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The Five Heartbeats

Play trailer Poster for The Five Heartbeats R 1991 2h 2m Drama Music Play Trailer Watchlist
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39% Tomatometer 18 Reviews 95% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Coming in on the tail end of a rhythm and blues singing group explosion, The Five Heartbeats (Robert Townsend, Michael Wright, Leon, Harry J. Lennix, Tico Wells) rise and fall within the space of seven years. Along the way, the group deals with all manner of fame and fortune distractions -- jealousy, greed, too much womanizing and drugs all take a toll. Their troubles culminate when executive Big Red (Hawthorne James) is arrested for the murder of manager Jimmy Potter (Chuck Patterson).
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The Five Heartbeats

Critics Reviews

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Dolores Barclay Associated Press 02/19/2020
Townsend does more than merely track the travails of five song stylists; he quivers and rages with their injustices, vulnerabilities, uncertainties and desires. Go to Full Review
Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 01/01/2000
3/4
This is not only a biography with music, but also a thoughtful look at the way five young men from a poor but nurturing black neighborhood find success, and deal with it. Go to Full Review
Lou Cedrone Baltimore Sun 08/16/2017
Robert Townsend co-wrote, directed and stars in the film, one whose sincerity does a lot to cover the amateurishness with which the film was made. Go to Full Review
Renee Schonfeld Common Sense Media 02/22/2011
2/5
The rise and fall of a flashy, fictional 1960s rock group. Go to Full Review
Lori Hoffman Atlantic City Weekly 01/11/2007
3/5
Scott Weinberg DVDTalk.com 02/05/2006
2/5
The charitable might be tempted to describe The Five Heartbeats as wholesome and well-intentioned -- but so is a 6-year-old who just crayon-scrawled "I love cookies" on the living room wall. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Jonathan L 03/28/2024 The acting, editing, and cinematography could be better. One of the BEST film soundtracks I've ever heard though, and the story was beautiful. Powerful movie, if you like That Thing You Do! or fictional biopic type movies, this is your thing. 88/100 See more Regina P 12/31/2023 This movie is very beloved in the African-American community. I think that may be hard for movie critics to judge. There are some awkward moments in the film, but it just makes you happy overall! Its repeat-watch value is very high. This is just going to have to be one of those films that only a niche community cherishes. See more The MAD Screenwriter S @TheMADScreenwriter 11/01/2023 This movie plays like a timeless biography powered by solid acting and an unforgettable soundtrack. See more Steve D 02/23/2023 It can boarder on melodrama at times but the script and acting is strong. See more 08/25/2022 You will feel like you’re traveling through the decades with these characters. The 60’, 70’s and 80’s are covered and the movie contains some great tunes from those era’s, plus exceptional original songs. Seeing such a low critic’s rating makes me wonder if we all watched the same movie? I thoroughly enjoyed it and I think you will too! See more 04/06/2022 Amazing movie, story telling, fantastic music, choreography! This movie takes me to a place in time when movies meant something deep down in your heart. A timeless classic for those of us who appreciate characters that make us feel something beyond the theatre! Townsend killed it from start to finish! Can’t nobody sing like Ol’ Eddie Kaang Jr! See more Read all reviews
The Five Heartbeats

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Movie Info

Synopsis Coming in on the tail end of a rhythm and blues singing group explosion, The Five Heartbeats (Robert Townsend, Michael Wright, Leon, Harry J. Lennix, Tico Wells) rise and fall within the space of seven years. Along the way, the group deals with all manner of fame and fortune distractions -- jealousy, greed, too much womanizing and drugs all take a toll. Their troubles culminate when executive Big Red (Hawthorne James) is arrested for the murder of manager Jimmy Potter (Chuck Patterson).
Director
Robert Townsend
Producer
Loretha Ampah, Robert Townsend
Screenwriter
Robert Townsend, Keenen Ivory Wayans
Production Co
Twentieth Century Fox
Rating
R
Genre
Drama, Music
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 8, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$7.3M
Runtime
2h 2m
Sound Mix
Surround
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