Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool (2019): Cast, Ratings & Box Office
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool is a 2019 music documentary directed by Stanley Nelson, starring Carl Lumbly as Miles Davis, Miles Davis and Quincy Jones. It runs 1 hour 55 minutes and earned $1.5 million worldwide. Critics gave it 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and 76 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.5/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 55m (115 min)
- Director
- Stanley Nelson
- Genres
- Music , Documentary
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Abramorama
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool About?
The premise of Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool without spoilers.
This documentary explores the life and artistry of jazz icon Miles Davis. Through rare archival footage, including home movies and handwritten manuscripts, the film offers a revealing look at his creative process and innovative spirit. It examines his relentless drive for artistic freedom and his uncompromising approach to life, showcasing the birth of his groundbreaking "cool" style and his lasting impact on music.
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool Themes & Keywords
· 1 tag- character name in title
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool Cast & Characters
Carl Lumbly leads the cast as Miles Davis, with Miles Davis and Quincy Jones. Directed by Stanley Nelson; 17 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Stanley Nelson
-
Carl Lumbly as Miles Davis - Miles Davis as themselves
-
Quincy Jones as themselves -
Flea
Also Starring in Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool
· 13 more- Herbie Hancock
- Wayne Shorter Themselves
- Carlos Santana
- Ron Carter
- Jimmy Cobb Themselves
- Jimmy Heath Themselves
- Stanley Crouch
- Ashley Kahn Themselves
- Betty Davis
- Cheryl Davis
- Erin Davis
- Lee Konitz
- Juliette Gr
More from Stanley Nelson
More films directed by Stanley Nelson, best-rated first: Attica, Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple, The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution and Sound of the Police.
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and 76 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 80/100, strongest in sensory experience (90) and weakest in story & flow (70).
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool Echo Score Breakdown
The documentary delivers a comprehensive and musically rich homage to Miles Davis while presenting a few structural constraints. Critics highlight the thoughtful integration of archival footage and historical context, though some note its linear, cradle-to-grave format and extended runtime as mildly restrictive. Users similarly praise the film’s depth and design but mention moments of superficial summary. Overall, its strengths in craft and soundtrack outweigh modest narrative and pacing limitations.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 88
The film’s craft exhibits notable precision in direction, editing, and visual presentation. In terms of cinematography and production design, critics commend the rich archival footage and measured framing that evoke the jazz era. User feedback highlights the seamless assembly of interviews and period film, noting a cohesive and engaging visual tone. These elements reinforce a strong artistic execution.
- Character & Emotion 72
When it comes to character depth and emotional resonance, the documentary balances intimate testimony with biographical overview. Critics praise the thoughtful interviews and contextual insights that reveal Davis’s personal evolution, while some note a surface-level treatment of his more complex traits. Users appreciate the personal anecdotes yet express a desire for deeper psychological analysis. The film thus provides a credible but occasionally cursory character portrayal.
- Story & Flow 70
In terms of plot coherence and pacing, the film employs a linear, cradle-to-grave structure that some find methodical. Critics acknowledge its clear sequencing and historical framework, though a few mention that the extended runtime and focus on minutiae can dampen momentum. Users similarly observe an abundant detail that occasionally overwhelms narrative drive. Ultimately, the story facet delivers clarity with moderate pacing challenges.
- Sensory Experience 90
When it comes to score, soundtrack, and sound design, the documentary excels in evoking the spirit of jazz. Critics mention the intoxicating audio sequences and mind-blowing archival recordings that deepen engagement with Davis’s music. Users describe the music as epic, mesmerizing, and perfectly integrated with the visual narrative. These sensory qualities create an immersive atmosphere that stands out as a core strength.
- Rewatch Factor 73
Regarding the rewatch factor, the film offers enduring musical highlights but modest incentives for multiple viewings of its narrative. Critics note that strong archival segments and context may draw fans back to specific scenes, while others find the biographical scope sufficient on a single viewing. User comments suggest that the initial impact is rewarding, though the linear format limits broad rewatch appeal. Thus, its replay value is moderate.
-
IMDb 7.5 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 91% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 82%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 76 Metascore
User score 8.0
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 72% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.7 /5
13 ratings
See on Letterboxd
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool Box Office
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool grossed $1.5 million worldwide. $614,201 came from the US and Canada and $850,341 (58%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$1.5M
- US & Canada
- $614.2K
- International
- $850.3K
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool.
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool Also Known As
15 alternative titles, including “Miles Davis: ikona jazzu” and “Inventor do Cool”.
- Also known as
-
- Miles Davis: ikona jazzu
- Inventor do Cool
- 마일스 데이비스: 쿨의 탄생
- Miles Davis: A cool születése
- Майлз Дэвис: Рождение нового джаза
- 迈尔斯·戴维斯:酷派始祖
- Miles Davis – Zrod cool-jazzu
- Nốt nhạc của Miles Davis
- 邁爾士戴維斯:酷派的誕生
- מיילס דייוויס: הולדת הקוּל
- The Birth of Cool: La historia de Miles Davis y su música
- Miles Davis:傳奇的誕生
+3 more Show fewer
- The Birth of Cool: Miles Davis i jego muzyka
- マイルス・デイビス: クールの誕生
- ไมล์ส เดวิส: เจ๋งแต่เกิด
Seen Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool?
Movies Like Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Miles Davis Story, Miles Ahead and Miles Davis: Live in Montreal.
-
The Miles Davis Story 2001 -
Miles Ahead 2016 -
Miles Davis: Live in Montreal 1989 -
The Sound of Miles Davis 1959 -
1959: The Year that Changed Jazz 2009 -
The Cool School 2008 -
Blue Note - A Story of Modern Jazz 1997 -
Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives 2017 -
Jazz 2001 -
James Dean: Born Cool 2001 -
Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes 2019 -
Fire Music 2021
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool FAQ: Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool?
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool runs 1 hour 55 minutes (115 minutes).
When was Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool released?
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool was released on August 23, 2019.
Who directed Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool?
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool was directed by Stanley Nelson.
More films by Stanley Nelson Who is in the cast of Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool?
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool stars Carl Lumbly as Miles Davis, Miles Davis and Quincy Jones, among 17 credited actors.
How much did Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool make at the box office?
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool grossed $1.5 million worldwide ($614,201 domestic, $850,341 international).
How is Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool rated?
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool has 7.5/10 on IMDb, 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, 76 on Metacritic and 72% on TMDB.
Does Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool have a post-credit scene?
No. Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
