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We Grown Now (2024): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

We Grown Now (2024) movie poster

We Grown Now is a 2024 drama directed by Minhal Baig, starring Blake James as Malik, Gian Knight Ramirez and Jurnee Smollett. It runs 1 hour 33 minutes and earned $296,535 worldwide. It won 1 award from 4 nominations, including Changemaker Award at the TIFF 2023. Critics gave it 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and 76 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.8/10.

IMDb rating
6.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes
93%
worldwide gross
$296.5K
award won
1
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We Grown Now (2024) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 33m (93 min)
Director
Minhal Baig
Genre
Drama
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is We Grown Now About?

The premise of We Grown Now without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

Against the backdrop of Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls championship season, two close friends, Malik and Eric, grapple with adolescence and the challenges of their South Side neighborhood. Living in public housing, their strong bond is tested as they each pursue their own aspirations and come of age, striving to forge their own paths and create their own legacies.

We Grown Now Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • friendship between boys
  • best friend
  • single mother
  • little boy
  • african american
  • year 1992
  • young boy
  • friendship
  • cabrini green homes chicago illinois
  • housing project
  • chicago illinois
  • mother son relationship
+38 more
  • childhood
  • voice over narration
  • brushing teeth
  • jumping
  • reference to michael jordan
  • reference to scottie pippen
  • sleepover
  • reference to isiah thomas
  • museum
  • art museum
  • hula hoop
  • saying grace
  • belief in the afterlife
  • broken elevator
  • dripping faucet
  • classroom
  • grandmother grandson relationship
  • crack in the ceiling
  • reference to horace grant
  • telephone call
  • mattress
  • funeral
  • train
  • prayer
  • belief in heaven
  • hopscotch
  • talking about death
  • school
  • painting
  • family relationships
  • spider
  • elevated train
  • father son relationship
  • imagination
  • shooting
  • skipping school
  • pledge of allegiance
  • watching news on tv
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Cast & crew

We Grown Now Cast & Characters

Blake James leads the cast as Malik, with Gian Knight Ramirez as Eric and Jurnee Smollett as Dolores. Directed by Minhal Baig; 14 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in We Grown Now

· 10 more
From the director

More from Minhal Baig

More films directed by Minhal Baig, best-rated first: Hala, Pretext, After Sophie and 1 Night.

Full filmography
Ratings

We Grown Now Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave We Grown Now 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and 76 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 80/100, strongest in art & craft (85) and weakest in story & flow (70).

80 /100

We Grown Now Echo Score Breakdown

In terms of overall merit, “We Grown Now” excels through its harmonious blend of poetic direction and heartfelt performances, even as its understated narrative occasionally drifts into episodic territory. Critically, reviewers applaud the film’s warm cinematography, naturalistic acting by its young leads, and a rhythmic shift between jubilation and heartbreak. While some note a lack of dramatic climax or deep structural stakes, the movie delivers a quietly resonant coming-of-age portrait that lingers after viewing.

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

  • Art & Craft 85

    In terms of cinematography and direction, the film presents a lyrical visual style marked by golden-hued framing and measured compositions. Many note its poetic gestures in establishing place while the straight dramatic scenes occasionally lack equal finesse. Editing is unobtrusive, allowing moments to unfold with gentle precision. Overall, the film’s artful craft offers a cohesive and thoughtful aesthetic that supports its narrative world.

  • Character & Emotion 80

    When it comes to acting and character depth, the young leads deliver natural and affecting performances, and adult actors infuse additional nuance into supporting roles. Observers frequently highlight the earnest chemistry between the protagonists and the empathetic grace of pivotal scenes. Some adult arcs feel less developed, contributing to an episodic quality. Altogether, the film’s character work resonates through subtle interactions and genuine emotional stakes.

