The screen version of Broadway's The Color Purple isn't in movie theatres until December 25, but reviews are starting to roll out. See what critics are saying about the upcoming release below.
The film is led on screen by Broadway Color Purple alums Fantasia Barrino as Celie and Danielle Brooks as Sofia, along with Taraji P. Henson as Shug Avery, Corey Hawkins as Harpo, H.E.R. as Squeak, Halle Bailey as Young Nettie, Tony nominee Colman Domingo as Mister, Broadway The Lion King alum Phylicia Pearl Mpasi as Young Celie, Grammy winners Jon Batiste as Grady and Ciara as Adult Nettie, Tony winner David Alan Grier as Reverend Avery, Aunjanue Ellis as Celie and Nettie's mother, Elizabeth Marvel as Miss Millie, Louis Gossett, Jr. as Ol' Mister, Tamela Mann as First Lady, Deon Cole as Alfonso, Stephen Hill as Buster, Terrence J. Smith as Adam, Tiffany Elle Burgess as Olivia, and Aba Arthur as Abena.
READ: Upcoming The Color Purple Movie Musical Will Include Cut Song From the Stage Score
Above the Line (J. Dod Birnam)
AZ Central (Meredith G. White)
Backlot Magazine (Ridge Harripersad)
BlackGirlNerds (Jamie Broadnax)
Business Insider (Kirsten Acuna)
The Daily Beast (Coleman Spilde)
Elements of Madness (Gabe Lapalombella)
Entertainment Weekly (Maureen Lee Lenker)
The Globe and Mail (Barry Hertz)
The News-Herald (Mark Meszoros)
The New York Times (Alissa Wilkinson)*
RogerEbert.com (Peyton Robinson)
Screen Rant (Patrice Witherspoon)
The Seattle Times (Moira Macdonald)*
TheaterMania (Zachary Stewart)
The Washington Post (Pat Padua)*
We Live Entertainment (Aaron Neuwirth)
*This review may require creating a free account or a paid subscription.
Playbill will continue to update this list as reviews come in.
READ: Danielle Brooks Wants Broadway to Be For Everyone, On Stage and Off
Blitz Bazawule, who co-helmed Beyoncé’s visual album Black Is King, directs, with Winfrey, Quincy Jones, Sanders, and Steven Spielberg serving as producers. Marcus Gardley penned the screenplay, adapted from Marsha Norman’s stage book and Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray’s score. The stage musical was adapted from Alice Walker's 1982 Pulitzer-winning novel and its 1985 film adaptation.
The Color Purple debuted on Broadway in 2005, winning original Celie, LaChanze, a Tony Award for her performance. A 2015 revival helmed by John Doyle earned its Celie, Cynthia Erivo, a Tony Award before propelling her to Hollywood stardom. Brooks co-starred with Erivo as Sophia, the role she reprises in the upcoming movie musical.
Fantasia Barrino and Taraji P. Henson in The Color Purple
Phylicia Pearl Mpasi and Halle Bailey in The Color Purple
Cast of The Color Purple
Danielle Brooks and Corey Hawkins in The Color Purple
Blitz Bazawule, Louis Gossett Jr., H.E.R., Jon Batiste, Taraji P. Henson, Colman Domingo, Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks, and Corey Hawkins
Taraji P. Henson, Fantasia Barrino, and Blitz Bazawule
Taraji P. Henson, Fantasia Barrino, and Danielle Brooks
Colman Domingo
Taraji P. Henson
Danielle Brooks and Corey Hawkins
