Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily Entertainment GuideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsCannes Film FestivalStar WarsAsian Pacific American Heritage MonthSummer Watch GuideSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

The Temptations

  • TV Mini Series
  • 1998
  • TV-PG
  • 1h 28m
IMDb RATING
8.4/10
5.5K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,252
33
The Temptations (1998)
Trailer
Play trailer2:03
2 Videos
15 Photos
BiographyDramaMusic

Biography of the singers who formed the hit Motown musical act, The Temptations.Biography of the singers who formed the hit Motown musical act, The Temptations.Biography of the singers who formed the hit Motown musical act, The Temptations.

  • Stars
    • Charles Malik Whitfield
    • D.B. Woodside
    • Terron Brooks
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.4/10
    5.5K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,252
    33
    • Stars
      • Charles Malik Whitfield
      • D.B. Woodside
      • Terron Brooks
    • 67User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 5 wins & 18 nominations total

    Episodes2

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-ratedSeason1998

    Videos2

    The Temptations
    Trailer 2:03
    The Temptations
    The Temptations
    Trailer 2:04
    The Temptations
    The Temptations
    Trailer 2:04
    The Temptations

    Photos15

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 8
    View Poster

    Top cast89

    Edit
    Charles Malik Whitfield
    Charles Malik Whitfield
    • Otis Williams
    • 1998
    D.B. Woodside
    D.B. Woodside
    • Melvin Franklin
    • 1998
    Terron Brooks
    • Eddie Kendricks
    • 1998
    Christian Payton
    • Paul Williams
    • 1998
    Leon
    Leon
    • David Ruffin
    • 1998
    Alan Rosenberg
    Alan Rosenberg
    • Shelly Berger
    • 1998
    Tina Lifford
    Tina Lifford
    • Haze
    • 1998
    Jenifer Lewis
    Jenifer Lewis
    • Mama Rose
    • 1998
    Gina Ravera
    Gina Ravera
    • Josephine
    • 1998
    Obba Babatundé
    Obba Babatundé
    • Berry Gordy
    • 1998
    Erik Michael Tristan
    Erik Michael Tristan
    • Smokey Robinson
    • 1998
    J. August Richards
    J. August Richards
    • Richard Street
    • 1998
    Harold Surratt
    Harold Surratt
    • Edgar
    • 1998
    Charles Ley
    • Dennis Edwards
    • 1998
    Vanessa Bell Calloway
    Vanessa Bell Calloway
    • Johnnie Mae Matthews
    • 1998
    Mel Jackson
    Mel Jackson
    • Norman Whitfield
    • 1998
    Rhonda Ross Kendrick
    Rhonda Ross Kendrick
    • Maxine
    • 1998
    Vincent A. Ponder
    • James 'Pee-Wee' Crawford
    • 1998
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews67

    8.45.5K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    10jamie-307

    Fantastic doesn't even begin to describe this movie!!!

    "The Temptations" mini-series was an excellent film!! Terron Brooks(Eddie Kendricks), DB Woodside(Melvin Franklin), Charles Malik Whitfield(Otis Williams), Christian Payton(Paul Williams), and Leon(David Ruffin) do a fantastic job of portraying the fabulous five! This movie is based on Otis Williams' book and the storyline is incredible. Once I saw it for the first time, I was definitely hooked on it. Now I watch it at least once a week. I can't get the songs out of my head, and I am now an even bigger fan of The Temptations. The cool thing about it is that Brooks, Payton, and Woodside are actually singing the parts! I would recommend this movie to any music lover!!
    10janebse

    FANTASTIC, NEVER SEEN A BETTER MOVIE

    Unforgettable music, music that fits any time period. A dramatic plot that keeps moving. And the actors are fantastic. They fit their roles so well I could not believe they were acting. It didn't hurt that each actor resembled his real-life counterpart. It was terrific in every sense.
    raysond

