Sparkle
“Celebrate the legend”
Synopsis
Musical prodigy, Sparkle struggles to become a star while overcoming issues that are tearing her family apart. From an affluent Detroit area and daughter to a single mother, she tries to balance a new romance with music manager Stix while dealing with the unexpected challenges her new life will bring as she and her two sisters strive to become a dynamic singing group during the Motown-era.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Release History & Theatrical Window
August 17, 2012
Wide Cinema Exhibition
February 6, 2013
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$14M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$24.6M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
1.76x
+$10.6M net gain
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Salim Akil
- Screenplay & Story
- Mara Brock Akil
- Original Title
- Sparkle
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- French, English
- Runtime
- 1h 56m
- Production Budget
- $14M
- Worldwide Gross
- $24.6M
- Production Studios
- Akil Productions, Stage 6 Films, Phoenix Pictures, TriStar Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Salim Akil
Mara Brock Akil
Anastas N. Michos
Terilyn A. Shropshire
Debra Martin Chase
Department Leadership Roster
Salim Akil
Director
Mara Brock Akil
Writer
Terilyn A. Shropshire
Editor
Gary Frutkoff
Production Design
Ruth E. Carter
Costume Design
Debra Martin Chase
Producer
Anastas N. Michos
Director of Photography
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.
Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Sparkle.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Sparkle.
My Movies
Master List In Progress
Hulu - Romance Movies
Curated list of Romance on Hulu (US). Updated frequently. Last updated October 14, 2026.
BD Release: 2011-2015
Movies released in 4K Blu-ray format - 2011-2015
list2
Black
Musicals
Every film Wikidata tags as a musical film.
Similar Titles to Sparkle
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
6.9
6.0
6.6
6.2
6.9
6.0
7.6
7.5
6.4
6.2
6.3
6.8
7.6
7.6
7.5
6.6
5.2
6.8
6.5
6.8
More Like Sparkle
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sparkle
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Sparkle about?
Musical prodigy, Sparkle struggles to become a star while overcoming issues that are tearing her family apart. From an affluent Detroit area and daughter to a single mother, she tries to balance a new romance with music manager Stix while dealing with the unexpected challenges her new life will bring as she and her two sisters strive to become a dynamic singing group during the Motown-era.
Who directed Sparkle?
Sparkle was directed by Salim Akil.
Who stars in Sparkle?
The principal cast of Sparkle includes Jordin Sparks, Whitney Houston, Derek Luke, Mike Epps, Carmen Ejogo.
When was Sparkle released and how long is it?
Sparkle was released in 2012 with a total runtime of 1h 56m.
What was the box office and production budget of Sparkle?
Sparkle had a reported production budget of $14M and grossed $24.6M at the worldwide box office (1.76 return on budget, classified as a budget recovered).
What is the age rating and content advisory for Sparkle?
Sparkle holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: 12 (Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.); US: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.).