
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Synopsis
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 trumpeter 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. Adapted from two-time Pulitzer Prize winner August Wilson's play, MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM celebrates the transformative power of the blues and the artists who refuse to let society's prejudices dictate their worth. Directed by George C. Wolfe and adapted for the screen by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, the film is produced by Fences Oscar® nominees Denzel Washington and Todd Black. Colman Domingo, Glynn Turman, Michael Potts, Taylour Paige and Dusan Brown co-star alongside Grammy® winner Branford Marsalis' score.
Production Budget Analysis
The production budget for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020) has not been publicly disclosed.
CAST: Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Colman Domingo, Glynn Turman, Michael Potts, Jeremy Shamos DIRECTOR: George C. Wolfe CINEMATOGRAPHY: Tobias A. Schliessler MUSIC: Branford Marsalis PRODUCTION: Escape Artists, Mundy Lane Entertainment
Box Office Performance
Theatrical box office data is not publicly available for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020). This may indicate a limited release, direct-to-streaming, or a release predating modern box office tracking.
Profitability Assessment
Insufficient publicly available data to assess profitability.
INDUSTRY IMPACT
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Summary: Won 2 Oscars. 83 wins & 192 nominations total
Awards Won: ★ Dorian Award for LGBTQ Film of the Year









































































































































































































































































































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