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IMDbPro

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

  • 20202020
  • RR
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
51K
YOUR RATING
Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)
Chicago, 1927. A recording session. Tensions rise between Ma Rainey (Viola Davis), her ambitious horn player (Chadwick Boseman), and the white management determined to control the legendary "Mother of the Blues." Based on Pulitzer Prize winner August Wilson's play.
Play trailer2:21
12 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • Music
Tensions rise when trailblazing blues singer Ma Rainey and her band gather at a recording studio in Chicago in 1927.Tensions rise when trailblazing blues singer Ma Rainey and her band gather at a recording studio in Chicago in 1927.Tensions rise when trailblazing blues singer Ma Rainey and her band gather at a recording studio in Chicago in 1927.
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
51K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • George C. Wolfe
  • Writers
    • Ruben Santiago-Hudson(screenplay by)
    • August Wilson(based on the play written by)
  • Stars
    • Viola Davis
    • Chadwick Boseman
    • Glynn Turman
Top credits
  • Director
    • George C. Wolfe
  • Writers
    • Ruben Santiago-Hudson(screenplay by)
    • August Wilson(based on the play written by)
  • Stars
    • Viola Davis
    • Chadwick Boseman
    • Glynn Turman
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 424User reviews
    • 217Critic reviews
    • 87Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 82 wins & 192 nominations total

    Videos12

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:21
    Official Trailer
    Best Moments From the 2021 Oscars Telecast
    Clip 2:54
    Best Moments From the 2021 Oscars Telecast
    Art of the Crew | Production Design
    Clip 1:02
    Art of the Crew | Production Design
    Art of the Crew | Makeup and Hairstyling
    Clip 1:01
    Art of the Crew | Makeup and Hairstyling
    Art of the Crew | Costume Design
    Clip 1:10
    Art of the Crew | Costume Design
    Best Moments From the Golden Globes 2021 Telecast
    Clip 2:53
    Best Moments From the Golden Globes 2021 Telecast
    Golden Globes 2021 Nominations to Know
    Clip 3:27
    Golden Globes 2021 Nominations to Know
    Viola Davis Reflects on Chadwick Boseman's Unapologetic Authenticity
    Clip 1:42
    Viola Davis Reflects on Chadwick Boseman's Unapologetic Authenticity
    Viola Davis Shares the Importance of Unfiltered Black Characters in 'Ma Rainey'
    Clip 1:54
    Viola Davis Shares the Importance of Unfiltered Black Characters in 'Ma Rainey'
    The Most Anticipated Movies and TV Shows to Stream in December
    Clip 3:16
    The Most Anticipated Movies and TV Shows to Stream in December
    The Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
    Clip 3:38
    The Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
    Making 'Ma Rainey' With George C. Wolfe
    Featurette 1:20
    Making 'Ma Rainey' With George C. Wolfe

    Photos134

    Viola Davis, Colman Domingo, and Chadwick Boseman in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)
    Michael Potts in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)
    Viola Davis in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)
    Colman Domingo, Michael Potts, Glynn Turman, and Chadwick Boseman in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)
    Chadwick Boseman in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)
    Colman Domingo, Michael Potts, and Glynn Turman in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)
    Viola Davis in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)
    Viola Davis in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)
    Viola Davis, Colman Domingo, Michael Potts, Glynn Turman, Chadwick Boseman, and Dusan Brown in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)
    Chadwick Boseman in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)
    Glynn Turman in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)
    Viola Davis, Dusan Brown, and Taylour Paige in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Viola Davis
    Viola Davis
    • Ma Raineyas Ma Rainey
    Chadwick Boseman
    Chadwick Boseman
    • Leveeas Levee
    Glynn Turman
    Glynn Turman
    • Toledoas Toledo
    Colman Domingo
    Colman Domingo
    • Cutleras Cutler
    Michael Potts
    Michael Potts
    • Slow Dragas Slow Drag
    Jeremy Shamos
    Jeremy Shamos
    • Irvinas Irvin
    Jonny Coyne
    Jonny Coyne
    • Sturdyvantas Sturdyvant
    Taylour Paige
    Taylour Paige
    • Dussie Maeas Dussie Mae
    Dusan Brown
    Dusan Brown
    • Sylvesteras Sylvester
    Joshua Harto
    Joshua Harto
    • Policemanas Policeman
    Quinn VanAntwerp
    Quinn VanAntwerp
    • Band Singeras Band Singer
    Chloe Davis
    Chloe Davis
    • Ma Rainey's Danceras Ma Rainey's Dancer
    Mayte Natalio
    • Ma Rainey's Danceras Ma Rainey's Dancer
    Johanna Elmina Moise
    Johanna Elmina Moise
    • Ma Rainey's Danceras Ma Rainey's Dancer
    • (as Johanna Moise)
    Onyxx Noel
    • Ma Rainey's Danceras Ma Rainey's Dancer
    LaWanda Hopkins
    • Ma Rainey's Danceras Ma Rainey's Dancer
    Sierra Stewart
    • Ma Rainey's Danceras Ma Rainey's Dancer
    Malaiyka Reid
    • Ma Rainey's Danceras Ma Rainey's Dancer
    • Director
      • George C. Wolfe
    • Writers
      • Ruben Santiago-Hudson(screenplay by)
      • August Wilson(based on the play written by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    The Legacy of Chadwick Boseman

    The Legacy of Chadwick Boseman

    Chadwick Boseman is known for his iconic performances in Get on Up, Black Panther, and his final role in the musical drama Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. IMDb takes a celebratory look at his career in film and television.
    Watch the video
    Image caption not available
    3:38

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In 2015, Denzel Washington announced that he would be bringing all ten of August Wilson's "Century Cycle" plays to the big or small screen. Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is the second filmed Wilson adaptation Washington has produced in this cycle, after Fences (2016). In September 2020, Washington told the New York Times that the third film in the series would be The Piano Lesson, and that he hoped to cast his own son John David Washington and Samuel L. Jackson, with Barry Jenkins directing.
    • Goofs
      The action of the film takes place on July 2, 1927. Ma Rainey's car in the film is a Model A Ford which were not introduced to the public until December 1927.
    • Quotes

      Ma Rainey: They don't care nothin' about me. All they want is my voice. Well, I done learned that. And they gonna treat me the way I wanna be treated, no matter how much it hurt them.

    • Crazy credits
      During the first part of the credits, actual photographs of the real Ma Rainey and the musicians who inspired the characters in the play are shown.
    • Connections
      Featured in Sky News @Breakfast: Episode dated 19 December 2020 (2020)
    • Soundtracks
      Deep Moaning Blues
      Written by Ma Rainey (as Gertrude 'Ma' Rainey)

      Produced and Arranged by Branford Marsalis

    User reviews424

    Review
    Top review
    5/10
    The Actors Deserve Better
    Everything in the film is perfect except for its poor direction and lack of story. Chadwick Boseman and Viola Davis are spectacular, especially the former. He should get all awards for his final role which was nothing but a masterclass in acting.
    helpful•103
    44
    • varun-25071997
    • Dec 18, 2020

    FAQ1

    • Did Viola Davis do her own singing or was it dubbed?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 18, 2020 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Black Bottom
    • Filming locations
      • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
    • Production companies
      • Escape Artists
      • Mundy Lane Entertainment
      • Netflix
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.00 : 1

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