    Comment on a American success story of one of Motown's Best

    I got the chance to see this TV mini series recently on cable's VH-1,and to me it was a trip back in time! Based on Otis Williams' autobiography of the same title,it shows them from there humble beginnings as up and coming singers during the period of the late 50's to the early 60's to the downfall of there trials and tribulations with tragic results. However,to make one thing perfectly clear that the mighty Temptations were the kings of soul,and they put MOTOWN on the map as well as one of the biggest R&B/Soul groups of all time and for one they were in perfect harmony with every hit they had went straight to #1 on the charts during the years with Motown which some of their earlier hits were written and produced by Smokey Robinson who also had his group The Miracles. 38 of the top 40 hits they had including "My Girl","The Girls Alright With Me","Just My Imagination",and so many more are considered standard classics. As for the performances of the movie,Leon was nominated for an Emmy for his brilliant portrayal of singer David Ruffin(whom some considered Ruffin as the greatest Temptation ever and one of the greatest soul singers ever). This is the second TV-mini series to focus on Motown groups and there stories(the other one was based on The Jacksons three years earlier before this came about and the next one will be on the life of Motown crooner Marvin Gaye)and out of all of them this was is tops. If you get the soundtrack to the original TV mini series,it brings back good ole Motown memories that will be heard of for many moons to come. LONG LIVE THE TEMPTATIONS!!!
    8DunnDeeDaGreat

    The way music movies should be

    The Temptations is clearly one of the finest music miniseries ever made.The casting is great all of the men(some of whom were unknowns) are great in the film, but the scene stealers is Leon as the group's lead singer David Ruffin. The songs and script are very good and the film is very heartbreaking in some moments. But all in all a great music movie.
    ALRITE4EVER

    AIN'T TOO PROUD TO BEG(TO SEE THIS MOVIE AGAIN)

    This movie was great.I love entertainment history,and this was full of history,and the music was fantastic.My Girl,Ain't Too Proud To Beg,Cloud 9,Just My Imagination,Pshyadelic Shack,Can't Get Next To You!!!And "THE VOICES"-David Ruffin,Eddie Kendricks,& Dennis Edwards were amazing.David Ruffin did a lot to dispell the notion that you can't wear glasses and be hip & cool-because he was as hip & as cool they came.I loved the reunion tour scenes when David,Eddie,& Dennis shared the stage-the harmony was great.

    More like this

    The Jacksons: An American Dream
    7.5
    The Jacksons: An American Dream
    The Five Heartbeats
    7.6
    The Five Heartbeats
    The New Edition Story
    8.8
    The New Edition Story
    Temptations
    5.1
    Temptations
    Little Richard
    6.7
    Little Richard
    The Rhythm and the Blues 2024
    7.9
    The Rhythm and the Blues 2024
    Why Do Fools Fall in Love
    6.4
    Why Do Fools Fall in Love
    Sparkle
    6.7
    Sparkle
    House Party
    6.5
    House Party
    Soul Train
    8.1
    Soul Train
    The Wood
    7.0
    The Wood
    Martin
    7.5
    Martin

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In the days leading up to his death, Eddie Kendricks performed one final concert. The effects of his cancer were so severe, that he had to take a break and sit with an oxygen tank after performing each song.
    • Goofs
      When Otis gets off the bus and "Ooh, Baby, Baby", is playing, he eagerly gets out to find his wife, Josephine. His hair is permed, which had been discussed in an earlier scene at the beginning of the movie. But the next shot when he does find his wife, his hair is not permed.
    • Quotes

      David Ruffin: I'm the one sellin' the records. They're comin' to see me.

      Otis Williams: They're comin' to see the Temptations.

      David Ruffin: Ain't nobody comin' to see you, Otis! You wish you could work it the way I do, but you can't! Because there is only one David Ruffin. And without him, the Temps ain't nothin' but a group in SEARCH of a David Ruffin. Matter of fact, I been thinkin'. We should call the group David Ruffin And The Temptations. Yeah, that sound good to me. Y'all beggin' me not to leave you.

      [sings]

      David Ruffin: "And I refuse to let you go." Yeah, David Ruffin And The Temptations. Whatcha think?

      Otis Williams: [stands up] That ain't never gonna happen.

    • Connections
      Edited into Race for Space (2010)

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ17

    • How many seasons does The Temptations have?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 1, 1998 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Темптейшенс
    • Filming locations
      • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
    • Production companies
      • De Passe Entertainment
      • Hallmark Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 28 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    The Temptations (1998)
    Top Gap
    What is the French language plot outline for The Temptations (1998)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit pageAdd episode

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.