Ray (2004)
85%RT Audience Score: 87%
Awards & Nominations: Won 2 Oscars
53 wins & 54 nominations total
An engrossing and energetic portrait of a great musician’s achievements and foibles, Ray is anchored by Jamie Foxx’s stunning performance as Ray Charles
If you’re looking for a movie that’ll make you want to dance and sing along, Ray is the perfect pick. Jamie Foxx’s performance as Ray Charles is so good, you’ll forget you’re not actually watching the real deal. Sure, the movie may not break any new ground in terms of biopics, but who cares when you’re grooving to “Hit the Road Jack”? So grab some popcorn, turn up the volume, and get ready to be transported to the world of one of the greatest musicians of all time.
Production Company(ies)
Bryna Productions,
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for depiction of drug addiction, sexuality and some thematic elements
Year of Release
2004
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital DTSS DDS
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:2h 35m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 29, 2004 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 1, 2005
Genre(s)
Biography/Music
Keyword(s)
starring Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Regina King, Clifton Powell, Aunjanue Ellis, Harry Lennix, Sharon Warren, directed by Taylor Hackford, written by Robert Eisele and James L White, biography, music, PG-13, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Nell Minow, David Ansen, Sara Michelle Fetters, Rex Reed, Andrew Sarris, Peter Debruge, Jamie Foxx’s performance, Ray Charles, drug addiction, infidelity, Seattle jazz scene, blindness, soul music, Howard Baldwin, Stuart Benjamin, Karen Elise Baldwin, produced by Universal Pictures, Surround sound, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Worldwide gross: $123,971,376
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $195,563,161
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 703
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 21,326,408
US/Canada gross: $75,331,600
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $118,834,575
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 639
US/Canada opening weekend: $20,039,730
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $31,612,402
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 424
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $40,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $63,099,457
Production budget ranking: 652
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $33,979,057
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $98,484,647
ROI to date (est.): 101%
ROI ranking: 933
Kerry Washington – Della Bea Robinson
Regina King – Margie Hendricks
Clifton Powell – Jeff Brown
Aunjanue Ellis – Mary Ann Fisher
Harry Lennix – Joe Adams
Director(s)
Taylor Hackford
Writer(s)
Robert Eisele, James L. White
Producer(s)
Howard Baldwin, Stuart Benjamin, Taylor Hackford, Karen Elise Baldwin
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 2 Oscars
53 wins & 54 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (205) | Top Critics (50) | Fresh (162) | Rotten (43)
Excellent portrayal of extraordinary musician.
December 28, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
Ray is filled with such pleasures, but it’s hobbled by the too-familiar conventions of the musical biopic: with so many chapters of Charles’s life to cover, Hackford’s movie never finds a rhythm, a groove, to settle into.
November 1, 2007
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
As if we weren’t sure before, now it’s official: This is the year of the Foxx.
November 6, 2004 | Rating: 3.5/4
Sara Michelle Fetters
MovieFreak.com
TOP CRITIC
Jamie Foxx’s all-encompassing performance in the title role more than justifies the early Oscar gossip it has generated.
November 4, 2004
Rex Reed
Observer
TOP CRITIC
Eminently worth seeing.
November 4, 2004
Andrew Sarris
Observer
TOP CRITIC
About as loyal a portrait as its subject could have wanted, although for our sake, Hackford might have given us more of the man and less of the legend.
November 2, 2004 | Rating: 3/4
Peter Debruge
Premiere Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Overall, … the filmmakers have taken the line of least resistance, fashioning a familiar, ‘inspirational’ American tale about a man who overcomes personal trauma and experiences individual success. There’s little richness in that.
February 15, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
The soul-stirring sounds of music legend Ray Charles keep saving the day for this straightforward, safe-bet biopic.
May 12, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)
It’s hard to think of a more artless film depicting such a talented artist.
April 19, 2020 | Rating: 2/5
PJ Nabarro
Patrick Nabarro
RAY suffers from having not enough story to warrant a feature film and too much talent wasted on caricatures of historical figures. RAY, like last year’s BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY, is too focused on homage rather than telling a convincing and stirring story.
August 19, 2019 | Rating: 6/10
Alex Maidy
JoBlo’s Movie Network
Jamie Foxx as Charles proves again that he may just be one of the most interesting actors of his generation. A subtle mix of impression, pathos and rare presence, Foxx holds your focus even when the film begins to prevaricate.
April 23, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Paul Dale
The List
A powerhouse performance piece for Jamie Foxx and a rock solid biopic.
February 5, 2011 | Rating: 8/10
R.L. Shaffer
IGN DVD…
Plot
The story of Ray Charles (played by Jamie Foxx), music legend. Told in his adult life with flashbacks to his youth we see his humble origins in Florida, his turbulent childhood, which included losing his brother and then his sight, his rise as pianist in a touring band, him writing his own songs and running his own band, and then stardom. Also includes his addiction to drugs and its affect on his working life and family life.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Jamie Foxx delivers a stunning performance as Ray Charles in this biopic.
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