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Availability last checked Oct 9, 2026.
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- Watch the movie with a subscription on Netflix (4K).
What it's about
Tensions and temperatures rise over the course of an afternoon recording session in 1920s Chicago as a band of musicians await trailblazing performer, the legendary "Mother of the Blues," Ma Rainey (Academy Award® winner Viola Davis). Late to the session, the fearless, fiery Ma engages in a battle of wills with her white manager and producer over control of her music. As the band waits in the studio's claustrophobic rehearsal room, ambitious trumpeter Levee (Chadwick Boseman) - who has an eye for Ma's girlfriend and is determined to stake his own claim on the music industry - spurs his fellow musicians into an eruption of stories revealing truths that will forever change the course of their lives. Adapted from two-time Pulitzer Prize winner August Wilson's play, MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM celebrates the transformative power of the blues and the artists who refuse to let society's prejudices dictate their worth. Directed by George C. Wolfe and adapted for the screen by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, the film is produced by Fences Oscar® nominees Denzel Washington and Todd Black. Colman Domingo, Glynn Turman, Michael Potts, Taylour Paige and Dusan Brown co-star alongside Grammy® winner Branford Marsalis' score.
Cast and crew
- Director
- George C. Wolfe
- Starring
- Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Glynn Turman
Details
- Release date
- Dec 18, 2020
- Language
- English
- Country
- United States
- Awards
- Won 2 Oscars. 83 wins & 192 nominations total
Where to Watch Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020) in the US — common questions
- Where to watch Ma Rainey's Black Bottom in the United States?
- Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is available with a subscription in the United States. Watch the movie with a subscription on Netflix (4K).
- Can I stream Ma Rainey's Black Bottom or do I have to rent it in the United States?
- Watch the movie with a subscription on Netflix (4K).
- Can I watch Ma Rainey's Black Bottom for free in the United States?
- We have not confirmed a free option for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom in the United States.
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