Ma Raineyвђ™s Black Bottom (2020) May 2026

: Directed by George C. Wolfe with a jazz-heavy score by Branford Marsalis. Critical Reception Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020) - IMDb

: The historical exploitation of Black musicians by white-owned recording industries. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020)

: Played by Chadwick Boseman in his final film role before his death in August 2020. He received a posthumous Oscar nomination for this performance. : Directed by George C

: Played by Viola Davis , who underwent a significant physical transformation and earned an Academy Award nomination for the role. : Played by Chadwick Boseman in his final

(2020) is a biographical drama directed by George C. Wolfe and produced by Denzel Washington. Based on August Wilson's 1984 play , the film captures a single, tension-filled recording session in 1920s Chicago . Plot & Themes

The story follows the legendary "Mother of the Blues," Ma Rainey, as she battles her white management for control over her music. Simultaneously, her ambitious young trumpeter, Levee, clashes with his bandmates while attempting to modernize Ma's sound to fit his own aspirations. The film explores themes of: