Black Nativity
Black Nativity

Black Nativity

2013Movie93 minEnglish

A street-wise teen from Baltimore who has been raised by a single mother travels to New York City to spend the Christmas holiday with his estranged relatives, where he embarks on a surprising and inspirational journey.

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Insights

IMDb6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes34%
Metacritic48/100
Google Users72%
Director: Kasi LemmonsGenres: Musical, Drama, Family

Plot Summary

A young, street-smart man named Langston is sent to spend the Christmas holidays with his estranged grandparents in New York City. He struggles to adapt to their strict religious household and eventually finds himself caught in a series of events that test his faith and family bonds. As he confronts his past and present, he rediscovers the meaning of hope and family through the spirit of the Christmas story.

Critical Reception

Black Nativity received a mixed reception from critics. While its musical performances and strong cast, particularly Angela Bassett and Forest Whitaker, were often praised, many critics found the film's plot to be overly sentimental and predictable. The integration of the musical numbers into the narrative was also a point of contention for some.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its vibrant musical numbers and powerful performances from its veteran cast.
  • Criticized for a predictable and overly sentimental storyline that struggles to fully engage.
  • The film's message of faith and family is present but sometimes overshadowed by narrative weaknesses.

Google audience: Audiences generally appreciated the film's holiday spirit and musical elements, finding it to be a heartwarming, albeit occasionally predictable, Christmas movie. Many enjoyed the performances and the uplifting themes.

Fun Fact

The film is an adaptation of Langston Hughes's 1961 stage musical of the same name, which was one of the first major works by an African American playwright to be produced on Broadway.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
r96sk

r96sk

I was, for the most part, feeling pleasant enough about this... until that ending. It's not that <em>'Black Nativity'</em> ends badly, it's just so incredibly forced and cringeworthy. It's a Christmas film so I guess I could cut it some ...