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Beyond the Lights

Play trailer 2:26 Poster for Beyond the Lights PG-13 Released Nov 14, 2014 1h 56m Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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83% Tomatometer 90 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Though she's been groomed for stardom all her life by an overbearing mother (Minnie Driver), singer Noni (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) is having trouble dealing with her success. Feeling unable to cope any longer, Noni tries to kill herself, but luckily Kaz (Nate Parker), the police officer assigned to be her bodyguard, thwarts her suicide attempt. Noni and Kaz feel an instant attraction, but those in their orbit oppose the romance for fear the pair will stray from the course planned out for both of them.
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Beyond the Lights

Beyond the Lights

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Critics Consensus

Thanks to smart direction and a powerhouse performance from Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Beyond the Lights transcends its formulaic storyline to deliver thoroughly entertaining drama.

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Critics Reviews

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Constance Gibbs indieWire The movie takes audiences from loud, sexy, music videos to the quietness of two people falling in love over a box of old song lyrics, all without missing a beat. Mar 31, 2020 Full Review Candice Frederick Reel Talk Online It's not enough to compel cynics like myself, but it will likely touch the heart of romantics everywhere. Rated: C+ Sep 1, 2017 Full Review Dwight Brown National Newspaper Publishers Association You'll walk away from this film lighthearted and wanting to hold someone's hand. Mar 21, 2017 Full Review Richard Crouse Richard Crouse A sense of déjà vu hangs heavy over the movie's every frame. Rated: 2/5 Feb 2, 2021 Full Review Leigh Paatsch Herald Sun (Australia) This quality drama about the all-consuming nature of fame desperately aspired to - and then precariously achieved - deserved to find a much wider audience upon original release. Rated: 4/5 May 14, 2020 Full Review Debbie Lynn Elias Behind The Lens What could have been a worn-out 'been there, done that' story in the hands of a lesser director, thanks to [Gina] Prince-Bythewood, there is an integrity and intelligence that elevates the characters and the film as a whole. Dec 14, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Alec B Despite predictable clichés and one really boring performance, Prince-Bythewood still constructed a surprisingly low key and mature love story. For something I assumed would be terrible, it's a remarkable accomplishment. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/13/23 Full Review R C I watch anything directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and then add Gugu as the lead character Noni? Get outta here! Watched this with my family of 5 and everyone enjoyed it. Noni's compelling journey was captured by Gugu's portrayal so poignantly and we all pretended we weren't crying when Noni showed her real hairstyle. Not to be outdone is the journey of her cop love interest. Highly recommend! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/16/23 Full Review Angela C Watch this movie if you or someone you know needs to break away from an unhealthy parental relationship. It is inspirational! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/29/23 Full Review Steve D Jus because you know where it is going does not mean you won't have a good time getting there. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/20/23 Full Review barbara B I didn't think the movie was going to be that good. But it was a good movie. The younger actor did great. It showed that trying to be someone else. You have to be yourself. There was some humor in the movie was nice. The tape didn't have any extras. but it did have close captions. The song were nice. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review isla s I found this film overall a bit too predictable and even cheesy - mostly from a moralistic standpoint, in as much as the tale of a stage mum pushing her child, without her necessarily fully recognising it, has certainly been done before. Seeing where she went and things made me think of Amy Winehouse, while other aspects of the main character made me think of Rhianna, mostly in terms of looks early on in the film (after the initial scene of her as a child). There are some nice songs played, if your ok with listening to some hip hop type music as well. The Nina Simone song Blackbird is mentioned and sung more than once in this film and I can't say I was aware of it beforehand - it was certainly a poignant song. The performances are ok and its not a really bad film to watch as such but it felt a bit too preachy in terms of the obvious moral story side of things and I feel similar tales have been covered by multiple other Hollywood films, so to me this film didn't really stand out as such. Its not a bad film but its certainly not a great one either. Distinctly average. Would I recommend it? no, not as such due to what I just said. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Beyond the Lights

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Beyond the Lights

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Beyond the Lights

Minnie Driver as Macy Jean in "Beyond the Lights." Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Noni and Nate Parker as Kaz in "Beyond the Lights." Nate Parker as Kaz in "Beyond the Lights." Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Noni in "Beyond the Lights." (L-R) Danny Glover as Captain Nicol and Nate Parker as Kaz in "Beyond the Lights." Machine Gun Kelly and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Noni in "Beyond the Lights." (L-R) Minnie Driver as Macy Jean and India Jean-Jacques as Noni in "Beyond the Lights." Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Noni and Machine Gun Kelly in "Beyond the Lights." Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Noni and Nate Parker as Kaz Nicol in "Beyond the Lights." (L-R) Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Noni and Minnie Driver as Macy Jean in "Beyond the Lights." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Though she's been groomed for stardom all her life by an overbearing mother (Minnie Driver), singer Noni (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) is having trouble dealing with her success. Feeling unable to cope any longer, Noni tries to kill herself, but luckily Kaz (Nate Parker), the police officer assigned to be her bodyguard, thwarts her suicide attempt. Noni and Kaz feel an instant attraction, but those in their orbit oppose the romance for fear the pair will stray from the course planned out for both of them.
Director
Gina Prince-Bythewood
Producer
Stephanie Allain, Ryan Kavanaugh, Amar'e Stoudemire, Reggie Rock Bythewood
Screenwriter
Gina Prince-Bythewood
Distributor
Relativity Media
Production Co
Undisputed Cinema, Homegrown Pictures
Rating
PG-13 (Partial Nudity|Language|Sexual Content|Suggestive Gestures|Thematic Elements)
Genre
Drama, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 14, 2014, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 24, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$14.6M
Runtime
1h 56m
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