Ma Rainey's Black Bottom poster

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Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

2020 · Movie · 94 min
B

MEANRANK

71/100

Averaged across 11 ratings · 239.7K votes

Every rating

Platform pages last read 29 September 2026. IMDb’s figure comes from IMDb’s own data file, which we re-read about once a month.

Google: Google retired the star ratings it used to show in search results, so this one no longer updates. More on where the numbers come from →

45–97 out of 100

Split

Lowest is Criticker on 45, highest is Rotten Tomatoes critics on 97. Critics average 92, everyone else 67.

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During a hot Chicago afternoon in 1927, the "Mother of the Blues," Ma Rainey, and her band gather for a recording session. Tensions rise between the determined Ma, who demands control over her music, and her ambitious trumpet player, Levee, who wants to change her sound for a new audience. The session erupts into a powerful clash over art, race, and ownership.

Details

Based on
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom by August Wilson
Released
25 November 2020
Country
United States
Language
English
Runtime
94 min
Rated
R
Awards
35 wins, 80 nominations

This title elsewhere

Viola Davis

Viola Davis

Ma Rainey

Glynn Turman

Glynn Turman

Toledo

Michael Potts

Michael Potts

Slow Drag

Jonny Coyne

Jonny Coyne

Sturdyvant

Taylour Paige

Taylour Paige

Dussie Mae

Awards & nominations

See all 115 →

8 major awards won · 35 wins from 115 nominations across 39 ceremonies

Academy Awards 2021 Best Makeup and Hairstyling Sergio López-Rivera, Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson Winner
Academy Awards 2021 Best Costume Design Ann Roth Winner
Critics' Choice Movie Awards 2021 Best Costume Design Ann Roth Winner
Critics' Choice Movie Awards 2021 Best Hair & Makeup Matiki Anoff, Sergio Lopez-Rivera, Mia Neal, Larry M. Cherry, Sian Richards, Deidra Dixon and Jamika Wilson Winner
Critics' Choice Movie Awards 2021 Best Actor Chadwick Boseman Winner
Golden Globe Awards 2021 Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama Chadwick Boseman Winner
Screen Actors Guild Awards 2021 Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role Viola Davis Winner
Screen Actors Guild Awards 2021 Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role Chadwick Boseman Winner
Show all 115 awards across 39 ceremonies

Awards from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.