Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody

"Celebrate the untold story of an icon."

2022 2h 24m EN

👍

7.0

SOLID

★7.0TMDB · 544

MusicDrama

Synopsis

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The joyous, emotional, heartbreaking celebration of the life and music of Whitney Houston, the greatest female R&B pop vocalist of all time. Tracking her journey from obscurity to musical superstardom.

“Celebrate the untold story of an icon.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Naomi Ackie
Whitney Houston
Ashton Sanders
Bobby Brown
Stanley Tucci
Clive Davis
Nafessa Williams
Robyn Crawford
Lance A. Williams
Gerry Griffith
Tamara Tunie
Cissy Houston
Clarke Peters
John Houston
Daniel Washington
Gary Houston

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Kasi Lemmons
Writers: Anthony McCarten
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

MONEY

Did you know

Mid-budget at $50M — the now-extinct middle tier of Hollywood.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

ERA

Did you know

Released 4 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Kasi Lemmons, shot by Barry Ackroyd. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Daysha Broadway shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Naomi Ackie and Ashton Sanders and Stanley Tucci carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

ERA

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Celebrate the untold story of an icon.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt12193804 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Kasi Lemmons directs. Barry Ackroyd behind the camera. Daysha Broadway cuts. Profitable at the box office. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Mid-budget at $50M — the now-extinct middle tier of Hollywood.
2Released 4 years ago.
3Directed by Kasi Lemmons, shot by Barry Ackroyd. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Editor Daysha Broadway shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Naomi Ackie and Ashton Sanders and Stanley Tucci carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "Celebrate the untold story of an icon.".
7IMDB entry: tt12193804 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Classified under 13 themes, including "musician", "drug addiction", "biography", "rhythm and blues (r&b)".

The technical file

Cinematography: Barry Ackroyd
Editing: Daysha Broadway
Production design: Gerald Sullivan
Costume design: Charlese Antoinette Jones
Makeup / hair: Monique Peoples Graham
Sound: Andy Nelson
Runtime: 144 min · 2h 24m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $50,000,000
Box office: $59,806,881
Return: 120% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (2022)

Also by

Kasi Lemmons

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Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2022-12-27
★ 6/10
I wonder why they added her name to the title? Might that be because the film makers knew that the "legacy" of this once celebrated singer has already largely wained? I can't think when I last heard one of her songs on the radio. Bigger then the "Beatles"? Well Naomi Ackie puts her heart and soul into this performance but do we ever see her tinkle on a piano, pick up a guitar, bang a tambourine even? Right from the start when she is discovered by established impresario (and one of this film's producers) Clive Davis (Stanley Tucci) we learn that she doesn't write songs. So what is there for us to remember? This film proceeds to tell us a rather sad and shallow story of a woman born into musical royalty who seems to lurch from one bad decision to another - fuelled by a confused sexuality, booze, drugs and ambition - a toxic mix for anyone to deal with. This highly speculative narrative doesn't try to give any depth to any of the characters. It doesn't try to involve us in the stresses faced by this woman who had the world beneath her feet for a while, but for whom it was all too much - especially when she discovers that those closest to her are betraying and/or embezzling from her. It asks us to be sympathetic but gives us few insights into what made her tick. The brief and superficial scenes with her wayward husband Bobby Brown (Ashton Sanders) are whirlwind in nature and so it's hardly surprising when he turns out to be wrong for her. The competent Tucci comes across as a benign, gentle, benefactor but again, there is little of substance to his role as he seems powerless to stop her descending into a maelstrom of despair and illness. The real story of this inspirational singer is full of twists, turns, successes and failures. Her emotional life was just about as turbulent as it is possible to get. Yet this film is sterile and procedural. I didn't feel involved, I didn't really feel that I cared for her very much. On the plus side, we are reminded on occasion of her brilliant original songs and astonishing vocal range (though Miss Ackie doesn't do the singing) and are reminded of just how good an entertainer she was, but I saw this on my own in a cinema and maybe that says quite a lot about the quality of this rather underwhelming and chronological biopic that could have been so much better had it focused more on the talents of this remarkable woman and less on the associated melodrama.
r96sk2023-01-10
★ 8/10
A well done flick, I'd say. I didn't even know this existed until I was invited a week or two back to go watch it, which is a surprise as I'd imagine a Whitney Houston biopic would've got enough hype that I would've seen it mentioned around the web - perhaps I just happened to miss it? Either way, I'd very much recommend <em>'Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody'</em>. I'm no Houston brainiac but of course knew of her top songs and unfortunate personal issues, I feel like the film does a commendable job at covering all aspects - the pacing is top notch, in my opinion. I'd imagine it takes liberties with the truth, as per for this genre, here and there, but that doesn't bother me much if so. Naomi Ackie is terrific in the lead role, quite the first performance of her's to watch on my part. I hope to see more! The rest of the cast, from Stanley Tucci to Ashton Sanders to Tamara Tunie to Nafessa Williams to Clarke Peters, particularly the latter, are also very good throughout. I found the run time to be spot on, while the music is - as you'd expect - excellent. Houston sure did make a tonne of hits!
tmdb516161672024-09-02
★ 5/10
The Whitney Houston movie is a production that often goes underappreciated, with its box office performance potentially suffering due to being better suited for streaming rather than a traditional theatrical release. The film focuses more on Houston's personal life, particularly her relationship with Bobby Brown and struggles with drug use, rather than showcasing her musical talents. It lacks the emphasis on her music that fans may have expected, opting for a different narrative approach. While the movie may not have resonated with audiences as strongly as anticipated, it did serve as a reminder of Whitney Houston's exceptional talent as a singer. The lead actress's portrayal of Houston, while not widely recognized, did not detract from the film's overall impact. However, the casting choice for the role may have played a role in the film's perceived shortcomings and failure to generate significant buzz. Despite its flaws, the movie did manage to spark interest in Whitney Houston's music, prompting viewers to rediscover her timeless songs. While the film may not have reached the heights of success it aimed for, it still served as a tribute to Houston's legacy and musical contributions.