Drama musical

Black Nativity (2013): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Name: Black Nativity
Genre: Drama, Musical
Released: 2013-11-27
Duration: 1 h 33 min
Cast: Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson, Jacob Latimore

Black Nativity is a 2013 drama musical directed by Kasi Lemmons, starring Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett and Mary J. Blige. It runs 1 hour 33 minutes and earned $7.5 million worldwide on a $17.5 million budget. Critics gave it 51% on Rotten Tomatoes and 48 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.8/10.

IMDb rating: 4.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 51%
worldwide gross: $7.5M
Metascore: 48

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Released: November 27, 2013
Runtime: 1h 33m (93 min)
Director: Kasi Lemmons
Genres: Drama , Musical
Original language: English
Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Budget: $17.5M
After the credits: No No extra scene

The story

What Is Black Nativity About?

The premise of Black Nativity without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A troubled teenager from Baltimore is sent to New York City to spend the Christmas holiday with relatives he barely knows. Struggling to adjust to their strict environment and traditions, he encounters unexpected friendships and confronts personal challenges. Through his experiences, Langston begins a journey of self-discovery, finding strength in community and exploring the meaning of faith and family during the Christmas season.

Black Nativity Themes & Keywords

· 13 tags

title directed by female
blues music
soul music
female director
female filmmaker
teenager
christmas
nativity
f rated
color in title
based on the bible
based on stage musical

+1 more

based on novel

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Cast & crew

Black Nativity Cast

Forest Whitaker leads the cast, with Angela Bassett and Mary J. Blige. Directed by Kasi Lemmons; 8 actors are credited in all.

Director Kasi Lemmons

Also Starring in Black Nativity

· 4 more

From the director

More from Kasi Lemmons

More films directed by Kasi Lemmons, best-rated first: Eve's Bayou, Harriet, Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody and The Caveman's Valentine.

Full filmography

Ratings

Black Nativity Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Black Nativity 51% on Rotten Tomatoes and 48 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.8/10.

IMDb

4.8 /10
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Rotten Tomatoes

51% Tomatometer

Popcornmeter 51%
See on Rotten Tomatoes
Metacritic

48 Metascore

User score 4.9
See on Metacritic
TMDB

50% User score
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Movie Insider

3.0 /5
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Plot

Black Nativity Plot Summary

What happens in Black Nativity from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

As the festive cheer of the holiday season gave way to the harsh reality of eviction, Langston found himself embarking on a journey from Baltimore to New York City, seeking refuge with his estranged grandparents. His trip was accompanied by poignant conversations, notably one with Isaiah about the pain of growing up without a mother. > “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child” resonated deeply, marking the beginning of his challenges.

Arriving in the bustling metropolis, Langston’s enthusiasm quickly diminished when he was robbed of all he owned. A visit to a hotel in search of directions spiraled into chaos as he was mistaken for a thief and arrested. In the holding cell, he faced ridicule from other inmates, deepening his sense of despair.

Full summary

The whole story of Black Nativity, scene by scene

Read the full summary

Timeline of events

Box office

Black Nativity Box Office & Budget

Black Nativity grossed $7.5 million worldwide on a $17.5 million budget, 43% of what it cost. $7 million came from the US and Canada and $435,996 (6%) from the rest of the world.

2013 box office

Worldwide gross

$7.5M

43% of its budget back