Ma Rainey's Black Bottom | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

98% Tomatometer 321 Reviews 72% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings

Tensions and temperatures rise at a Chicago music studio in 1927 when fiery, fearless blues singer Ma Rainey joins her band for a recording session.

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Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

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Critics Consensus

Framed by a pair of powerhouse performances, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom pays affectionate tribute to a blues legend -- and Black culture at large.

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Ma Rainey's Black Bottom | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Christina Newland iNews.co.uk The poignant conclusion is as bitter as it is heartbreaking, because, fictional though it is, its story of racism, rage and lost promise shows an essential truth. Rated: 4/5 Sep 23, 2024 Full Review Ma Rainey's Black Bottom | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Shelli Nicole Autostraddle The focus of the film is more on Levee, Chadwick Boseman’s character. It felt like Viola was the pull but I was left wanting to learn even more about Ma Rainey than before. However, that’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy the film because I absolutely did. Apr 13, 2022 Full Review Ma Rainey's Black Bottom | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Roxana Hadadi Pajiba The sense that we're beholden to the whims of unseen forces-that we're not the protagonists of our own stories-cuts deep in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. Mar 21, 2021 Full Review Ma Rainey's Black Bottom | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Sukanya Verma Rediff.com Wolfe's energetic adaptation of August Wilson's play pays rich tribute to the might of African American blues legend Ma Rainey in Viola Davis's tour de force as well as serves as a memorable swansong for the profound talents of Chadwick Boseman. Oct 2, 2024 Full Review Ma Rainey's Black Bottom | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Joonatan Itkonen Toisto.net While not perfect, it’s another milestone for Netflix in delivering smart, adult fare to theaters, and a gorgeous swansong for an actor gone too soon. Rated: 4/5 Jul 14, 2024 Full Review Ma Rainey's Black Bottom | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Ryan McQuade InSession Film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom leaves a little to be desired, even though Boseman gives the performance of his career. It’s a shame that the film he is in isn’t as wonderful as he, but with this, he leaves a legacy. Rated: B- Apr 4, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Raymond Whew. The overwhelming sense of being trapped as a black person, disregarded and disrespected leading to despair. Outstanding screenplay, acting, directing and music. The last scene appropriately made us white folks seem small and lame. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/07/21 Full Review Michael schwab Viola and chad excellent! Fascinating would like to see again! Great film. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/14/21 Full Review LABEL 2 空有戏剧的文本而无戏剧的形式美,想表达的内容塞得过满以至于丧失了影像的意蕴。 Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 06/04/24 Full Review Timothy D Fueled by an impeccable, energetic performance from Boseman and an ever powerful Davis, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is a moving (and slightly disturbing) drama. The scope of this movie is so extensive that it doesn't quite fit into the limited setting of a single recording session. Even so, it keenly explores racism and how African-Americans simultaneously revolutionized and were marginalized by the music industry of the early Twentieth Century. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/23/23 Full Review Alex L Fantastic cast and performance. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/07/23 Full Review Jonathan L It dragged a bit, but I did not care. The acting, shot composition, soundtrack, and flawless historical accuracy VASTLY made up for it. 95/100. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 04/05/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

George C. Wolfe Director Viola Davis Ma Rainey Chadwick Boseman Levee Glynn Turman Toledo Colman Domingo Cutler Michael Potts Slow Drag
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Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom: Movie Clip - Got Talent Ma Rainey's Black Bottom: Movie Clip - Got Talent 0:36 Ma Rainey's Black Bottom: Movie Clip - Deep Moaning Blues Ma Rainey's Black Bottom: Movie Clip - Deep Moaning Blues 1:23 View more videos

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Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

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Synopsis Tensions and temperatures rise at a Chicago music studio in 1927 when fiery, fearless blues singer Ma Rainey joins her band for a recording session.

Director
George C. Wolfe

Producer
Todd Black, Denzel Washington, Dany Wolf

Screenwriter
Ruben Santiago-Hudson

Distributor
Netflix

Production Co
Netflix

Rating
R (Language|Brief Violence|Some Sexual Content)

Genre
History, Drama, Music

Original Language
English

Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 25, 2020, Limited

Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 18, 2020

Runtime
1h 34m

Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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