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Miss Juneteenth (2020): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Miss Juneteenth (2020) movie poster

Miss Juneteenth is a 2020 drama directed by Channing Godfrey Peoples, starring Nicole Beharie as Turquoise, Alexis Chikaeze and Kendrick Sampson. It runs 1 hour 43 minutes and earned $111,428 worldwide. It won 1 award from 5 nominations, including Best Supporting Female at the Spirit Awards 2021. Critics gave it 99% on Rotten Tomatoes and 73 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10.

IMDb rating
6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes
99%
worldwide gross
$111.4K
award won
1
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Miss Juneteenth (2020) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 43m (103 min)
Genre
Drama
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Miss Juneteenth About?

The premise of Miss Juneteenth without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Turquoise Jones, a former Miss Juneteenth winner, now works tirelessly to prepare her daughter, Kai, for the same pageant. Determined to give Kai opportunities she never had, Turquoise pushes her toward the competition, which celebrates African American heritage and freedom. However, Kai has her own ideas about what she wants, leading to a complex and emotional exploration of dreams, expectations, and mother-daughter relationships.

Miss Juneteenth Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • mother daughter relationship
  • beauty pageant
  • teenage girl
  • single mother
  • african american
  • beauty queen
  • black american
  • ex beauty queen
  • pregnancy
  • f rated
  • unplanned pregnancy
  • tiara
+38 more
  • crown
  • song
  • singer
  • singing
  • begins with a song
  • flashback
  • flash forward
  • year 1865
  • prologue
  • mopping a floor
  • cleaning a toilet bowl
  • woman applies lipstick
  • woman dresses
  • photograph
  • nickname
  • money
  • pickup truck
  • subjective camera
  • auto mechanic
  • dancer
  • dancing
  • cheerleader
  • teenage boy
  • horseplay
  • rearview mirror
  • juneteenth
  • reference to abraham lincoln
  • year 1863
  • cell phone
  • black history
  • speech
  • applause
  • scholarship
  • tradition
  • beauty pageant registration
  • homework
  • bar
  • coca cola
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Cast & crew

Miss Juneteenth Cast & Characters

Nicole Beharie leads the cast as Turquoise, with Alexis Chikaeze as Kai and Kendrick Sampson as Ronnie. Directed by Channing Godfrey Peoples; 11 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Miss Juneteenth

· 7 more
From the director

More from Channing Godfrey Peoples

One more film directed by Channing Godfrey Peoples: Doretha’s Blues.

Full filmography
Ratings

Miss Juneteenth Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Miss Juneteenth 99% on Rotten Tomatoes and 73 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 80/100, strongest in character & emotion (90) and weakest in rewatch factor (65).

80 /100

Miss Juneteenth Echo Score Breakdown

In terms of its overall impact, Miss Juneteenth excels through its nuanced performances and evocative visual storytelling while maintaining a deliberate pace. Critics commend director Channing Godfrey Peoples for crafting a quietly powerful drama that balances community portraiture with intimate mother–daughter dynamics. Reviewers note that the modest plot occasionally leans on familiar tropes but remains engaging through its authentic emotional resonance. Ultimately, the film’s warm character focus and visual cohesion deliver a thoughtful drama with enduring appeal.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 85

    Regarding art and craft, the film demonstrates confident direction and a keen eye for composition. The cinematography captures humid Texas evenings with moody lighting and subtle color palettes, while production design grounds each location in lived-in authenticity. Editing choices favor measured pacing that reinforces the story’s quietude without disrupting its flow. This combination results in a visually coherent presentation that enhances the film’s intimate tone.

  • Character & Emotion 90

    When it comes to character and emotion, performances anchor the film with nuanced authenticity. Nicole Beharie and Alexis Chikaeze convey deep maternal bond and personal ambition through understated yet affecting portrayals. Character interactions unfold naturally, reflecting community ties and generational hopes. The chemistry between leads and supporting figures sustains emotional engagement throughout the narrative.

