If Beale Street Could Talk

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If Beale Street Could Talk

R

2019

1h 59m

Drama

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

363 Reviews

68%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

In early 1970s Harlem, daughter and wife-to-be Tish vividly recalls the passion, respect and trust that have connected her and her artist fiancé Alonzo Hunt, who goes by the nickname Fonny. Friends since childhood, the devoted couple dream of a future together, but their plans are derailed when Fonny is arrested for a crime he did not commit.

Critics Consensus

If Beale Street Could Talk honors its source material with a beautifully filmed adaptation that finds director Barry Jenkins further strengthening his visual and narrative craft.

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Valerie Complex

The Nerds of Color

Jan 29, 2021

B+

If Beale Street Could Talk will take you on a journey of visual ecstasy with narrative beats that create a solid adaptation of James Baldwin's emotional material. (pub date: Sept 2018)

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Claudia Puig

FilmWeek (LAist)

Sep 12, 2019

Lyrical and very transporting.

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Hannah Giorgis

The Atlantic

Sep 10, 2019

Jenkins's If Beale Street Could Talk is a gorgeous, enveloping film -- and one of its most poignant triumphs is how vividly it captures the depth and complication of intimacy among its black characters.

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Brittany Patrice Witherspoon

Pop Culture Reviews

Jul 11, 2024

5/5

It’s hard to imagine how one film could fill you with so much love yet overwhelm you with an equal amount of pain. But that’s exactly what Beale Street does...

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Ryan McQuade

InSession Film

Apr 4, 2024

The love story shown from Kiki Layne and Stephen James is the most romantic, realistic relationship on screen this year...

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Ethan Gordon

InSession Film

Mar 21, 2024

B+

There’s an entire world created in this movie, a reflection of our reality, but soaked in Jenkins’ dreamlike view.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Mar 1, 2026

Winner of 2019 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (Regina King). 91st Annual Academy Awards ceremony.

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Faiz D

@RT95588871 May 13, 2025

Maybe a bit too long, but a deeply powerful adaptation nevertheless.

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Rufus C

@RT94157948 May 7, 2024

Movie wasn't bad until Pedro Pascal crapped all over it!

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Andrea C

@Charst Apr 16, 2024

Dramma intenso e malinconico, che rappresenta perfettamente una storia che purtroppo è più ordinaria di quanto possa sembrare in superficie. La vera novità però è il modo di rappresentare il dramma, senza ritmi serrati e toni accesi volti a attirare lo spettatore nell'ingiustizia, ma bensì pieno di primi piani lunghi ed intensi che dimostrano tutta la gamma di espressioni dei protagonisti. L'attenzione alla fotografia è molto ben spesa ed è molto elegante e qualitativo il continuo alternarsi tra questi momenti di rumoroso silenzio e qualche sequenza che invece colpisce con urla e violenza fisica. Barry Jenkins è un bravissimo regista che riesce a tramutare un gran libro in un gran film.

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Dallas H

@RT53171010 Feb 7, 2024

There is something extra special about a drama with elements of jazz noir music intermixed with the soundtrack. I liked this movie and am disappointed it took me so long to sit down for a viewing.

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Alec B

@Alec97 Jan 8, 2024

A subtle and gorgeous examination of people trapped in broken systems that never forgets to see its characters as complex human beings.

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Barry Jenkins

Director

KiKi Layne

Tish Rivers

Stephan James

Alonzo "Fonny" Hunt

Regina King

Sharon Rivers

Colman Domingo

Joseph Rivers

Teyonah Parris

Ernestine Rivers

Phantom Thread

91%

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If Beale Street Could Talk: Final Trailer

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If Beale Street Could Talk: Trailer 1

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If Beale Street Could Talk: Teaser Trailer 1

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Synopsis

In early 1970s Harlem, daughter and wife-to-be Tish vividly recalls the passion, respect and trust that have connected her and her artist fiancé Alonzo Hunt, who goes by the nickname Fonny. Friends since childhood, the devoted couple dream of a future together, but their plans are derailed when Fonny is arrested for a crime he did not commit.

Director: Barry Jenkins
Producer: Adele Romanski, Sara Murphy, Barry Jenkins, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner
Screenwriter: Barry Jenkins
Distributor: Annapurna Pictures
Production Co: Plan B Entertainment, Pastel, Annapurna Pictures
Rating: R (Some Sexual Content|Language)
Genre: Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 11, 2019, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 12, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $14.9M
Runtime: 1h 59m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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