Sign up
Trailer

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

2020Movie1 h 33 minR

DramaMusic
80
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb6.9Letterboxd3.5/5Metacritic876.8Rotten Tomatoes97%72%
80
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb6.9Letterboxd3.5/5Metacritic876.8Rotten Tomatoes97%72%

Summary

Tensions rise when the trailblazing Mother of the Blues and her band gather at a Chicago recording studio in 1927. Adapted from August Wilson's play.

Good for

  • Friends night
  • Teens
  • Thought-provoking

Where to watch

Set your services
What's new on Netflix

Fingerprint

Not for laughs, scares or warmth.

Movies with

Cast

12 of 12

Crew

Directed by
George C. Wolfe
Written by
Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Produced by
Denzel Washington, Dany Wolf, Todd Black
Music by
Branford Marsalis

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

November 25, 2020 · 1 h 33 min · R

Released
November 25, 2020
Runtime
1 h 33 min
Age rating
R
Content
Strong Language, Sexual Content
Genres
Drama, Music
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
131 countries

Tropes

Tag Line, Real-Person Epilogue, Dark and Troubled Past +9

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream Ma Rainey's Black Bottom?"

Questions about Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Ma Rainey's Black Bottom?

Netflix

In the United States, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom streams on Netflix. It also streams in 130 other countries.

Is Ma Rainey's Black Bottom worth watching?

80
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 80 (IMDb 6.9, Letterboxd 3.5 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 97%, and Metacritic 87). Critics rate it higher (92 out of 100) than audiences (70).

Is Ma Rainey's Black Bottom plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on dialogue centrality (10 of 10) and character depth (9 of 10) more than on its plot.

Will Ma Rainey's Black Bottom make me laugh?

Funny

Yes: the humor is mostly sharp wit (8 of 10) and dark humor (6 of 10).

What tropes does Ma Rainey's Black Bottom use?

Tag LineReal-Person EpilogueDark and Troubled PastMonochrome CastingThe Roaring '20sDowner EndingVillain ProtagonistAdaptational ExpansionAdvertised ExtraJerk with a Heart of GoldDisproportionate RetributionRecording Studio Sceneand 15 more

TV Tropes lists 27 tropes for it, including Tag Line, Real-Person Epilogue, and Dark and Troubled Past.