Moonlight (2016): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Moonlight is a 2016 drama directed by Barry Jenkins, starring Mahershala Ali, Janelle Monáe and Naomie Harris. It runs 1 hour 51 minutes and earned $65.2 million worldwide on a $4 million budget. It won 3 Oscars, including Best Picture and Actor in a Supporting Role, and 12 awards in all. Critics gave it 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and 99 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.4/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 51m (111 min)
- Director
- Barry Jenkins
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- A24
- Budget
- $4M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Moonlight About?
The premise of Moonlight without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Through three defining chapters, this film portrays the life of Chiron, a young man growing up in a poor, drug-infested neighborhood of Miami. It explores his journey of self-discovery as he grapples with his identity and sexuality, shaped by the kindness and support of mentors and friends during his childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. The story unfolds with quiet intensity, offering a deeply moving and insightful look at resilience and the search for connection.
Moonlight Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- bullying
- gay african american
- mother son relationship
- forgiveness
- african american
- father figure
- gay black man
- homosexuality
- first gay sexual experience
- internalized homophobia
- gay protagonist
- reunion
+38 more Show fewer
- child neglect
- based on play
- coming of age
- drug dealer
- crack addict
- childhood friend
- bullying victim
- miami florida
- swimming lesson
- dysfunctional family
- absent father
- cook
- arrest
- beach
- drug addict
- homophobia
- gay virgin
- gay teenager
- gay slur
- loneliness
- poverty
- gay kid
- cuban american
- drug addicted mother
- 360 degree pan
- bathtub
- n word
- punched in the face
- hit with a chair
- blunt
- apology
- joint
- revenge
- mother son reconciliation
- diner
- crack cocaine
- gay crush
- gay son
Moonlight Cast
Mahershala Ali leads the cast, with Janelle Monáe and Naomie Harris. Directed by Barry Jenkins; 9 actors are credited in all.
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Director Barry Jenkins
Also Starring in Moonlight
· 5 moreMore from Barry Jenkins
More films directed by Barry Jenkins, best-rated first: If Beale Street Could Talk, Mufasa: The Lion King, Medicine for Melancholy and Chlorophyl.
Moonlight Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Moonlight 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and 99 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.4/10.
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IMDb 7.4 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 98% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 79%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 99 Metascore
User score 7.1
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 74% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 4.2 /5
37K ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 3.5 /5
See on Movie Insider
Moonlight Plot Summary
What happens in Moonlight from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In Liberty City, Miami, we encounter Chiron, a young boy who is often referred to as “Little.” At the outset, he finds himself in a precarious situation, cornered by a gang of bullies until Juan (Mahershala Ali), a Cuban drug dealer, comes to his rescue. Though initially hesitant to trust Juan, Chiron is drawn in by his friendly demeanor. Juan invites him to share a meal and offers a safe place to stay the night with him and his kind-hearted girlfriend Teresa (Janelle Monáe). The next day, he reluctantly returns Chiron to his troubled home, where he lives with his abusive mother Paula (Naomie Harris).
Full summary
The whole story of Moonlight, scene by scene
Moonlight Box Office & Budget
Moonlight grossed $65.2 million worldwide on a $4 million budget, 16 times what it cost. $27.9 million came from the US and Canada and $37.3 million (57%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$65.2M
16× its budget
- US & Canada
- $27.9M
- International
- $37.3M
- Budget
- $4M
Moonlight Awards & Nominations
Moonlight won 3 Oscars, including Best Picture and Actor in a Supporting Role, and 12 awards in all. Its biggest night was the Spirit Awards 2017, with 5 wins from 5 nominations.
12 wins31 nominations6 ceremonies
-
Spirit Awards 2017 5 wins · 5 nominations- Won Best Cinematography
- Won Best Director – Barry Jenkins
- Won Best Editing
- Won Best Feature
- Won Best Screenplay
-
Oscars 2017 3 wins · 8 nominations- Won Actor in a Supporting Role – Mahershala Ali
- Won Best Picture
- Won Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
- Nominated Actress in a Supporting Role – Naomie Harris
- Nominated Cinematography
-
Golden Globes 2017 1 win · 6 nominations- Won Best Motion Picture – Drama
- Nominated Best Director – Barry Jenkins
- Nominated Best Original Score
- Nominated Best Screenplay
- Nominated Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama, Musical or Comedy – Mahershala Ali
-
Artios Awards 2017 1 win · 1 nomination- Won Low Budget – Comedy or Drama
Show all 6 ceremonies Show fewer ceremonies
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DGA Awards 2017 1 nomination- Nominated Feature Film – Barry Jenkins
-
Critics' Choice 2016 2 wins · 10 nominations- Won Best Acting Ensemble
- Won Best Supporting Actor – Mahershala Ali
- Nominated Best Cinematography
- Nominated Best Director – Barry Jenkins
- Nominated Best Editing
Moonlight Trailers & Videos
48 videos: 1 trailer, 9 teasers, 7 clips, 29 featurettes and 2 behind-the-scenes videos.
- Teaser Lifetime Promo
- Teaser World Promo
- Teaser Triumph Promo
- Teaser Mama Promo
How Well Do You Know Moonlight?
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the boy that Juan rescues in the first chapter?
Cars in Moonlight
8 cars on screen, including the 1973 Chevrolet Impala Custom and the 1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme.
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1973 Chevrolet Impala Custom Important role -
1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Important role -
2009 Dodge Charger Minor role -
1977 Mercury Cougar Minor role
Moonlight Also Known As
32 alternative titles, including “月亮喜欢蓝” and “Місячне світло”.
- Also known as
-
- 月亮喜欢蓝
- Місячне світло
- Luz de luna
- Σεληνόφως
- Holdfény
- Menesiena
- Lumina lunii
- Mesečina
- Лунный свет
- Ay Işığı
- Мiсячне сяйво
- Anh Trang
+20 more Show fewer
- 문라이트, მთვარის შუქი
- ムーンライト：2016
- Moonlight: Sob a Luz do Luar
- Місячне сяйво
- Лунна светлина
- אור ירח
- Месечина
- 月光下的藍色男孩
- 月光男孩
- În lumina Lunii
- Mėnesiena
- Ánh Trăng
- Měsíční svit
- Mēnessgaisma
- ムーンライト
- 月亮喜歡藍
- Moonlight : L'histoire d'une vie
- ضوء القمر
- มูนไลท์
- Kuuvalgus
Seen Moonlight?
Movies Like Moonlight
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Light of the Moon, Moonshine and Moon, Star and Sun.
Moonlight FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Moonlight, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Moonlight?
Moonlight runs 1 hour 51 minutes (111 minutes).
When was Moonlight released?
Moonlight was released on October 21, 2016.
Who directed Moonlight?
Moonlight was directed by Barry Jenkins.
More films by Barry Jenkins Who is in the cast of Moonlight?
Moonlight stars Mahershala Ali, Janelle Monáe and Naomie Harris, among 9 credited actors.
How much did Moonlight make at the box office?
Moonlight grossed $65.2 million worldwide ($27.9 million domestic, $37.3 million international) on a budget of $4 million.
How is Moonlight rated?
Moonlight has 7.4/10 on IMDb, 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, 99 on Metacritic and 74% on TMDB.
What awards did Moonlight win?
Moonlight won 12 awards from 31 nominations, including Best Cinematography at the Spirit Awards 2017.
Does Moonlight have a post-credit scene?
No. Moonlight has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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