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IMDbPro

Black Nativity

  • 20132013
  • PGPG
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
4.8/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
Black Nativity (2013)
A street-wise teen from Baltimore who has been raised by a single mother travels to New York City to spend the Christmas holiday with his estranged relatives, where he embarks on a surprising and inspirational journey.
Play trailer1:57
2 Videos
27 Photos
DramaFamilyMusic
A street-wise teen from Baltimore who has been raised by a single mother travels to New York City to spend the Christmas holiday with his estranged relatives, where he embarks on a surprisin... Read allA street-wise teen from Baltimore who has been raised by a single mother travels to New York City to spend the Christmas holiday with his estranged relatives, where he embarks on a surprising and inspirational journey.A street-wise teen from Baltimore who has been raised by a single mother travels to New York City to spend the Christmas holiday with his estranged relatives, where he embarks on a surprising and inspirational journey.
IMDb RATING
4.8/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
    • Kasi Lemmons
    • Langston Hughes(based on the play by)
    • Kasi Lemmons(written for the screen by)
  • Stars
    • Forest Whitaker
    • Angela Bassett
    • Jennifer Hudson
    • Kasi Lemmons
    • Langston Hughes(based on the play by)
    • Kasi Lemmons(written for the screen by)
  • Stars
    • Forest Whitaker
    • Angela Bassett
    • Jennifer Hudson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 22User reviews
    • 42Critic reviews
    • 48Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos2

    Trailer #2
    Trailer 1:57
    Watch Trailer #2
    Trailer #1
    Trailer 1:41
    Watch Trailer #1

    Photos27

    Black Nativity (2013)
    Black Nativity (2013)
    Black Nativity (2013)
    Black Nativity (2013)
    Tyrese Gibson and Jacob Latimore in Black Nativity (2013)
    Angela Bassett and Jacob Latimore in Black Nativity (2013)
    Jennifer Hudson in Black Nativity (2013)
    Jacob Latimore in Black Nativity (2013)
    Forest Whitaker and Jacob Latimore in Black Nativity (2013)
    Angela Bassett and Forest Whitaker in Black Nativity (2013)
    Jennifer Hudson and Jacob Latimore in Black Nativity (2013)
    Luke James and Grace Gibson in Black Nativity (2013)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Forest Whitaker
    Forest Whitaker
    • Reverend Cornell Cobbs
    Angela Bassett
    Angela Bassett
    • Aretha Cobbs
    Jennifer Hudson
    Jennifer Hudson
    • Naima
    Mary J. Blige
    Mary J. Blige
    • Angel
    Tyrese Gibson
    Tyrese Gibson
    • Loot…
    Jacob Latimore
    Jacob Latimore
    • Langston
    Nas
    Nas
    • Street Prophet (Isaiah)
    • (as Nasir Jones)
    Vondie Curtis-Hall
    Vondie Curtis-Hall
    • Pawnbroker
    • (as Vondie Curtis Hall)
    Luke James
    Luke James
    • Jo-Jo…
    Grace Gibson
    • Maria…
    Rotimi
    Rotimi
    • Officer Butch McDaniels
    J. Mallory McCree
    J. Mallory McCree
    • Kyle
    Henry Hunter Hall
    Henry Hunter Hall
    • Snoopy
    • (as H. Hunter Hall)
    Michael Dale
    Michael Dale
    • Innkeeper
    Doug Willen
    Doug Willen
    • Chic Man
    Sorika Wolf
    Sorika Wolf
    • Chic Man's Mistress
    • (as Sorika Horng)
    Jason Samuels Smith
    Jason Samuels Smith
    • Hotel Security Guard
    C. Kelly Wright
    C. Kelly Wright
    • Desperate Pawnshop Woman
      • Kasi Lemmons
      • Langston Hughes(based on the play by)
      • Kasi Lemmons(written for the screen by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This film is one of the rare occasions when Forest Whitaker lends his tenor voice for a film.
    • Quotes

      Aretha Cobbs: The Lord's greatest gift must be to live a life without regrets. But we're so human.

    • Connections
      Featured in Chelsea Lately: Episode #7.179 (2013)
    • Soundtracks
      Coldest Town
      Written by Raphael Saadiq, Taura Stinson and Kasi Lemmons

      Performed by Jacob Latimore

      Arranged by Raphael Saadiq, Taura Stinson and Dylan Wiggins

      Additional Vocal Production Taura Stinson

      Additional Programming Joseph "Bedrock" Epperson

    User reviews22

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    Just average
    I was, for the most part, feeling pleasant enough about this... until that ending.

    It's not that 'Black Nativity' ends badly, it's just so incredibly forced and cringeworthy. It's a Christmas film so I guess I could cut it some slack, but I feel it could've concluded things much better. Some of the character decisions felt odd at times, also.

    One of the reasons as to why I was actually finding this satisfactory throughout is the cast - loads of recognisable and likeable faces. Forest Whitaker (Cornell) is honestly great, his performance is the only one I'd class as anything over 'good'. Jacob Latimore (Langston) and Angela Bassett (Aretha) are the best of the rest, though I always like watching 'Fast & Furious' star Tyrese Gibson act too.

    All in all, nothing positive or negative... just average.
    helpful•0
    0
    • r96sk
    • May 2, 2021

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 27, 2013 (United States)
      • United States
      • Official site
      • English
    • Also known as
      • New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Bob Industries
      • Maven Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 33 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
      • Datasat

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