly educated and successful business tycoon who happens to be married to the quintessential wife Constance. Things go dangero... Read allMotive is an edgy thriller that centers around Emery Simms, a highly educated and successful business tycoon who happens to be married to the quintessential wife Constance. Things go dangerously awry when the thrill seeking Emery engages in an adulterous fling with the wildly fre... Read allMotive is an edgy thriller that centers around Emery Simms, a highly educated and successful business tycoon who happens to be married to the quintessential wife Constance. Things go dangerously awry when the thrill seeking Emery engages in an adulterous fling with the wildly free-spirited and exotic Allanah. Timing couldn't be any worse when the politics of high soci... Read all

  • Director
    • Craig Ross Jr.
  • Writer
    • Kelsey Scott
  • Stars
    • Vivica A. Fox
    • Shemar Moore
    • Golden Brooks
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.2/10
    1.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Craig Ross Jr.
    • Writer
      • Kelsey Scott
    • Stars
      • Vivica A. Fox
      • Shemar Moore
      • Golden Brooks
    • 21User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 nominations total

    Videos2

    Motives
    Trailer 1:25
    Motives
    Motives
    Trailer 1:20
    Motives
    Motives
    Trailer 1:20
    Motives

    Photos17

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 11
    View Poster

    Top cast28

    Edit
    Vivica A. Fox
    Vivica A. Fox
    • Constance Simms
    Shemar Moore
    Shemar Moore
    • Emery Simms
    Golden Brooks
    Golden Brooks
    • Allannah James
    Sean Blakemore
    Sean Blakemore
    • Brandon
    Joe Torry
    Joe Torry
    • Derrick Woods
    Victoria Rowell
    Victoria Rowell
    • Detective Pierce
    Mel Jackson
    Mel Jackson
    • Detective Morgan
    William L. Johnson
    William L. Johnson
    • Ray
    Caryn Ward
    Caryn Ward
    • Gwendolyn
    Keshia Knight Pulliam
    Keshia Knight Pulliam
    • Letrice
    Brian Hite
    Brian Hite
    • Kenneth Stroud
    David E. Collier
    David E. Collier
    • Reyes
    • (as David Collier)
    Candice Carbo
    • Anna
    Antwan Mills
    Antwan Mills
    • Stan
    Mike Pniewski
    Mike Pniewski
    • Simon
    • (as Mike Piniewski)
    A.J. Merrill
    A.J. Merrill
    • Jim
    Mwangi Kwesi
    • Russell
    Frank Ski
    Frank Ski
    • Senator
    • Director
      • Craig Ross Jr.
    • Writer
      • Kelsey Scott
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews21

    5.21.1K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    3mracheklin

    Cheesy sexy

    Thin script, average acting, dumb plot but l liked looking at Shemar Moore. For the male viewers beautiful women added spice to an amateur B movie production. Kinda like a porn movie without the porn....watch and you will see what I mean.
    4kosmasp

    Come (and) plan

    No pun intended - this reminds me a bit of the Trois series (if you can call it that I reckon) ... this thankfully was only two movies: this one and the sequel of course. Not really a great story behind it - and even worse humans representing them. I doubt many will feel with the main character here ... we are supposed to root for him and he goes and does stuff that ... well again mostly we shouldn't like.

    That said, it doesn't mean he did something horrible ... the thing he is accused of. His wife seems quite unaware - and you may not like her. Even when she does make sense (trying to hold him accountable) ... I reckon some may find her annoying. But Vivica A. Fox is right ... and should actually be the most likeable character ... until she undoes everything towards the end ... which may make you think ... well I won't go into details! And the sequel will shine some light on the questions that may have felt like they are not answered here.

    Still predictable - I think you can waste your time with better stuff. Even if I do like the actors (most of them) involved in this project.
    5krachtm

    Pride comes before a fall

    The plot: An arrogant businessman tries to hold on to his charmed life after an ill-advised affair threatens to bring down everything.

    Motives is a low budget, direct-to-video erotic thriller. Erotic thrillers often end up being half gritty noir and half soft-core porn, and Motives isn't any different. The noir element was fairly straightforward if a bit derivative, with a pretty decent twist at the end. However, the sex scenes were so unconvincing and amateurish that I almost laughed. I've seen better sex scenes in made-for-cable movies back in the 1980s when there was nothing else to watch after midnight.

    Motives has an all Black cast, which could be either viewed as a gimmick or an attempt to break out of the stereotypical "Black" movie. I think it's a bit of both, really. It's also got a soundtrack chock full of R&B ballads, which really didn't do anything for me. I prefer heavy metal or classical music. Given the movie's demographics, however, this is probably a better choice than Iron Maiden or Judas Priest.

    Though it sometimes degenerates into soap opera melodrama, it always comes back to thriller territory eventually. If you're looking for an original, slick, and sexy thriller, Motives might not be the best choice. If you just want something to pass the time, it'll do.
    doreatha_mae

    My thoughts on the movie Motives

    I thought that the movie was good. I feel that the story line could have been more developed, in some ways but overall it was a good and well written movie. It has some very interesting twists and turns that are very surprising, but make the movie that much better. Its full of suspense. Its a good mystery thriller.

    I believe that is was beautiful to see African American people in a movie like this. Instead of seeing the typical, gangster movie or comedy or a movie showing the black struggle. It was just good to see a mystery, a smart film that was just about how life can be, not so much about race. I hope to see many more movies like this.
    writingunicorn

    I thought this was really good!

    This movie was a lot better than I thought it would be. A surprise ending I didn't see coming. I thought all the intimate scenes weren't necessary--but I guess a "relationship" needed to be established. Otherwise, I liked being pulled into their world.

    Best Emmys Moments

    Best Emmys Moments
    Discover nominees and winners, red carpet looks, and more from the Emmys!

    More like this

    Motives 2
    5.0
    Motives 2
    Trois
    3.9
    Trois
    Trois 3: The Escort
    4.8
    Trois 3: The Escort
    Soul Food
    7.0
    Soul Food
    Pandora's Box
    4.8
    Pandora's Box
    Uninvited Guest
    5.1
    Uninvited Guest
    House Party 3
    4.7
    House Party 3
    Butter
    4.4
    Butter
    We Belong Together
    4.7
    We Belong Together
    The Secret She Kept
    6.1
    The Secret She Kept
    Sparkle
    5.8
    Sparkle
    The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2
    4.1
    The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2

    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Except for the one Caucasian secretary, this film features an all African American cast.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Making of 'Motives' (2004)
    • Soundtracks
      TOO STRONG TO BE THIS WEEK
      Performed by MELENI

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 24, 2004 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Motive
    • Filming locations
      • Atlanta, Georgia, USA
    • Production companies
      • Motive Productions
      • Rainforest Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 27m(87 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    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.