Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

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.

98%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 249

78%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 574

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Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Videos

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Movie Info

Tensions and temperatures rise over the course of an afternoon recording session in 1920s Chicago as a band of musicians await trailblazing performer, the legendary “Mother of the Blues,” Ma Rainey (Academy Award® winner Viola Davis). Late to the session, the fearless, fiery Ma engages in a battle of wills with her white manager and producer over control of her music. As the band waits in the studio’s claustrophobic rehearsal room, ambitious cornet player Levee (Chadwick Boseman) — who has an eye for Ma’s girlfriend and is determined to stake his own claim on the music industry — spurs his fellow musicians into an eruption of stories revealing truths that will forever change the course of their lives.
  • Rating:
    R (Some Sexual Content|Language|Brief Violence)
  • Genre:
    drama, music, history
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    George C. Wolfe
  • Producer:
    Todd Black, Denzel Washington, Dany Wolf
  • Writer:
    Ruben Santiago-Hudson
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     limited
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Runtime:
  • Production Co:
    Netflix
  • Aspect Ratio:
    Scope (2.35:1)

Cast & Crew

Viola Davis
Ma Rainey
Chadwick Boseman
Levee
Glynn Turman
Toledo
Colman Domingo
Cutler
Michael Potts
Slow Drag
Taylour Paige
Dussie Mae
Dusan Brown
Sylvester
Jonathan Coyne
Sturdyvant
Jeremy Shamos
Irvin
Joshua Harto
Policeman
George C. Wolfe
Director
Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Screenwriter
Todd Black
Producer
Denzel Washington
Producer
Dany Wolf
Producer
Tobias A. Schliessler
Cinematographer
Andrew Mondshein
Film Editor
Branford Marsalis
Original Music
Mark Ricker
Production Design
Karen O'Hara
Set Decoration
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News & Interviews for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Awards Leaderboard: Top Movies of 2020 – Rotten Tomatoes
Riz Ahmed Wins Best Actor, Nomadland takes top prize at Gotham Awards
TV Premiere Dates 2020
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Critic Reviews for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

All Critics (249) | Top Critics (70) | Fresh (245) | Rotten (4)

View All Critic Reviews (249)

Audience Reviews for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

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