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Music drama

Patti Cake$ (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Patti Cake$ (2017) movie poster

Patti Cake$ is a 2017 music drama directed by Geremy Jasper, starring Danielle Macdonald, Bridget Everett and Cathy Moriarty. It runs 1 hour 49 minutes and earned $1.5 million worldwide. It earned 4 award nominations, including Best First Feature at the Spirit Awards 2018. Critics gave it 86% on Rotten Tomatoes and 67 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.8/10.

IMDb rating
6.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes
86%
worldwide gross
$1.5M
award nominations
4
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Patti Cake$ (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 49m (109 min)
Director
Geremy Jasper
Genres
Drama , Music
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Patti Cake$ About?

The premise of Patti Cake$ without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Patricia "Patti Cake$" Dombrowski, a struggling young woman living in New Jersey, finds an outlet for her frustrations through energetic hip-hop performances. Driven by a desire to escape her difficult circumstances and prove herself, Patti teams up with her spirited grandmother and a local musician. Together, they navigate the challenges of pursuing a musical dream while confronting personal struggles and the realities of their community, all while showcasing Patti's undeniable talent.

Patti Cake$ Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • female rapper
  • singing in a car
  • aspiring rapper
  • friendship
  • dead end job
  • mother son relationship
  • widow
  • grandmother granddaughter relationship
  • new jersey
  • bergen county new jersey
  • rap music
  • microphone
+38 more
  • animated sequence
  • nightmare
  • surreal sequence
  • splashing water on one's face
  • bathroom
  • cigarette butt
  • mother daughter relationship
  • mirror
  • abandoned by father
  • abandoned by husband
  • mother's boyfriend
  • reference to george foreman
  • overweight woman
  • microwave oven
  • nickname
  • cigarette smoking
  • eyeglasses
  • kiss on the top of someone's head
  • earphones
  • slow motion scene
  • walking on air
  • raised middle finger
  • walking in the middle of the street
  • prologue
  • photograph
  • new york city skyline
  • montage
  • pharmacist
  • singing
  • drugstore
  • surveillance camera
  • african american
  • gold teeth
  • apology
  • listening to music
  • listening to a car radio
  • chicken parmigiana
  • lust
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Cast & crew

Patti Cake$ Cast

Danielle Macdonald leads the cast, with Bridget Everett and Cathy Moriarty. Directed by Geremy Jasper; 10 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Geremy Jasper

One more film directed by Geremy Jasper: O'Dessa.

Full filmography
Ratings

Patti Cake$ Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Patti Cake$ 86% on Rotten Tomatoes and 67 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 80/100, strongest in character & emotion (88) and weakest in rewatch factor (70).

80 /100

Patti Cake$ Echo Score Breakdown

Patti Cake$ succeeds as an uplifting coming-of-age drama anchored by a compelling central performance and an earnest portrayal of working-class aspiration. The film’s direction and local production design capture the urban environment with authenticity, while the characters’ emotional journeys are rendered with genuine sincerity. Although the plot follows familiar contours of underdog narratives, its measured pacing and heartfelt execution maintain engagement throughout. Ultimately, Patti Cake$ offers a rewarding balance of grit and warmth that resonates beyond its initial viewing.

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

  • Art & Craft 75

    In terms of art and craft, Patti Cake$ presents a grounded visual style that emphasizes the grit of its New Jersey setting. The direction balances kinetic sequences with intimate compositions, and the production design features an understated color palette that reflects the characters’ environment. Editing rhythm occasionally leans toward conventional montage but generally sustains narrative momentum. Net result: a solid and authentic aesthetic treatment.

  • Character & Emotion 88

    When it comes to character and emotion, the film shines through its lead performance and nuanced supporting cast. Danielle Macdonald’s portrayal conveys resilience and vulnerability in equal measure, while Bridget Everett and Cathy Moriarty contribute genuine warmth and depth. The emotional resonance is sustained by credible relationships and character growth. Overall, the ensemble’s dynamics form the film’s strongest pillar.

  • Story & Flow 72

    Regarding story and flow, Patti Cake$ navigates a familiar underdog arc with occasional predictability but maintains engagement through earnest writing. The plot coherence is solid, though some narrative turns follow conventional beats. Pacing is measured, allowing character moments to breathe, and moments of originality emerge through culturally specific details. In sum, the storyline feels warm and engaging despite its recognizable structure.