  • Story & Flow 70

    When it comes to plot coherence and engagement, the narrative unfolds through modest vignettes that emphasize memory and place, creating a gentle but deliberate pace. Readers note its thoughtful reflections on social pressures, though some feel that a clearer dramatic climax is lacking. The episodic structure yields moments of poignant realism but can feel uneven in momentum. Overall, the film offers an introspective arc that occasionally trades fullness for subtlety.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    In terms of score and visual style, the film employs a stylized, golden-hued palette paired with an emotive original soundtrack. Critics praise its dream-like atmosphere and poetic framing, though some note the agitated violin cues can sometimes overwhelm the fragile realism. Sound design remains balanced, allowing diegetic ambiance to emerge. Overall, the sensory approach enriches the film’s mood while occasionally tipping into expressive intensity.

  • Rewatch Factor 85

    In terms of replay value and lasting appeal, the film’s understated pace and emotional subtlety invite reflection and reward subsequent viewings. Reviewers note that moments of genuine connection and thematic depth resonate beyond the first watch. While the lack of a conventional climax may temper some rewatch motivations, the authentic performances and resonant milieu provide enough nuance to sustain renewed engagement.

Plot

We Grown Now Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in We Grown Now from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In 1992, Malik Blake James and Eric Gian Knight Ramirez are two best friends growing up side by side in Chicago’s Cabrini–Green Homes, navigating the bustle of elementary school and the quiet moments that tether two boys to one another. Malik, a mischievous but affectionate kid, lives in a warm, loving apartment shared with his single mother Dolores Jurnee Smollett, his grandmother Anita S. Epatha Merkerson, and his younger sister Dee. By contrast, Eric resides a floor above in a more austere home with his single father Jason Lil Rel Howery and his older sister Amber Avery Holliday.

Full summary

The whole story of We Grown Now, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

We Grown Now Box Office

We Grown Now grossed $296,535 worldwide.

2024 box office

Worldwide gross

$296.5K

US & Canada
$296.5K
Awards

We Grown Now Awards & Nominations

We Grown Now won 1 award from 4 nominations, including Changemaker Award at the TIFF 2023. Its biggest night was the TIFF 2023, with 1 win from 1 nomination.

1 win4 nominations2 ceremonies

Videos

We Grown Now Trailers & Videos

7 videos: 1 trailer, 2 clips and 4 featurettes.

All 7 videos
Official Trailer
  • Clip Clip
  • Clip "Not Everybody Can Jump" Official Clip
  • Featurette Minhal Baig on her film WE GROWN NOW
  • Featurette AFI Fest Q+A with Minhal Baig
Quiz

How Well Do You Know We Grown Now?

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

In which city is the story primarily set?

Details

We Grown Now Also Known As

15 alternative titles, including “ตราไว้ในวัยเยาว์” and “Crescendo Juntos: A História de Erik e Malik”.

Also known as
  • ตราไว้ในวัยเยาว์
  • Crescendo Juntos: A História de Erik e Malik
  • Nejlepší kamarádi
  • 我們成長時
  • Jesteśmy już duzi
  • Creciendo juntos
  • מתבגרים עכשיו
  • Мы теперь взрослые
  • Chúng Ta Đã Trưởng Thành
  • I sogni del Cabrini-Green
  • 我们现在长大了
  • Ми виросли
+3 more
  • Artık Büyüdük
  • Mes augame
  • Így nőttünk fel

Seen We Grown Now?

FAQ

We Grown Now FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

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

How long is We Grown Now?

We Grown Now runs 1 hour 33 minutes (93 minutes).

When was We Grown Now released?

We Grown Now was released on April 19, 2024.

Who directed We Grown Now?

We Grown Now was directed by Minhal Baig.

More films by Minhal Baig

Who is in the cast of We Grown Now?

We Grown Now stars Blake James as Malik, Gian Knight Ramirez as Eric and Jurnee Smollett as Dolores, among 14 credited actors.

How much did We Grown Now make at the box office?

We Grown Now grossed $296,535 worldwide.

How is We Grown Now rated?

We Grown Now has 6.8/10 on IMDb, 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, 76 on Metacritic and 64% on TMDB.

What awards did We Grown Now win?

We Grown Now won 1 award from 4 nominations, including Changemaker Award at the TIFF 2023.

Does We Grown Now have a post-credit scene?

No. We Grown Now has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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