Little Richard: I Am Everything

Now Playing

1 hr. 38 min.

Documentary

Music

Biography

TRAILER

for Little Richard: I Am Everything: Trailer 1

List

95%

98 Reviews

Tomatometer

98%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

LITTLE RICHARD: I AM EVERYTHING tells the story of the Black queer origins of rock n' roll, exploding the whitewashed canon of American pop music to reveal the innovator -- the originator -- Richard Penniman. Through a wealth of archive and performance that brings us into Richard's complicated inner world, the film unspools the icon's life story with all its switchbacks and contradictions. In interviews with family, musicians, and cutting-edge Black and queer scholars, the film reveals how Richard created an art form for ultimate self-expression, yet what he gave to the world he was never able to give to himself. Throughout his life, Richard careened like a shiny cracked pinball between God, sex and rock n' roll. The world tried to put him in a box, but Richard was an omni being who contained multitudes -- he was unabashedly everything.

Read More

Read Less

Now in Theaters

Now Playing

Buy Tickets

In Theaters

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Max

Apple TV

Watch Little Richard: I Am Everything with a subscription on Max, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

Critics Consensus

Woooo! An engaging tribute to the rock pioneer, Little Richard: I Am Everything should shut up anyone who doubts the title's veracity.

Read Critics Reviews

Wayne Isaak

What a terrific tour de force of the history of R&R and American/World culture through the life and times of the true father of the music! Lisa Cortez brought craft and stars to this excellent doc: the Beatles, Elvis, Sister Rosetta, Bo Diddley, etc.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/09/23

Full Review

Renee J

Absolutely amazing!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/24/23

Full Review

Jezrabelle

Amazing doc, filled with wonderful music and insight into the true origins of rock and roll.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/23/23

Full Review

AD

Great footage of him in stage and great interviews

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/22/23

Full Review

Dee Myers

It was ABSOLUTELY AUHHHHMAZING!!! He truly was everything.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/12/23

Full Review

Tom L

This was an awesome documentary! I learned so many things that I didnt know about Little Richard.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/12/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Lisa Cortes

Director

Tom Jones

Self

Mick Jagger

Self

Paul McCartney

Self

Little Richard

Self

Lisa Cortes

Producer

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Little Richard: I Am Everything: Exclusive Movie Clip - True King

1:18

View more videos

86%

92%

Irena's Vow

42%

%

I Think I Do

%

93%

The Hopeful

%

%

Exhibition on Screen: John Singer Sargent - Fashion & Swagger

%

%

Ameena

%

100%

Chicago & Friends in Concert

82%

89%

Abigail

TRAILER

for Abigail

72%

95%

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

TRAILER

for The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

18%

46%

Rebel Moon: Part Two - The Scargiver

TRAILER

for Rebel Moon: Part Two - The Scargiver

71%

44%

Sasquatch Sunset

TRAILER

for Sasquatch Sunset

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Awards Leaderboard: Top Movies of 2023

10 Films About Black Music That Turn Household Names into Household Stories

Little Richard: I Am Everything: Trailer 1

2:09

View more videos

View more photos

Christy Lemire

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

It's so cool and so fun. He is such a charismatic and fascinating figure.

May 17, 2023

Full Review

Tara Brady

Irish Times

There’s too much life, unpredictability and jubilation for Little Richard: I Am Everything to dwell on lost years and opportunities.

Rated: 4/5

May 12, 2023

Full Review

Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

Does an impressive job of reminding us how much generations of rock stars, from Tom Jones to Mick Jagger, Elton John and Prince, have owed to Little Richard, and how radical his presence was in a world not yet ready to pay for his talent.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 30, 2023

Full Review

James Croot

Stuff.co.nz

This entertaining, enlightening and truly eye-opening documentary invites viewers to meet the real “king of rock and roll”.

Apr 14, 2024

Full Review

Jorge Loser

Espinof

I Am Everything serves as an honest portrait that doesn't shy away from the shadows of Little Richard's career, but it's also moving and funny... [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 4/5

Feb 5, 2024

Full Review

Toni Vall

Cinemanía (Spain)

A feature film full of stimuli that director Lisa Cortes manages to fill with passion and admiration. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 3/5

Jan 24, 2024

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

LITTLE RICHARD: I AM EVERYTHING tells the story of the Black queer origins of rock n' roll, exploding the whitewashed canon of American pop music to reveal the innovator -- the originator -- Richard Penniman. Through a wealth of archive and performance that brings us into Richard's complicated inner world, the film unspools the icon's life story with all its switchbacks and contradictions. In interviews with family, musicians, and cutting-edge Black and queer scholars, the film reveals how Richard created an art form for ultimate self-expression, yet what he gave to the world he was never able to give to himself. Throughout his life, Richard careened like a shiny cracked pinball between God, sex and rock n' roll. The world tried to put him in a box, but Richard was an omni being who contained multitudes -- he was unabashedly everything.

Director: Lisa Cortes
Executive Producer: Mike Powers, Amy Entelis, Courtney Sexton, Gus Wenner, Jason Fine, Dee Rees, Anita May Rosenstein
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Production Co: In The Air, Bungalow Media + Entertainment, Rolling Stone , CNN Films
Genre: Documentary, Music, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 11, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 21, 2023
Box Office (Gross USA): $130.9K
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

Most Popular at Home Now