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Music documentary

Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool (2019): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool (2019) movie poster

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.

IMDb rating
7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes
91%
worldwide gross
$1.5M
Echo Score
80
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Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 55m (115 min)
Director
Stanley Nelson
Genres
Music , Documentary
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

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
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Cast & crew

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.

From the director

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.

Full filmography
Ratings

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).

80 /100

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.

Box office

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.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$1.5M

US & Canada
$614.2K
International
$850.3K
US & Canada 42% Rest of the world 58%
Videos

Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool.

Trailer
Details

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
  • 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

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FAQ

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.

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