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The Piano Lesson

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The Piano Lesson

PG-13

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2h 5m

Drama

Music

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Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

129 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Set in 1936 Pittsburgh during the aftermath of the Great Depression, The Piano Lesson follows the lives of the Charles family in the Doaker Charles household and an heirloom, the family piano, which documents the family history through carvings made by their enslaved ancestor.

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Critics Consensus

A Southern Gothic played at a ferocious key, The Piano Lesson brings August Wilson's words to vivid life with an outstanding ensemble.

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Leila Latif

Little White Lies

It lands as more of a showcase of assembling the many talents on board rather than an adaptation shining a new light on an already treasured work.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 20, 2025

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Sheri Flanders

Chicago Reader

An exquisite film rendition of an American stage classic, The Piano Lesson promises to strike a powerful chord within the soul.

Dec 11, 2024

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Hannah Giorgis

The Atlantic

Netflix’s adaptation faithfully renders this concern for the quotidian, albeit with a more stylish patina. Malcolm’s directorial choices diverge from his father’s old-school creative sensibilities; the pacing is faster, the music more dramatic.

Dec 10, 2024

Full Review

Ernesto Diezmartinez

Letras Libres

Malcolm Washington explores the repercussions of his traumatic past on the difficult present of his African American characters in his debut feature, an adaptation of a play by August Wilson.[Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 2.5/4

Apr 30, 2025

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Sheraz Farooqi

CinemaDebate

Highly recommend this adaption of August Wilson’s play, highlighted by great performances from Washington, Fisher, and Deadwyler.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 22, 2025

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Nicholas Bell

Fish Jelly Films (YouTube)

Somehow, by broadening Wilson's classic play with this lavish production design, director Malcolm Washington suffocates and muddles the source material's poetic subtleties.

Rated: 2/5

Mar 21, 2025

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ADG

Terrible and disjointed and longer than it needed to be. The story obviously has value yet was not adapted well for film

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

11/16/24

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Demetria

A masterpiece from start to finish—beautifully cast, beautifully acted, and beautifully directed. Every performance is captivating, and the direction brings August Wilson's powerful story to life with nuance and depth. I'm so glad I caught it in the theater and can’t wait to experience it all over again when it hits Netflix. A must-watch!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/16/24

Full Review

Yasmin

Deep, moving, entertaining, feel good movie. The cast is extremely talented and captivating in this story. My family and I had a few laughs too.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/11/24

Full Review

bobsaxa L

A++++!! The Washington kids are all super talented. John David is a bonafide star Danielle Deadwyler is too!! Both will be household names. Excellent directing and cinematography. Strong cast, timely timely story.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/10/24

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Abby P

A powerful story told beautifully. The playwright was done justice by the actors and director alike. The climactic finale took my breath away.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/10/24

Full Review

merrie t

Based on the play by August Wilson, The Piano Lesson is a big swing that mostly connects. The acting is standout especially Danielle Deadwyler. The direction and cinematography also is first rate.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/10/24

Full Review

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The Piano Lesson: Trailer 2

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The Piano Lesson: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Set in 1936 Pittsburgh during the aftermath of the Great Depression, The Piano Lesson follows the lives of the Charles family in the Doaker Charles household and an heirloom, the family piano, which documents the family history through carvings made by their enslaved ancestor.

Director: Malcolm Washington
Producer: Todd Black, Denzel Washington
Screenwriter: Malcolm Washington, Virgil Williams
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: Lord Miller, Netflix Studios
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 8, 2024, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 22, 2024
Runtime: 2h 5m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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