Ray

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Ray

PG-13

2004

2h 35m

Biography

History

Drama

Music

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Popcornmeter

79%

Tomatometer

204 Reviews

87%

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100,000+ Ratings

Legendary soul musician Ray Charles is portrayed by Jamie Foxx in this Oscar-winning biopic. Young Ray watches his 7-year-old brother drown at age seven. When he loses his sight at the age of 9, his hardworking mother (Sharon Warren) urges him not to feel sorry for himself. He rises through the ranks of the Seattle jazz scene, struggling with drug addiction and infidelity while on the road. Supported by his wife (Kerry Washington), Ray Charles redefines soul music and inspires a generation.

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Critics Consensus

An engrossing and energetic portrait of a great musician's achievements and foibles, Ray is anchored by Jamie Foxx's stunning performance as Ray Charles.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Excellent portrayal of extraordinary musician.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 28, 2010

Full Review

David Ansen

Newsweek

Ray is filled with such pleasures, but it's hobbled by the too-familiar conventions of the musical biopic: with so many chapters of Charles's life to cover, Hackford's movie never finds a rhythm, a groove, to settle into.

Nov 1, 2007

Full Review

Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

As if we weren't sure before, now it's official: This is the year of the Foxx.

Rated: 3.5/4

Nov 6, 2004

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

It’s impossible to deny the power of the music; the genius and legacy of Ray Charles make for thoroughly cinematic material.

Rated: 6/10

Feb 6, 2025

Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Jamie Foxx's astonishing performance is the big highlight and rightfully so, but Ray suffers like many musical biopics as the film takes too many dramatic liberties with real-life events and stretches out too many years.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 25, 2024

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

It’s an inspired performance that creates a complex character out of the pop music legend.

Apr 6, 2024

Full Review

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Menew A

The soul-stirring sounds of music legend Ray Charles keep saving the day for this straightforward, safe-bet biopic.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/16/25

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John C

Jamie Foxx is excellent, and sturdily supported by [James L.] White's script all the way

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/14/25

Full Review

thiago s

Filme legal, o roteiro é legalzinho, as cenas são legais, a história é bacana, o elenco é bacaninha, e metade do elenco ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são bacanas, o filme tem um drama muito bom, e com uma atuação excelente do jamie foxx

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

07/10/25

Full Review

Stephen C

Success in 2 hours, 32 minutes, and 18 seconds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $123,971,376.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Filmed in 2004 in color!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Copyright 2004-2025 by Universal Pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Starring Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles and lip-syncs the songs during the movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/12/25

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Adam Y

The directing is sure-handed, the script intelligent, and the acting strong, especially the amazing performance from Foxx.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/09/25

Full Review

Ryland C

It’s a good movie but it was such a sad story. I never thought that the real life Ray Charles went through so much pain in his childhood and adult life outside of making music. Still though, It tells that story well. And that’s why I like it.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/08/25

Full Review

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Taylor Hackford

Director

Jamie Foxx

Ray Charles

Kerry Washington

Della Bea Robinson

Regina King

Margie Hendricks

Clifton Powell

Jeff Brown

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor

Mary Ann Fisher

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Synopsis

Legendary soul musician Ray Charles is portrayed by Jamie Foxx in this Oscar-winning biopic. Young Ray watches his 7-year-old brother drown at age seven. When he loses his sight at the age of 9, his hardworking mother (Sharon Warren) urges him not to feel sorry for himself. He rises through the ranks of the Seattle jazz scene, struggling with drug addiction and infidelity while on the road. Supported by his wife (Kerry Washington), Ray Charles redefines soul music and inspires a generation.

Director: Taylor Hackford
Producer: Howard Baldwin, Stuart Benjamin, Taylor Hackford, Karen Elise Baldwin
Screenwriter: Robert Eisele, James L. White
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Crusader Entertainment LLC, Unchain My Heart Louisiana
Rating: PG-13 (Sexuality|Drug Addiction|Some Thematic Elements)
Genre: Biography, History, Drama, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 29, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $75.3M
Runtime: 2h 35m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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