Mo' Better Blues
Synopsis
Talented but self-centered trumpeter Bleek Gilliam is obsessed with his music and indecisiveness about his girlfriends Indigo and Clarke. But when he is forced to come to the aid of his manager and childhood friend, Bleek finds his world more fragile than he ever imagined.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Mo' Better Blues | Denzel Washington & Wesley Snipes Perform "Mo' Better Blues"Official
Type: Clip • Published 2022-02-21
Top Cast
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Denzel Washington
Bleek Gilliam
Spike Lee
Giant
Wesley Snipes
Shadow Henderson (Sax)
Giancarlo Esposito
Left Hand Lacey (Piano)
Robin Harris
Butterbean Jones
Joie Lee
Indigo
Bill Nunn
Bottom Hammer
John Turturro
Moe Flatbush
Dick Anthony Williams
Big Stop Williams
Cynda Williams
Clarke Bentancourt
Nicholas Turturro
Josh Flatbush
Samuel L. Jackson
Madlock
Leonard L. Thomas
Rod
Charlie Murphy
Eggy
Rubén Blades
Petey
Abbey Lincoln
Lillian Gilliam
Linda Hawkins
Jeanne
Coati Mundi
Roberto
Release History & Theatrical Window
New York City, New York
Festival / Special Debut
August 3, 1990
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$10M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$16.2M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
1.62x
+$6.2M net gain
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Spike Lee
- Screenplay & Story
- Spike Lee
- Original Score
- Bill Lee
- Original Title
- Mo' Better Blues
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 9m
- Production Budget
- $10M
- Worldwide Gross
- $16.2M
- Production Studios
- 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, Universal Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Spike Lee
Spike Lee
Bill Lee
Ernest R. Dickerson
Sam Pollard
Spike Lee
Department Leadership Roster
Spike Lee
Director
Spike Lee
Writer
Ernest R. Dickerson
Director of Photography
Bill Lee
Original Music Composer
Spike Lee
Producer
Sam Pollard
Editor
Ruth E. Carter
Costume Design
Wynn Thomas
Production Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Mo' Better Blues.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About Mo' Better Blues
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Mo' Better Blues about?
Talented but self-centered trumpeter Bleek Gilliam is obsessed with his music and indecisiveness about his girlfriends Indigo and Clarke. But when he is forced to come to the aid of his manager and childhood friend, Bleek finds his world more fragile than he ever imagined.
Who directed Mo' Better Blues?
Mo' Better Blues was directed by Spike Lee.
Who stars in Mo' Better Blues?
The principal cast of Mo' Better Blues includes Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, Wesley Snipes, Giancarlo Esposito, Robin Harris.
When was Mo' Better Blues released and how long is it?
Mo' Better Blues was released in 1990 with a total runtime of 2h 9m.
What was the box office and production budget of Mo' Better Blues?
Mo' Better Blues had a reported production budget of $10M and grossed $16.2M at the worldwide box office (1.62 return on budget, classified as a budget recovered).
Who composed the musical score for Mo' Better Blues?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Mo' Better Blues was composed by Bill Lee.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Mo' Better Blues?
Mo' Better Blues holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).