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If Beale Street Could Talk

Play trailer 1:00 Poster for If Beale Street Could Talk R 2019 1h 59m Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
95% Tomatometer 363 Reviews 68% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
In early 1970s Harlem, daughter and wife-to-be Tish vividly recalls the passion, respect and trust that have connected her and her artist fiancé Alonzo Hunt, who goes by the nickname Fonny. Friends since childhood, the devoted couple dream of a future together, but their plans are derailed when Fonny is arrested for a crime he did not commit.

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If Beale Street Could Talk

If Beale Street Could Talk

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Critics Consensus

If Beale Street Could Talk honors its source material with a beautifully filmed adaptation that finds director Barry Jenkins further strengthening his visual and narrative craft.

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Critics Reviews

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Valerie Complex The Nerds of Color Jan 29, 2021
B+
If Beale Street Could Talk will take you on a journey of visual ecstasy with narrative beats that create a solid adaptation of James Baldwin's emotional material. (pub date: Sept 2018) Go to Full Review Claudia Puig FilmWeek (LAist) Sep 12, 2019
Lyrical and very transporting. Go to Full Review Hannah Giorgis The Atlantic Sep 10, 2019
Jenkins's If Beale Street Could Talk is a gorgeous, enveloping film -- and one of its most poignant triumphs is how vividly it captures the depth and complication of intimacy among its black characters. Go to Full Review Brittany Patrice Witherspoon Pop Culture Reviews Jul 11, 2024
5/5
It’s hard to imagine how one film could fill you with so much love yet overwhelm you with an equal amount of pain. But that’s exactly what Beale Street does... Go to Full Review Ryan McQuade InSession Film Apr 4, 2024
The love story shown from Kiki Layne and Stephen James is the most romantic, realistic relationship on screen this year... Go to Full Review Ethan Gordon InSession Film Mar 21, 2024
B+
There’s an entire world created in this movie, a reflection of our reality, but soaked in Jenkins’ dreamlike view. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 Mar 1, 2026 Winner of 2019 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (Regina King). 91st Annual Academy Awards ceremony. See more Faiz D @RT95588871 May 13, 2025 Maybe a bit too long, but a deeply powerful adaptation nevertheless. See more Rufus C @RT94157948 May 7, 2024 Movie wasn't bad until Pedro Pascal crapped all over it! See more Andrea C @Charst Apr 16, 2024 Dramma intenso e malinconico, che rappresenta perfettamente una storia che purtroppo è più ordinaria di quanto possa sembrare in superficie. La vera novità però è il modo di rappresentare il dramma, senza ritmi serrati e toni accesi volti a attirare lo spettatore nell'ingiustizia, ma bensì pieno di primi piani lunghi ed intensi che dimostrano tutta la gamma di espressioni dei protagonisti. L'attenzione alla fotografia è molto ben spesa ed è molto elegante e qualitativo il continuo alternarsi tra questi momenti di rumoroso silenzio e qualche sequenza che invece colpisce con urla e violenza fisica. Barry Jenkins è un bravissimo regista che riesce a tramutare un gran libro in un gran film. See more Dallas H @RT53171010 Feb 7, 2024 There is something extra special about a drama with elements of jazz noir music intermixed with the soundtrack. I liked this movie and am disappointed it took me so long to sit down for a viewing. See more Alec B @Alec97 Jan 8, 2024 A subtle and gorgeous examination of people trapped in broken systems that never forgets to see its characters as complex human beings. See more Read all reviews
If Beale Street Could Talk

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Cast & Crew

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Barry Jenkins

Director

KiKi Layne

Tish Rivers

Stephan James

Alonzo "Fonny" Hunt

Regina King

Sharon Rivers

Colman Domingo

Joseph Rivers

Teyonah Parris

Ernestine Rivers

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If Beale Street Could Talk

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If Beale Street Could Talk

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Movie Info

Synopsis In early 1970s Harlem, daughter and wife-to-be Tish vividly recalls the passion, respect and trust that have connected her and her artist fiancé Alonzo Hunt, who goes by the nickname Fonny. Friends since childhood, the devoted couple dream of a future together, but their plans are derailed when Fonny is arrested for a crime he did not commit.
Director
Barry Jenkins
Producer
Adele Romanski, Sara Murphy, Barry Jenkins, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner
Screenwriter
Barry Jenkins
Distributor
Annapurna Pictures
Production Co
Plan B Entertainment, Pastel, Annapurna Pictures
Rating
R (Some Sexual Content|Language)
Genre
Drama, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 11, 2019, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 12, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA)
$14.9M
Runtime
1h 59m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
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