The Preacher's Wife

PG

Released Dec 13, 1996

2 hr. 4 min.

Fantasy

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List

62%

47 Reviews

Tomatometer

43%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

A cleric begins to doubt himself and is visited by an angel. The heavenly emissary is supposed to help the good reverend over his midlife crisis, but he is distracted by the cleric's lovely young wife. A remake with gospel music of the "The Bishop's Wife".

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Critics Consensus

Solid performances and a steady directorial hand help The Preacher's Wife offer some reliably heartwarming - albeit fairly predictable - holiday cheer.

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Kerry M

This is the best feel good Christmas Movie of all time! It deserves to be up there with Its A Wonderful Life

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/23/23

Full Review

Faletta S

My Favorite Christmas Movie!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/07/23

Full Review

David K

The first version of this movie, starring Cary Grant, David Niven, and the luminous Loretta Young is so much better. It lifts you. This version is just a bit more negative, a bit darker. This is a Christmas movie, and lifting is what I personally seek. Although I put Denzell Washington more or less on the same plateau as Cary Grant, he is really not right for this role. Dudley (Grant), the angel at the center of the piece, emits truth and love when someone pushes into his motivations. Not so much with Mr. Washington's portrayal. Just a little more cynical, and I don't want my angel to be cynical.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/26/23

Full Review

Stephen C

Where the f**k is Eddie Murphy?!!!!!!!!!!! S**t!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

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Jeremy C

"| Ratings Categories | {Characters (9/10) ; Cinematography (8/10) ; Plot (8.5/10) ; Acting (9/10) ; Pacing (9/10) = 87%}"

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/06/22

Full Review

Mike J

Denzel is brilliant as always

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/02/22

Full Review

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Penny Marshall

Director

Denzel Washington

Dudley

Whitney Houston

Julia Biggs

Courtney B. Vance

Reverend Henry Biggs

Gregory Hines

Joe Hamilton

Justin Pierre Edmund

Jeremiah Biggs

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The Preacher's Wife: Trailer 1

1:49

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Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: A-

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Esther Iverem

Washington Post

There are many good reasons for going to see The Preacher's Wife.

Sep 24, 2002

Full Review

Peter Stack

San Francisco Chronicle

The Preacher's Wife qualifies as old-fashioned Hollywood movie making at its corniest and most saccharine. But the mostly African American cast puts an engaging spin on the chestnut, and it works beautifully.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 18, 2002

Full Review

Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

That’s the case with The Preacher’s Wife, a film that takes the classic black-and-white film The Bishop’s Wife and turns it into a glossier, minimally inspiring film.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 26, 2022

Full Review

Rachel Wagner

Rachel's Reviews (YouTube)

Incredible music and Denzel and Whitney have fantastic chemistry

Aug 2, 2022

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Dana Harris

Newhouse News Service

While the movie has heartwarming stamped all over it, the plot stacks the deck against this light comedy with a dark undercurrent of marital insecurity, failure of leadership and testing one's faith.

Rated: 2/4

Nov 6, 2019

Full Review

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Synopsis

A cleric begins to doubt himself and is visited by an angel. The heavenly emissary is supposed to help the good reverend over his midlife crisis, but he is distracted by the cleric's lovely young wife. A remake with gospel music of the "The Bishop's Wife".

Director: Penny Marshall
Executive Producer: Elliot Abbott, Robert Greenhut
Screenwriter: Nat Mauldin, Allan Scott
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co: Mundy Lane Entertainment
Rating: PG
Genre: Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 13, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 3, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $48.1M
Sound Mix: Surround

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