Amazing Grace

 

Amazing Grace (2019)

NEUTRAL
Amazon, Apple, Google Play, Vudu, YouTube, Microsoft Store, FandangoNOW, Redbox, DirecTV, AMC+, iTunes, Hulu, HBO Max, Spectrum, Comcast Xfinity, Verizon Fios, Dish Network, Sling TV, AT&T TV, Starz, Showtime, Epix, Cinemax, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Tubi, IMDB TV, Kanopy, Hoopla, Plex, Crackle, Popcornflix, In-Theaters
Movie Reviews90%
PG
2018, Documentary/Music, 1h 27m
RT Critics’ Score: 99% (UNBIASED)
RT Audience Score: 80%
Awards & Nominations: 3 wins & 6 nominations

 

Critics Consensus

Brilliantly capturing a remarkable performer near the peak of her prodigious power, Amazing Grace is a thrilling must-watch documentary for Aretha Franklin fans.
 

Audience Consensus

Amazing Grace” is the ultimate tribute to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. This long-buried concert film is a musical feast that feels like it was filmed only yesterday. With Franklin’s powerhouse three-octave range and soulful phrasing, the documentary is 87 minutes of pure joy. It’s a perfect marriage of faith and showbiz, dignified by the fact that there’s nothing ersatz about it. The film is a tremendous tribute to Franklin and a document recorded during a watershed period of the American civil rights movement. It’s definitely worth the wait and then some!
 
Movie Trailer

Movie Info

Storyline

In 1797, William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd), the great crusader for the British abolition of slavery, is taking a vacation for his health even while he is sicker at heart for his frustrated cause. However, meeting the charming Barbara Spooner (Romola Garai), Wilberforce finds a soulmate to share the story of his struggle. With few allies such as his mentor, John Newton (Albert Finney), a slave ship Captain turned repentant Priest who penned the hymn, “Amazing Grace”, future Prime Minister William Pitt (Benedict Cumberbatch), and Olaudah Equiano (Youssou N’Dour), the erudite former slave turned author, Wilberforce fruitlessly fights public indifference and moneyed opposition determined to keep their exploitation safe. Nevertheless, Wilberforce finds the inspiration in newfound love to rejuvenate the fight with new ideas that would lead to a great victory for social justice.

 
Production Company(ies)

 
Distributor
NA
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)
Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England, UK
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for thematic material involving slavery, and some mild language
 
Year of Release
2007
 

Technical Specs
  • Color:
    Color
  • Sound mix:
    SDDS Dolby Digital DTS
  • Aspect ratio:
    1.85 : 1
  • Runtime:
    NA
  • Language(s):
    English
  • Country of origin:
    United States
  • Release date:
    Release Date (Theaters): Nov 23, 2018 Limited
    Release Date (Streaming): Aug 6, 2019

 
Genre(s)
Documentary/Music
 
Keyword(s)
Amazing Grace, Aretha Franklin, gospel, documentary, music, Alan Elliott, Joe Boyd, Rob Johnson, Chiemi Karasawa, Sabrina V Owens, Jerry Wexler, Tirrell D Whittley, Joseph Woolf, G, English, Nov 23 2018, $4.5M, 1h 27m, Andrea Gronvall, Adam Graham, David Stratton, Owen Gleiberman, Sandra Hall, Nell Minow, Tom O’Brien, Nick Levine, Nick Reilly, Alix Turner, Dennis Harvey, Matt Cipolla, 99%, 161 Reviews, 80%, 250+ Ratings, concert film, civil rights movement, three-octave range, soulful phrasing, musical feast, unfeigned exuberance, expressions of belief, familial intimacy, Queen of Soul, biggest selling gospel album, reconstructed, 89-minute film, featured audience reviews, horror movies, MCU movies, renewed & cancelled TV shows, Netflix series, Fandango
 

Box Office Details

Worldwide gross: $32,120,360
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $46,014,597
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,376
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 5,017,949
 
US/Canada gross: $21,250,683
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $30,443,046
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,270
US/Canada opening weekend: $4,305,000
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $6,167,205
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,060
 
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA

 
Movie Cast & Crew

Cast & Crew

Aretha FranklinAlan ElliottJoey CareyAlexandra JohnesStefan Nowicki
Aretha Franklin
Alan Elliott
Joey Carey
Alexandra Johnes
Stefan Nowicki
Aretha Franklin
Self
Alan Elliott
Director
Joey Carey
Aretha Franklin – Self
Alan Elliott – Director
Joey Carey – Executive Producer
Alexandra Johnes – Executive Producer
Stefan Nowicki – Executive Producer
Joe Boyd – Producer

