Miss Juneteenth

Released Jun 19, 2020

1 hr. 43 min.

Drama

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99%

151 Reviews

Tomatometer

58%

100+ Ratings

Audience Score

A former beauty queen and single mom prepares her rebellious teenage daughter for the "Miss Juneteenth" pageant.

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Premiered Mar 01

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Critics Consensus

Like a pageant winner walking across the stage, Miss Juneteenth follows a familiar path -- but does so with charm and grace.

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Kimberly B

I loved that the movie showed Turrquoise as a real person that remained true to herself. She did not let her past deter her desire for success for herself and her daughter.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/26/21

Full Review

Michael H

Very well written and real.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/15/23

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sarah g

Quiet steady film with all around great acting. Should have gotten much more attention.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/20/23

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Larry R

Terrific acting. A story of freedom and resilience. real

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

'Juneteenth' is a celebration of the day in 1865 when slaves in Texas learned they were free - two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. 'Miss Juneteenth' is a film based around a beauty contest for teenagers marking the occasion. Turquoise Jones (Nicole Beharie) won the contest, but was unable to complete her reign due to getting knocked up with daughter Kai (Alexis Chikaeze). Fifteen years later - with an eye to the prize of a scholarship to an 'historically black' university or college - she pressures Kai to take part in the pageant, but is so distracted with Kai's sexy but bad-boy father; with her alcoholic, religious mother; and with just making ends meet, that she does not fully appreciate Kai's reluctance. It is unusual that a film centered around a beauty pageant contains no discussion of the 'cattle market' variety. Inevitably there *are* some racial politics ("There ain't no American dream for black folk") but the centre of the film is undoubtedly Turquoise's determination that Kai should enter the pageant as a means of securing her future. The relationship between mother and daughter is nicely portrayed: they may sometimes get on each other's nerves, but disputes never last long and usually end with smiles. This is an example of one of the film's main strengths: it could easily have descended into soap opera histrionics, but every time the viewer fears a scene is going to dissolve into tears and shouting, writer/director Channing Godfrey Peoples dials things back down to have her characters behaving like real people - full of faults, but for the most part good folk. In this she is aided by Beharie - her performance as the determined, realistic Turquoise is naturalistic and engaging. Chikaeze also does well - when she delivers her entry in the pageant's talent competition the viewer wants to stand up and cheer. Mischievously, I note that at a time when the Oscars are refusing to consider films that do not include a certain diversity of ethnic involvement, 'Miss Juneteenth' contains only one speaking role for a white actor (a grumpy shop assistant who appears in only two scenes). But for this viewer the important thing is whether or not a film is enjoyable - and this one certainly was.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

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A A

Extremely offensive. Don't know who would find this anything but

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

09/02/22

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Channing Godfrey Peoples

Director

Nicole Beharie

Turquoise

Kendrick Sampson

Ronnie

Alexis Chikaeze

Kai

Lori Hayes

Charlotte

Marcus M. Mauldin

Wayman

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Melanie Hoyes

Sight & Sound

A joyful observation of Black lives, timely in this moment of global protest against racial injustice.

Jan 27, 2021

Full Review

Kevin Maher

Times (UK)

Carl Jung's claim that the greatest burden a child must bear is the unlived life of its parents is rigorously tested, and validated, by this perfectly formed heartbreaker from the debut director Channing Godfrey Peoples.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 27, 2021

Full Review

Donald Clarke

Irish Times

The film buzzes with life and sincere feeling. The performances resonate like a struck bell. But a few too many questions are left unasked.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 27, 2021

Full Review

Greg Carlson

Vague Visages

One of the most rewarding dimensions of Miss Juneteenth is the insightful manner with which Peoples guides the viewer through the world of the pageant itself.

Feb 6, 2024

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Kate Boyle

InSession Film

A familiar but resonant film.

Rated: B

Mar 8, 2023

Full Review

M.N. Miller

Ready Steady Cut

Godfrey’s character study has pacing issues, but Miss Juneteenth is a star-making vehicle for Nicole Beharie as Turquoise Jones that’s a grounded expression of motherhood you rarely see on screen.

Rated: 3.5/5

Sep 1, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

A former beauty queen and single mom prepares her rebellious teenage daughter for the "Miss Juneteenth" pageant.

Director: Channing Godfrey Peoples
Executive Producer: David Lowery, Nate Kamiya
Screenwriter: Channing Godfrey Peoples
Distributor: Vertical Entertainment
Production Co: Sailor Bear, Ley Line Entertainment
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 19, 2020, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 19, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA): $86.3K
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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