A Thousand and One (2023)
90%RT Audience Score: 86%
Awards & Nominations: NA
“A Thousand and One” is a cinematic masterpiece that delves into the complexities of motherhood, gentrification, and the human spirit. Director Rockwell’s auspicious debut is brought to life by the incredible performances of the cast, particularly Teyana Taylor, who delivers a passionate and palpable portrayal of a mother fighting to reclaim her son and her home. The film’s humanistic epic quality is a testament to Rockwell’s empathy and subtle shadings, making it feel like a filmed novel. While some critics may find fault with the premise, “A Thousand and One” is a moving and sincere story that will leave audiences in awe.
“A Thousand and One” is a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and want to hug your loved ones. Teyana Taylor’s performance is nothing short of amazing, and the story is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. It’s a must-see for anyone who has ever struggled to find their place in the world, and for anyone who loves a good underdog story. Plus, it’s set in New York City, so you know it’s going to be good. Don’t miss out on this one!
Production Company(ies)
Focus Features, Hillman Grad Productions, Makeready, Sight Unseen Pictures
Distributor
Focus Features
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Brooklyn, New York, United States; Harlem, New York, United States; New York, New York, United States
MPAA / Certificate
R
Year of Release
2023
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 57m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 31, 2023 Wide
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Teyana Taylor, Josiah Cross, William Catlett, Aaron Kingsley Adetola, Aven Courtney, Delissa Reynolds, directed by A.V Rockwell, written by A.V Rockwell, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Bob Mondello, Alison Willmore, Ty Burr, Richard Lawson, Kyle Smith, Radheyan Simonpillai, MPAA rating R, produced by Eddie Vaisman, Julia Lebedev, Lena Waithe, Rishi Rajani, Brad Weston, parental devotion, perseverance, systemic inequity, New York City, foster care system, kidnapped child, sense of home, identity, stability, gentrification, domestic drama, socio-political context, searing, heart-wrenching, poignant, emotional, powerful, moving, gritty, realistic
Worldwide gross: $3,427,211
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: $3,400,020
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $5,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $5,000,000
Production budget ranking: 1,821
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $2,692,500
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Josiah Cross – Terry 17 Years Old
William Catlett – Lucky
Aaron Kingsley Adetola – Terry 6 Years Old
Aven Courtney – Terry 13 Years Old
Delissa Reynolds – Mrs. Jones
Director – A.V. Rockwell
Producers – Eddie Vaisman, Julia Lebedev, Lena Waithe, Rishi Rajani, Brad Weston
Writer – A.V. Rockwell
Director(s)
A.V. Rockwell
Writer(s)
A.V. Rockwell
Producer(s)
Eddie Vaisman, Julia Lebedev, Lena Waithe, Rishi Rajani, Brad Weston
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (92) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (89) | Rotten (3)
Character portraits just don’t come sharper than “A Thousand And One.”
April 6, 2023
Bob Mondello
NPR
TOP CRITIC
A Thousand and One is rich and complex, the saga of someone battling to build a family and a stable home with no real experience of what that looks like.
April 1, 2023
Alison Willmore
New York Magazine/Vulture
TOP CRITIC
Rockwell has made a humanistic epic – really, it could be a filmed novel – and brings it to life through empathy, subtle shadings, and a central figure and performance that won’t be denied.
April 1, 2023 | Rating: 3.5/4
Ty Burr
Ty Burr’s Watch List
TOP CRITIC
A Thousand and One is an auspicious debut for Rockwell. And it’s a thrilling evolution for Taylor, who puts her My Super Sweet 16 days very far in the rearview.
March 31, 2023
Richard Lawson
Vanity Fair
TOP CRITIC
It’s a reasonably compelling premise for a movie. A Thousand and One, however, does very little with it.
March 31, 2023
Kyle Smith
Wall Street Journal
TOP CRITIC
Overcomes those touches of first-time filmmaker gimmickry with incredibly moving performances and a focus on the love it takes to help people up from difficult circumstances.
March 31, 2023 | Rating: 4/5
Radheyan Simonpillai
CTV’s Your Morning
TOP CRITIC
Tells a story that is real, credible and painful to bear.
April 8, 2023 | Rating: B
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
A powerful debut that offers us a sincere and moving story about motherhood and the devastating process of gentrification. [Full Review in Spanish]
April 7, 2023 | Rating: 4/4
Rene Sanchez
Cine Sin Fronteras
Taylor is so passionate and palpable during her delivery making a speech about maternal instinct that we wholeheartedly believe every word.
April 7, 2023
Shani Harris
Battle Royale With Cheese
The gritty drama follows a single mom who is released from prison and kidnaps her son from the foster care system. Together, they try to reclaim a sense of home amid the gentrification of New York. Who knew Teyana Taylor was THIS good at dramatic acting?
April 7, 2023 | Rating: 4.5/5
Jason Fraley
WTOP (Washington, D.C.)
The film gets by on the strength of Taylor’s performance and is not over-sensationalized when it comes to reckoning with some story turns.
April 6, 2023 | Rating: 8/10
Aaron Neuwirth
We Live Entertainment
Anchored by a fiercely committed performance by Teyana Taylor, “A Thousand and One” combines a searing domestic drama and the larger socio-political context against which it occurs with skill and insight.
April 5, 2023 | Rating: B+
Frank Swietek
One Guy’s Opinion…
Plot
Inez, an unapologetic and free-spirited woman, kidnaps six-year-old Terry from the foster care system and sets out to reclaim their sense of home, identity, and stability in a rapidly changing New York City in A Thousand and One.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Rapper and actress Teyana Taylor stars as the unapologetic and free-spirited Inez in A Thousand and One.
A.V.-Rockwell.jpg
