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IMDbPro

How Stella Got Her Groove Back

  • 19981998
  • RR
  • 2h 4m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
7.6K
YOUR RATING
Angela Bassett in How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)
Home Video Trailer from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Play trailer2:21
1 Video
34 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Romance
Stella is a highly successful, forty-something San Francisco stock broker who is persuaded by her colorful New York girlfriend Delilah to take a well deserved, first-class vacation to Jamaic... Read allStella is a highly successful, forty-something San Francisco stock broker who is persuaded by her colorful New York girlfriend Delilah to take a well deserved, first-class vacation to Jamaica.Stella is a highly successful, forty-something San Francisco stock broker who is persuaded by her colorful New York girlfriend Delilah to take a well deserved, first-class vacation to Jamaica.
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
7.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Kevin Rodney Sullivan
  • Writers
    • Terry McMillan(novel)
    • Ron Bass(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Angela Bassett
    • Taye Diggs
    • Whoopi Goldberg
Top credits
  • Director
    • Kevin Rodney Sullivan
  • Writers
    • Terry McMillan(novel)
    • Ron Bass(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Angela Bassett
    • Taye Diggs
    • Whoopi Goldberg
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 56User reviews
    • 29Critic reviews
    • 56Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins & 8 nominations

    Videos1

    How Stella Got Her Groove Back
    Trailer 2:21
    How Stella Got Her Groove Back

    Photos34

    Angela Bassett and Taye Diggs in How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)
    Angela Bassett and Taye Diggs in How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)
    Angela Bassett and Taye Diggs in How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)
    Whoopi Goldberg in How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)
    Whoopi Goldberg and Angela Bassett in How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)
    Taye Diggs in How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)
    Angela Bassett in How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)
    Angela Bassett and Taye Diggs in How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)
    Angela Bassett, Regina King, and Suzzanne Douglas in How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)
    Whoopi Goldberg, Angela Bassett, and Taye Diggs in How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)
    Kevin Rodney Sullivan in How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)
    Whoopi Goldberg, Angela Bassett, and Kevin Rodney Sullivan in How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Angela Bassett
    Angela Bassett
    • Stella Payneas Stella Payne
    Taye Diggs
    Taye Diggs
    • Winston Shakespeareas Winston Shakespeare
    Whoopi Goldberg
    Whoopi Goldberg
    • Delilah Abrahamas Delilah Abraham
    Regina King
    Regina King
    • Vanessaas Vanessa
    Suzzanne Douglas
    Suzzanne Douglas
    • Angelaas Angela
    Michael J. Pagan
    • Quincy Payneas Quincy Payne
    Sicily Johnson
    Sicily Johnson
    • Chantelas Chantel
    • (as Sicily)
    Richard Lawson
    Richard Lawson
    • Jackas Jack
    Barry Shabaka Henley
    Barry Shabaka Henley
    • Buddyas Buddy
    Lee Weaver
    Lee Weaver
    • Nateas Nate
    Glynn Turman
    Glynn Turman
    • Dr. Shakespeareas Dr. Shakespeare
    Phyllis Yvonne Stickney
    Phyllis Yvonne Stickney
    • Mrs. Shakespeareas Mrs. Shakespeare
    Denise Hunt
    • Ms. Thangas Ms. Thang
    Lisa Hanna
    • Abbyas Abby
    James Pickens Jr.
    James Pickens Jr.
    • Walter Payneas Walter Payne
    Philip Casnoff
    Philip Casnoff
    • Kennedyas Kennedy
    Lou Myers
    Lou Myers
    • Uncle Ollieas Uncle Ollie
    D'Army Bailey
    • Ministeras Minister
    • Director
      • Kevin Rodney Sullivan
    • Writers
      • Terry McMillan(novel) (screenplay)
      • Ron Bass(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The movie was based on a book by Terry McMillan who wrote about her own life and marriage to Jamaican Jonathan Plummer in 1998. She was in her late forties and he in his early twenties. In December 2004, Plummer told McMillan that he was gay, and in March 2005, she filed for divorce. He essentially only married her so he could leave Jamaica and gain American citizenship.
    • Goofs
      When Winston is going to show Stella the room he made her for building furniture it is dark, but when Winston opens the door you can easily see that there is sunlight coming through the doorway.
    • Quotes

      Stella Payne: This from the guy who makes a midnight run to the video store and comes back with Booty Call and the Lion King!

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: How Stella Got Her Groove Back/Return to Paradise/Snake Eyes/The Rat Pack/Full Tilt Boogie (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Free Again
      Performed by Soul II Soul featuring Caron Wheeler & Jazzie B

      Written by Jimmy Jam (as James Harris III), Terry Lewis, Caron Wheeler and Jazzie B (as Beresford Romeo)

      Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for Flyte Tyme Productions, Inc.

      Caron Wheeler appears courtesy of Airtight Records

      Jazzie B. appears courtesy of Funki Dred Records

    User reviews56

    Review
    Top review
    'Stella' lacks groove
    Angela Bassett ("Waiting to Exhale") is talented and buff as Stella, a single mother/career woman who's in need of a vacation. Stella decides to head for Jamaica with her best friend, Delilah (Whoopi Goldberg in a fine supporting role). Stella meets 20-year-old Winston (Taye Diggs). They fall in love, in-spite of Stella's emotional insecurities. Terry McMillan adapted from her novel based on her real-life experience. I hate to say this, but unlike "Waiting to Exhale," this overlong movie barely holds up to the book, because of too many plot holes and too many unnecessary characters. On the contrary, Diggs turns in an impressive performance as well. My evaluation: ** out of ****.
    helpful•13
    7
    • Michael_Pilkington
    • Mar 15, 1999

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 14, 1998 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • How Stella Got Her Groove Back On
    • Filming locations
      • 1090 Rubio Street, Altadena, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $20,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $37,672,941
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $11,318,919
      • Aug 16, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $39,278,722
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 4 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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