Akeelah and the Bee
“Changing the world... one word at a time.”
Synopsis
11-year-old Akeelah Anderson has a way with words. After winning her schoolwide spelling bee, she decides to enter the competition, despite her classmates' derision and the antipathy of her mother Tanya. Thanks to the efforts of her teacher Dr. Larabee, she reaches the finals. As she gets to know her fellow competitors, Akeelah realizes that coming first isn't everything in life.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Akeelah and the Bee (2006) Official Trailer #1 - Laurence Fishburne Movie HD
Type: Trailer • Published 2013-01-26
Top Cast
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Keke Palmer
Akeelah Anderson
Laurence Fishburne
Dr. Larabee
Angela Bassett
Tanya Anderson
Curtis Armstrong
Mr. Welch
J.R. Villarreal
Javier
Sean Michael Afable
Dylan Chiu
Sahara Garey
Georgia
Lee Thompson Young
Devon
Julito McCullum
Terrence
Erica Hubbard
Kiana
Eddie Steeples
Derrick-T
Dalia Phillips
Ms. Cross
Tzi Ma
Mr. Chiu
Jeris Poindexter
Steve
Sara Niemietz
Polly
George Hornedo
Roman
Craig Wasson
Ted Saunders
Jeff Marlow
District Judge
Release History & Theatrical Window
April 28, 2006
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$8M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$18.9M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
2.37x
+$10.9M net gain
Theatrical Status
Profitable
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Doug Atchison
- Screenplay & Story
- Doug Atchison
- Original Score
- Aaron Zigman
- Original Title
- Akeelah and the Bee
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 53m
- Production Budget
- $8M
- Worldwide Gross
- $18.9M
- Production Studios
- Lions Gate Films, 2929 Productions, Out of the Blue... Entertainment, Starbucks Entertainment, Cinema Gypsy Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Doug Atchison
Doug Atchison
Aaron Zigman
M. David Mullen, Chris Mosio
Glenn Farr
Nancy Hult Ganis, Laurence Fishburne, Danny Llewelyn, Mark Cuban
Department Leadership Roster
Doug Atchison
Writer
Doug Atchison
Director
Nancy Hult Ganis
Producer
M. David Mullen
Director of Photography
Glenn Farr
Editor
Aaron Zigman
Original Music Composer
Warren Alan Young
Production Design
Laurence Fishburne
Producer
Danny Llewelyn
Producer
Sharen Davis
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 6 — Restricted to viewers aged 6 and older.
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Akeelah and the Bee.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Akeelah and the Bee
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Akeelah and the Bee about?
11-year-old Akeelah Anderson has a way with words. After winning her schoolwide spelling bee, she decides to enter the competition, despite her classmates' derision and the antipathy of her mother Tanya. Thanks to the efforts of her teacher Dr. Larabee, she reaches the finals. As she gets to know her fellow competitors, Akeelah realizes that coming first isn't everything in life.
Who directed Akeelah and the Bee?
Akeelah and the Bee was directed by Doug Atchison.
Who stars in Akeelah and the Bee?
The principal cast of Akeelah and the Bee includes Keke Palmer, Laurence Fishburne, Angela Bassett, Curtis Armstrong, J.R. Villarreal.
When was Akeelah and the Bee released and how long is it?
Akeelah and the Bee was released in 2006 with a total runtime of 1h 53m.
What was the box office and production budget of Akeelah and the Bee?
Akeelah and the Bee had a reported production budget of $8M and grossed $18.9M at the worldwide box office (2.37 return on budget, classified as a commercial hit).
Who composed the musical score for Akeelah and the Bee?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Akeelah and the Bee was composed by Aaron Zigman.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Akeelah and the Bee?
Akeelah and the Bee holds official age classifications: DE: 6 (FSK 6 — Restricted to viewers aged 6 and older.); US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).