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This article is about the 2023 musical film. For the 1985 film, see The Color Purple (1985 film).


A bold new take on the beloved classic.
―Tagline

The Color Purple is an American musical coming-of-age period drama film directed by Blitz Bazawule from a screenplay by Marcus Gardley, based on the stage musical of the same name, which in turn is based on the 1982 novel of the same name by Alice Walker. It is the second film adaptation of the novel, following Steven Spielberg's 1985 film. Spielberg and Quincy Jones returned to produce this version, along with the stage musical's producers Scott Sanders and Oprah Winfrey, the latter of whom also starred in the 1985 film as Sofia. The film stars Fantasia Barrino and Danielle Brooks, both reprising their roles from stage musical productions, alongside Taraji P. Henson, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., Halle Bailey, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, and Phylicia Pearl Mpasi.

The Color Purple was released in the United States on December 25, 2023, by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Premise[]

A story of the life-long struggles of an African American woman living in the South during the early 1900s.

Plot[]

In 1909 Georgia, teenager Celie Harris lives with her sister Nettie and abusive father Alfonso. Her mom passed away some time ago after which Alfonso started raping Celie; this causes her to become pregnant twice. When Celie gives birth to her second child, Alfonso takes the child away as he had done with the first. He then forces her to marry a local farmer and father of three, Albert "Mister" Johnson.

When Alfonso tries to molest Nettie, she moves into Mister's farmhouse until he exiles her when she rebuffs his advances. She promises to write to Celie every day before leaving. By 1917, Celie is still married to Mister, while his son Harpo marries fierce, defiant Sofia. Harpo tries to build a house, but later turns it into a juke joint. Celie befriends Sofia, but she leaves Harpo when he tries to beat her.

One day, independent jazz singer Shug Avery comes to town to perform at the joint. Harpo has been seeing another woman named Mary "Squeak" Agnes. When he tries to dance with Sofia, Mary Agnes cuts in and ends up starting a fight that trashes the joint. Celie begs Shug to stay with her, but Shug decides to bring her instead. When they return to Mister's home, Shug finds and reveals to Celie a letter in the mailbox addressed to Celie from Nettie, revealing that Nettie has been living in Africa.

Back in Georgia, Sofia is called out by the mayor's wife to be her maid, but she refuses and gets involved in a physical fight, resulting in her arrest. She is released after six years and ends up having to work for the mayor's wife anyway, sinking into a deep depression that seemingly takes away all of her fierceness.

On Easter Sunday in 1943, Celie confronts Mister in front of his father and their family and leaves him along with Shug. Mary Agnes goes with them to Memphis, inspiring Sofia out of her stupor. Celie vows to Mister that until he does right by her, everything in his life will crumble.

In 1945, when Alfonso dies, it's revealed by his wife that he wasn't Celie or Nettie's biological father, and through their mother, both sisters own the grocery store and the home they were brought up in. Celie starts up a pants clothing shop with help from Shug, Sofia, and Mary Agnes. Meanwhile, Mister has become a miserable drunk. He vows to do right by Celie and later visits her shop and buys a pair of pants. While she is hesitant to see him, she agrees to maintain a friendship with him. Mister plots to reunite Celie and Nettie.

In 1947, Celie reunites with Nettie, along with Adam and Olivia, Celie's children. She joins hands with them as she and everyone else thanks God for how far they have come.

Cast[]

Production[]

On November 2, 2018, it was announced that a film adaptation of the musical was in development at Warner Bros. Pictures and Amblin Entertainment, the same companies that made the 1985 film adaptation of the novel, with Steven Spielberg, Quincy Jones, Scott Sanders, and Oprah Winfrey all signed on to produce. In August 2020, it was announced that Marcus Gardley would pen the screenplay, and Black Is King's Blitz Bazawule will direct.

Winfrey praised the selection of Bazawule as director, after she and the producers saw his work on The Burial of Kojo, saying that they "were all blown away by Blitz's unique vision as a director and look forward to seeing how he brings the next evolution of this beloved story to life." It was also announced that Alice Walker, Rebecca Walker, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Carla Gardini, and Mara Jacobs will executive produce the film.