  • Sensory Experience 78

    In sensory terms, the film’s soundtrack and sound design provide vibrant support for the rap sequences and underscore emotional beats. The musical moments inject energy, and ambient sound elements reinforce the urban setting. Visually, the film maintains cohesion through consistent framing and lighting choices that evoke a lived-in reality. Consequently, the sensory experience enhances both mood and storytelling impact.

  • Rewatch Factor 70

    As a rewatch factor, Patti Cake$ offers dependable enjoyment rooted in its heartfelt tone and central performance. Subsequent viewings reveal additional details in character interactions and atmospheric touches, although the narrative’s familiarity may limit novelty over multiple watches. Nonetheless, its emotional sincerity and uplifting spirit encourage further engagement. Net impression: a worthwhile film for repeat viewing, though not essential.

Plot

Patti Cake$ Plot Summary

What happens in Patti Cake$ from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Set in the vibrant streets of Bergen County, New Jersey, we meet Patricia “Patti” Dombrowski, portrayed by Danielle Macdonald. Her journey begins with a dreamlike vision where her idol, rapper O-Z, introduces her to a roaring crowd as “Killa P.” However, this fantasy is abruptly interrupted by her blaring alarm clock. Upon waking, Patti discovers her mother, Barb, played by Bridget Everett, tangled up in bed with her lover, leaving Patti to face the morning alone. They live together with Patti’s beloved Nana, characterized by Cathy Moriarty, after Patti’s father absconded. Struggling with mounting bills, particularly for Nana’s medication, the tension builds as they face potential legal troubles.

Full summary

The whole story of Patti Cake$, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Patti Cake$ Box Office

Patti Cake$ grossed $1.5 million worldwide. $800,148 came from the US and Canada and $682,208 (46%) from the rest of the world.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$1.5M

US & Canada
$800.1K
International
$682.2K
US & Canada 54% Rest of the world 46%
Awards

Patti Cake$ Awards & Nominations

Patti Cake$ earned 4 award nominations, including Best First Feature at the Spirit Awards 2018. The 4 nominations come from 4 ceremonies.

4 nominations4 ceremonies

Videos

Patti Cake$ Trailers & Videos

17 videos: 2 trailers, 1 teaser, 4 clips and 10 featurettes.

All 17 videos
PATTI CAKE$ | Official Trailer | FOX Searchlight
  • Trailer Patti Cake$ | Official HD Trailer | 2017
  • Teaser
  • Clip PATTI CAKE$ | "Parking Lot Rap" Clip | FOX Searchlight
  • Clip PATTI CAKE$ | "Pharmacy" Clip | FOX Searchlight
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Patti Cake$?

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

What is the rapper persona that Patti Dombrowski idolizes?

Cars

Cars in Patti Cake$

20 cars on screen, including the 1984 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham and the 2005 Chevrolet Impala.

All 20 cars
  • 1984 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham in Patti Cake$ 1984 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham Main role
  • 2005 Chevrolet Impala in Patti Cake$ 2005 Chevrolet Impala Minor role
  • 2013 Honda Civic Coupe in Patti Cake$ 2013 Honda Civic Coupe Minor role
  • 2001 Acura MDX in Patti Cake$ 2001 Acura MDX Background role
Details

Patti Cake$ Also Known As

10 alternative titles, including “Patti Cakes” and “패티 케이크$”.

Also known as
  • Patti Cakes
  • 패티 케이크$
  • Патти Кейкс
  • פאטי קייקס
  • Rap Kraliçesi
  • Патті Кейкс
  • Пати Кейкс
  • Patė Keiks
  • パティ・ケイク$
  • 帕蒂蛋糕$

Seen Patti Cake$?

FAQ

Patti Cake$ FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

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

How long is Patti Cake$?

Patti Cake$ runs 1 hour 49 minutes (109 minutes).

When was Patti Cake$ released?

Patti Cake$ was released on August 18, 2017.

Who directed Patti Cake$?

Patti Cake$ was directed by Geremy Jasper.

More films by Geremy Jasper

Who is in the cast of Patti Cake$?

Patti Cake$ stars Danielle Macdonald, Bridget Everett and Cathy Moriarty, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Patti Cake$ make at the box office?

Patti Cake$ grossed $1.5 million worldwide ($800,148 domestic, $682,208 international).

How is Patti Cake$ rated?

Patti Cake$ has 6.8/10 on IMDb, 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, 67 on Metacritic and 66% on TMDB.

Was Patti Cake$ nominated for any awards?

Patti Cake$ received 4 nominations across 4 ceremonies.

Does Patti Cake$ have a post-credit scene?

No. Patti Cake$ has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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