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Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Play trailer 2:19 Poster for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom R Released Nov 25, 2020 1h 34m History Drama Music Play Trailer Watchlist
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97% Tomatometer 319 Reviews 72% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Tensions and temperatures rise at a Chicago music studio in 1927 when fiery, fearless blues singer Ma Rainey joins her band for a recording session.
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Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

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Critics Consensus

Framed by a pair of powerhouse performances, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom pays affectionate tribute to a blues legend -- and Black culture at large.

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Critics Reviews

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Christina Newland iNews.co.uk The poignant conclusion is as bitter as it is heartbreaking, because, fictional though it is, its story of racism, rage and lost promise shows an essential truth. Rated: 4/5 Sep 23, 2024 Full Review Shelli Nicole Autostraddle The focus of the film is more on Levee, Chadwick Boseman’s character. It felt like Viola was the pull but I was left wanting to learn even more about Ma Rainey than before. However, that’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy the film because I absolutely did. Apr 13, 2022 Full Review Roxana Hadadi Pajiba The sense that we're beholden to the whims of unseen forces-that we're not the protagonists of our own stories-cuts deep in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. Mar 21, 2021 Full Review Joonatan Itkonen Toisto.net While not perfect, it’s another milestone for Netflix in delivering smart, adult fare to theaters, and a gorgeous swansong for an actor gone too soon. Rated: 4/5 Jul 14, 2024 Full Review Ryan McQuade InSession Film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom leaves a little to be desired, even though Boseman gives the performance of his career. It’s a shame that the film he is in isn’t as wonderful as he, but with this, he leaves a legacy. Rated: B- Apr 4, 2024 Full Review Farah Cheded A Good Movie To Watch Unabashedly stagy in many respects, a quality that can work both ways — but, ultimately, the crackling current that runs through Davis and Boseman’s acting gives the movie all the blazing, goosebump-inducing immediacy of a live performance. Oct 14, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Raymond Whew. The overwhelming sense of being trapped as a black person, disregarded and disrespected leading to despair. Outstanding screenplay, acting, directing and music. The last scene appropriately made us white folks seem small and lame. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/07/21 Full Review Michael schwab Viola and chad excellent! Fascinating would like to see again! Great film. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/14/21 Full Review Leaburn O One of those humid, sweltering summer days where the atmosphere boils over into anger and embittered rage. The music is good, the plot is taut and tense and it makes for a good story. Has all the hallmarks of a stage play rather than a film and that’s ultimately why it is good but not great. Watched on Netflix. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/05/24 Full Review Nick R 2 incredible leads bring this simple film with a simple story propelling forward with great drama. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/04/24 Full Review LABEL 2 空有戏剧的文本而无戏剧的形式美,想表达的内容塞得过满以至于丧失了影像的意蕴。 Rated 3 out of 5 stars 06/04/24 Full Review Timothy D Fueled by an impeccable, energetic performance from Boseman and an ever powerful Davis, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is a moving (and slightly disturbing) drama. The scope of this movie is so extensive that it doesn't quite fit into the limited setting of a single recording session. Even so, it keenly explores racism and how African-Americans simultaneously revolutionized and were marginalized by the music industry of the early Twentieth Century. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/23/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom: Movie Clip - Got Talent Ma Rainey's Black Bottom: Movie Clip - Got Talent 0:36 Ma Rainey's Black Bottom: Movie Clip - Deep Moaning Blues Ma Rainey's Black Bottom: Movie Clip - Deep Moaning Blues 1:23 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Tensions and temperatures rise at a Chicago music studio in 1927 when fiery, fearless blues singer Ma Rainey joins her band for a recording session.
Director
George C. Wolfe
Producer
Todd Black, Denzel Washington, Dany Wolf
Screenwriter
Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Distributor
Netflix
Production Co
Netflix
Rating
R (Language|Brief Violence|Some Sexual Content)
Genre
History, Drama, Music
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 25, 2020, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 18, 2020
Runtime
1h 34m
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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