The Forty-Year-Old Version (2020)
85%RT Audience Score: 72%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
23 wins & 43 nominations total
The Forty-Year-Old Version opens a compelling window into the ebbs and flows of the artist’s life — and announces writer-director-star Radha Blank as a major filmmaking talent with her feature debut
The Forty-Year-Old Version is the perfect movie for anyone who’s ever felt like they’re not where they’re supposed to be in life. Radha Blank’s hilarious and heartwarming story of a struggling playwright turned rapper is a love letter to New York City and a reminder that it’s never too late to chase your dreams. With a killer soundtrack and a standout performance from Blank herself, this movie is a must-watch for anyone who’s ever felt like they’re stuck in a rut. So grab some popcorn, turn up the volume, and get ready to be inspired!
Production Company(ies)
Apple Original Films, Cartoon Saloon Mélusine Productions,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Netflix)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for pervasive language, sexual content, some drug use and brief nudity
Year of Release
2020
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Oct 9, 2020
Genre(s)
Music
Keyword(s)
starring Radha Blank, Welker White, Reed Birney, Peter Kim, Jacob Ming-Trent, Haskiri Velazquez, directed by Radha Blank, written by Radha Blank, music, struggling playwright, rapper, New York City, middle-aged Black womanhood, artist’s life, major filmmaking talent, feature debut, box office performance, budget, R rating, drug use, brief nudity, sexual content, pervasive language, critic reviews, reviewed by Violet Lucca, Robert Daniels, Soraya Nadia McDonald, David Sims, Tim Cogshell, Lindsey Bahr, Dan Bayer, David Reddish, Kay-B, Ruth Maramis, Nicholas Oon, DarkSkyLady, produced by Radha Blank
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
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.): 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
Reed Birney – Josh Whitman
Radha Blank – Radha
Peter Kim – Archie
Jacob Ming-Trent – Lamont
Haskiri Velazquez – Rosa
Director(s)
Radha Blank
Writer(s)
Radha Blank
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
23 wins & 43 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (134) | Top Critics (46) | Fresh (132) | Rotten (2)
The Forty-Year-Old Version paints a loving portrait of parts of New York City that aren’t represented with such care, if at all, in narrative films of this scale.
February 12, 2021
Violet Lucca
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
Everything about The Forty-Year-Old Version feels fresh.
February 12, 2021
Robert Daniels
Polygon
TOP CRITIC
The Forty-Year-Old Version offers a refreshing, unpretentious and often hilarious take on middle-aged Black womanhood.
January 20, 2021
Soraya Nadia McDonald
Andscape
TOP CRITIC
This movie doesn’t follow the Hollywood-friendly narrative of suddenly experiencing great success against all odds. It is more interested in the little details and is all the better for it.
December 3, 2020
David Sims
The Atlantic
TOP CRITIC
Screenwriter, director, co-producer, and star, Radha Blank has come up with an “astute” feature film debut reminiscent of the works of Woody Allen, Noah Baumbach, and Paul Mazursky. Only Blacker, and more girly.
November 6, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Tim Cogshell
Alt Film Guide
TOP CRITIC
“The Forty-Year-Old Version” makes a compelling case for another set of lists: The 40-Over-40. They deserve it just as much, if not more.
October 30, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4
Lindsey Bahr
Associated Press
TOP CRITIC
A bravura debut, one that will hopefully lead to more opportunities for its multi-talented creator.
May 13, 2022 | Rating: 8/10
Dan Bayer
Next Best Picture
Always interesting and downright hilarious at times, we found its mix of observations about neurosis and the art life original and very smart. Blank gives a splendid performance in the leading role.
March 20, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
David Reddish
Queerty
Without a single lull in storytelling, we all got to witness a rarity onscreen: seeing a Black woman unapologetically in her full glory and essence.
February 9, 2022 | Rating: A+
Kay-B
Pay or Wait
A a phenomenal directorial debut from Radha Blank who’s also magnetic in front of the camera. It’s rare to find a film that has such an authentic voice, so it’s so refreshing to see one that has it in abundance.
November 27, 2021 | Rating: 4.5/5
Ruth Maramis
FlixChatter Film Blog
Radha Blank’s arc embodies the theme of growth and experience, and shows that no matter how much time has passed in life, there’s still plenty of room to grow, and make something of yourself.
September 5, 2021
Nicholas Oon
Maximum Hype (YouTube)
Radha is a heroine who refuses to sacrifice her integrity and vision for her stories and people to dance for the white gatekeepers and white gaze.
July 2, 2021
DarkSkyLady
Nerdist…
Plot
Radha is a down-on-her-luck NY playwright, who is desperate for a breakthrough before 40. Reinventing herself as rapper RadhaMUSPrime, she vacillates between the worlds of Hip Hop and theater in order to find her true voice.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Radha Blank is the writer, director, and star of The Forty-Year-Old Version, showcasing her multi-talented abilities in her feature debut.
Radha-Blank.jpg