 

Alan ElliottNAJoe BoydAlan ElliottAretha Franklin
Alan Elliott
NA
Joe Boyd
Alan Elliott
Aretha Franklin
Director
Writer
Producer
Producer
Producer

Director(s)
Alan Elliott
 
Writer(s)
NA
 
Producer(s)
Joe Boyd, Alan Elliott, Aretha Franklin, Rob Johnson, Chiemi Karasawa, Sabrina V. Owens, Jerry Wexler, Tirrell D. Whittley, Joseph Woolf

 
Movie Reviews & Awards
Film Festivals
Berlin, South by Southwest, Telluride, Toronto
 
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 6 nominations
 
Academy Awards

 

Top Reviews
Andrea GronvallAdam GrahamDavid StrattonOwen GleibermanSandra Hall
Andrea Gronvall
Adam Graham
David Stratton
Owen Gleiberman
Sandra Hall
Chicago Reader
Detroit News
The Australian
Variety
Sydney Morning Herald
AMAZING GRACE
  All Critics (161) | Top Critics (48) | Fresh (160) | Rotten (1)
  The work as it stands now has considerable merit as a document recorded during a watershed period of the American civil rights movement. As a concert film, it’s elevated by Franklin’s powerhouse three-octave range and soulful phrasing.
 
  December 16, 2019
 
  Andrea Gronvall
  Chicago Reader
  TOP CRITIC
  The long-buried concert film is a tremendously powerful tribute to Aretha Franklin.
 
  December 16, 2019
 
  Adam Graham
  Detroit News
  TOP CRITIC
  This musical feast was filmed a very long time ago – but it feels like only yesterday.
 
  December 16, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
 
  David Stratton
  The Australian
  TOP CRITIC
  In Amazing Grace, Aretha Franklin transcends the blues by saying a little prayer – or singing one – for all of us.
 
  December 16, 2019
 
  Owen Gleiberman
  Variety
  TOP CRITIC
  It’s a perfect marriage of faith and showbiz, dignified by the fact that there’s nothing ersatz about it. At its heart is an unfeigned exuberance, together with a sense of history, which informs the tears, laughter and fervent expressions of belief.
 
  August 28, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Sandra Hall
  Sydney Morning Herald
  TOP CRITIC
  87 minutes of pure joy/
 
  August 5, 2019 | Rating: A-
 
  Nell Minow
  Movie Mom
  TOP CRITIC
  ​It took 47 years to reach theaters, but the documentary “Amazing Grace” is sheer musical bliss.
 
  June 14, 2022 | Rating: 8/10
 
  Tom O’Brien
  Next Best Picture
  Moments of familial intimacy that allow us to instantly forget that we’re watching one of the greatest singers of all time…
 
  May 11, 2021
 
  Nick Levine
  NME
  The ultimate tribute to the Queen of Soul.
 
  April 29, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
 
  Nick Reilly
  NME
  The making of the biggest selling gospel album ever, reconstructed into an 89-minute film many years later. A great listen, a fascinating watch, though not entirely successful.
 
  February 9, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Alix Turner
  Ready Steady Cut
  So, was it worth the wait? But of course, and then some.
 
  October 21, 2020
 
  Dennis Harvey
  48 Hills
  Elliott and Buchanan follow [Franklin’s] lead instead, framing the footage with a deft, almost invisible hand to make for 87 minutes that are teeming with life.
 
  July 27, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Matt Cipolla
  Film Monthly…

 
Movie Plot & More
Plot
In 1797, William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd), the great crusader for the British abolition of slavery, is taking a vacation for his health even while he is sicker at heart for his frustrated cause. However, meeting the charming Barbara Spooner (Romola Garai), Wilberforce finds a soulmate to share the story of his struggle. With few allies such as his mentor, John Newton (Albert Finney), a slave ship Captain turned repentant Priest who penned the hymn, “Amazing Grace”, future Prime Minister William Pitt (Benedict Cumberbatch), and Olaudah Equiano (Youssou N’Dour), the erudite former slave turned author, Wilberforce fruitlessly fights public indifference and moneyed opposition determined to keep their exploitation safe. Nevertheless, Wilberforce finds the inspiration in newfound love to rejuvenate the fight with new ideas that would lead to a great victory for social justice.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Aretha Franklin is the only cast member in the documentary Amazing Grace.
 
Movie Links Wikipedia and Rotten Tomatoes

Links
Wikipedia: Go to Wiki
Rotten Tomatoes: Go to RT

 
Where to Watch

 
Move the ScoreAlan-Elliott.jpg

Movies, Streaming