Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
It would be an empty world without the blues.
Directed by George C. Wolfe
Produced by Escape Artists, Mundy Lane Entertainment
A tense, character-driven drama about power, art, and survival in 1920s Black America, anchored by the complex relationships within a blues recording session.
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.
Where to watch
- StreamNetflix
Questions people ask
Is Ma Rainey's Black Bottom sad? Yes, very. More sad than 96% of films.
Does Ma Rainey's Black Bottom end with hope? Not especially. Less hopeful than 64% of films.
Is Ma Rainey's Black Bottom violent? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.
Is Ma Rainey's Black Bottom easy watching? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.
Is Ma Rainey's Black Bottom scary? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.
These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.
Cinnamon Score
How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.
You have seen this shape before.
How unlike any other film this one feels
How much more it delivers than it promises
How much audiences actually like it
Ensemble
Everything like Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, and what each one shares →
Like Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Nearest across the full emotional profile.
Same Mood as Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.
Like Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, But Darker
Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.
Like Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, But Lighter
Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.
Like Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, But Less Popular
Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.