In August 2021, Corey Hawkins was cast in a lead role. That same month, H.E.R. was cast in her feature acting debut. In February 2022, Taraji P. Henson, Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, and Halle Bailey joined the cast, with Barrino and Brooks reprising their roles from productions of the stage musical. In March 2022, Louis Gossett Jr., David Alan Grier, Tamela J. Mann, Phylicia Mpasi, Deon Cole, Stephen Hill, and Ciara joined the cast. In April 2022, Aunjanue Ellis, Elizabeth Marvel, and Jon Batiste joined the cast.

Filming began in March 2022, with production taking place at Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island from March 16 to March 25. Filming officially wrapped in July 2022.

Siedah Garrett will be joining Brenda Russell and Stephen Bray (in place of the late Allee Willis) in contributing new material to the film's score.

Music[]

Main article: The Color Purple (2023 soundtrack)

On November 27, the soundtrack's musicians and singers were revealed by executive produced by Quincy Jones, Larry Jackson, and Scott Sanders via WaterTower Music and Gamma. The soundtrack will feature songs by Alicia Keys, Usher, Mary J. Blige, Megan Thee Stallion, Jennifer Hudson, Keyshia Cole, Jorja Smith, Coco Jones, Mary Mary, Missy Elliott, and film actors Halle Bailey, H.E.R and Ciara. It will also include original Broadway songs, including "She Be Mine" and "Shug Avery Comin' to Town" and original songs. The American record production and songwriting duo Nova Wav, composed of Denisia Andrews and Brittany Coney, was involved in the project along with Bazawule.

The duo wrote and composed an original song called "Keep It Movin'", with Morten Ristorp and Halle Bailey, and Bailey performs it with Phylicia Pearl Mpas. The song was released on November 11, 2023. On November 27, 2023, "Lifeline" was released as the second original song from the film, written and performed by Alicia Keys. The soundtrack album was released on December 15, 2023 by WaterTower Music.

Release[]

The film was released on December 25, 2023. It was originally scheduled to be released on December 20, 2023, but later switched release dates with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.

Home media[]

Main article: The Color Purple (2023 video)

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment released The Color Purple for digital download on January 16, 2024, and on Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray on March 12, 2024.

Reception[]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 82% of 249 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.3/10. The website's consensus reads: "Building on the legacy of the previous film adaptation while incorporating elements of the stage musical, The Color Purple is a crowd-pleasing testament to resilience in the face of trauma." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 72 out of 100, based on 49 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.

Gallery[]

External links[]


v - e - d
The Color Purple transparent logo
Media
The Color Purple (soundtrack/video) • The Color Purple (2023) (soundtrack/video)
Books: The Color Purple
Characters
Celie Harris JohnsonNettie HarrisShug AveryMiss MillieSofiaAlbert JohnsonHarpo JohnsonMary AgnesMamaOl' Mister JohnsonSamuel AveryFirst LadyAlphonso HarrisHenry BroadnaxGrady
Locations
GeorgiaAfricaMemphisHarpo's Juke JointCelie's Fancy PantsMister's HouseElmira Movie TheaterGeneral StoreDeadwood BeachShug's HouseTennessee
Songs
1985 film: MakidadaJunk Bucket BluesThe Dirty DozensMiss Celie's Blues (Sister)Don't Make Me No Never Mind (Slow Drag)Heaven Belongs to YouOld Ship of ZionMaybe God Is Tryin' To Tell You Somethin'Hot LipsScarification Chant and Katutoku CorinneBody and Soul
2023 film: Huckleberry PieMysterious WaysShe Be MineKeep It Movin'Lily of the FieldWorkin'Too Beautiful for WordsH--- No!Arkansas BluesShug AverySing, Sing, Sing (With A Swing)Shake That ThingDear God - ShugProve It On Me Blues(It Will Have To Do) Until The Real Thing Comes AlongPush Da ButtonWhat About Love?AgooHeaven Help This Heart Of MineMy Faith Looks Up To TheeMiss Celie's Pants(What Did I Do To Be So) Black And BlueI'm HereThe Color PurpleSuperpower (I)
Music From and Inspired By: Risk It AllNo Love LostLifelineFinallyWhen I Can't Do BetterThere Will Come a DayAny WorseYou See MeAll I Need100EternityNo TimeGirls


v - e - d
Warner Bros. Pictures 2023 (Alt)
Lists
Films by decade: 1910s-1920s (List) • 1930s (List) • 1940s (List) • 1950s (List) • 1960s (List) • 1970s (List) • 1980s (List) • 1990s (List) • 2000s (List) • 2010s (List) • 2020s (List)
See also
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