Akeelah and the Bee (2006)
86%RT Audience Score: 81%
Awards & Nominations: 11 wins & 15 nominations
A warm, family-friendly underdog story, featuring terrific supporting performances from Keke Palmer, Laurence Fishburne, and Angela Bassett
Akeelah and the Bee is the perfect movie for anyone who loves spelling, sports movies, or just wants to feel good. It’s got heart, dedication, and a whole community coming together to support a young girl with a talent for words. And let’s not forget the suspense of the spelling bees – it’s like the Super Bowl for spelling! Plus, the movie doesn’t take itself too seriously, which is refreshing. So if you’re looking for a splendiferous time, give Akeelah and the Bee a watch. Miss it, and you’ll be missing out!
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Lionsgate Films
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Berkeley, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for some language
Year of Release
2006
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 52m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 28, 2006 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 29, 2006
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Keke Palmer, Laurence Fishburne, Angela Bassett, Curtis Armstrong, Tzi Ma, Lee Thompson Young, directed by Doug Atchison, written by Doug Atchison, Drama, PG, box office performance, budget, reviewed by David Ansen, Nell Minow, Peter Bradshaw, Robert Hanks, Anna Smith, Jessica Winter, Richard Propes, Emanuel Levy, Robert Roten, Robert Davis, Christopher Campbell, Joe Lozito, produced by Laurence Fishburne, Sidney Ganis, Nancy Hult, Daniel Llewelyn, Michael Romersa, National Spelling Bee, South Los Angeles, community support, underdog story, talent for spelling, teacher, family-friendly, heartwarming, inspiring, uplifting, coming of age, determination, perseverance, education, self-discovery, friendship, mentorship, competition, achievement, success, overcoming obstacles, childhood, adolescence, African American culture, urban setting, single parent, mother-daughter relationship, academic excellence, self-improvement, self-esteem, self-confidence, learning, growth
Worldwide gross: $18,948,425
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $27,942,429
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,569
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 3,047,157
US/Canada gross: $18,848,430
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $27,794,971
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,296
US/Canada opening weekend: $6,011,585
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $8,865,026
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 987
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $8,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $11,797,257
Production budget ranking: 1,600
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $6,352,823
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $9,792,350
ROI to date (est.): 54%
ROI ranking: 1,125
Angela Bassett – Tanya
Keke Palmer – Akeelah Anderson
Curtis Armstrong – Mr. Welch
Tzi Ma – Mr. Chiu
Lee Thompson Young – Devon
Director(s)
Doug Atchison
Writer(s)
Doug Atchison
Producer(s)
Laurence Fishburne, Sidney Ganis, Nancy Hult, Daniel Llewelyn, Michael Romersa
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
11 wins & 15 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (141) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (120) | Rotten (21)
Akeelah obeys every sports-movie rule, but trading end-zone dances for etymology gives it a geeky innocence. What’s the word? Splendiferous.
March 15, 2018
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
February 14, 2012 | Rating: A-
Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
Give it an m, i, s, s.
August 19, 2006 | Rating: 1/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
The film has an important, uplifting message; shame it couldn’t be encased in a less faked-up story.
August 19, 2006 | Rating: 2/5
Robert Hanks
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
The film only inspires when Akeelah takes to the stage for the spelling bees. There, the suspense is palpable despite the certainty of the outcome.
August 18, 2006 | Rating: 3/5
Anna Smith
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Its clichés seem bigger and its characterisations broader than they would on the more forgiving telly.
August 17, 2006
Jessica Winter
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Akeelah and the Bee becomes one of the most life-affirming, inspiring and entertaining films of the year.
September 1, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
October 3, 2012 | Rating: B
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
It isn’t just about the competition. It is about heart, dedication, intelligence and the pulling together of a entire community.
November 24, 2010 | Rating: A
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope
Akeelah and the Bee is the kind of movie you want to recommend to every 11-year-old you know.
June 8, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Robert Davis
Paste Magazine
The best thing … is that, unlike the majority of sports films, the film doesn’t suggest that spelling has some kind of transcendental importance.
September 18, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/5
Christopher Campbell
Cinematical
It’s hard to believe the best family film so far this year comes from a writer-director whose previous film bears the unfortunate title The Pornographer.
July 14, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/4
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound…
Plot
Eleven year-old Akeelah Anderson’s life is not easy: her father is dead, her mom ignores her, her brother runs with the local gangbangers. She’s smart, but her environment threatens to strangle her aspirations. Responding to a threat by her school’s principal, Akeelah participates in a spelling bee to avoid detention for her many absences. Much to her surprise and embarrassment, she wins. Her principal asks her to seek coaching from an English professor named Dr. Larabee for the more prestigious regional bee. As the possibility of making it all the way to the Scripps National Spelling Bee looms, Akeelah could provide her community with someone to rally around and be proud of
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features terrific supporting performances from Keke Palmer, Laurence Fishburne, and Angela Bassett.
Doug-Atchison.jpg