  • Story & Flow 70

    In terms of story and flow, the narrative is deliberate and intimate, exploring mother-daughter dynamics and community contexts. Reviewers acknowledge moments of predictability and familiar tropes, yet find the screenplay engaging through its thoughtful pacing and thematic clarity. Occasional lulls in action are balanced by authentic dialogue and rooted cultural detail, resulting in a modest but emotionally resonant plot.

  • Sensory Experience 85

    For sensory experience, the film offers a cohesive visual style and immersive sound design that reinforce its tone. Cinematography embraces warm, moody hues and atmospheric lighting to depict humid Texan nights, while ambient sounds and a restrained score underscore intimate scenes. The combined audio-visual elements are carefully calibrated, creating an evocative backdrop that supports the narrative’s emotional undercurrents.

  • Rewatch Factor 65

    Regarding rewatch factor, the film’s subtlety and character depth offer moderate incentive for repeat viewings. Its measured pacing, while integral to the tone, may limit broad rewatch appeal, though devoted audiences may appreciate the layered community details and emotional nuance on subsequent viewings. Ultimately, the film sustains a lasting sensibility that rewards attentive viewers seeking understated drama.

Plot

Miss Juneteenth Plot Summary

What happens in Miss Juneteenth from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Turquoise Jones, portrayed by Nicole Beharie, is navigating the challenges of single motherhood in a quaint suburb of Fort Worth, Texas. Once the celebrated winner of the local Miss Juneteenth pageant, which offers a coveted scholarship to a historically black college, Turquoise hopes to recreate her past glory by entering her 15-year-old daughter, Kai, into the very same contest, even though Kai expresses little interest in participating.

Full summary

The whole story of Miss Juneteenth, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Miss Juneteenth Box Office

Miss Juneteenth grossed $111,428 worldwide. $92,349 came from the US and Canada and $19,079 (17%) from the rest of the world.

2020 box office

Worldwide gross

$111.4K

US & Canada
$92.3K
International
$19.1K
US & Canada 83% Rest of the world 17%
Awards

Miss Juneteenth Awards & Nominations

Miss Juneteenth won 1 award from 5 nominations, including Best Supporting Female at the Spirit Awards 2021. Its biggest night was the Spirit Awards 2021, with 1 win from 4 nominations.

1 win5 nominations2 ceremonies

Videos

Miss Juneteenth Trailers & Videos

4 videos: 1 trailer, 1 teaser and 2 featurettes.

Official Trailer
  • Teaser Miss Juneteenth | Short Trailer
  • Featurette BFI At Home | Woman With a Movie Camera: Miss Juneteenth Q&A
  • Featurette Channing Godfrey Peoples on MISS JUNETEENTH | AFI Movie Club
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Miss Juneteenth?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is the main character in 'Miss Juneteenth'?

Details

Miss Juneteenth Also Known As

3 alternative titles, including “朱尼滕小姐” and “Мисс Свобода”.

Also known as
  • 朱尼滕小姐
  • Мисс Свобода
  • 미스 준틴스

Seen Miss Juneteenth?

FAQ

Miss Juneteenth FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Miss Juneteenth, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Miss Juneteenth?

Miss Juneteenth runs 1 hour 43 minutes (103 minutes).

When was Miss Juneteenth released?

Miss Juneteenth was released on June 19, 2020.

Who directed Miss Juneteenth?

Miss Juneteenth was directed by Channing Godfrey Peoples.

More films by Channing Godfrey Peoples

Who is in the cast of Miss Juneteenth?

Miss Juneteenth stars Nicole Beharie as Turquoise, Alexis Chikaeze as Kai and Kendrick Sampson as Ronnie, among 11 credited actors.

How much did Miss Juneteenth make at the box office?

Miss Juneteenth grossed $111,428 worldwide ($92,349 domestic, $19,079 international).

How is Miss Juneteenth rated?

Miss Juneteenth has 6.5/10 on IMDb, 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, 73 on Metacritic and 66% on TMDB.

What awards did Miss Juneteenth win?

Miss Juneteenth won 1 award from 5 nominations, including Best Supporting Female at the Spirit Awards 2021.

Does Miss Juneteenth have a post-credit scene?

No. Miss Juneteenth has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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