Dreamgirls (2006)
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A determined record executive navigates the evolution of R&B music while managing a rising girl group in the 1960s and 1970s.
The story
In 1962 Detroit, car salesman Curtis Taylor Jr. discovers a local girl group called "The Dreamettes" and signs them to his new record label, Rainbow Records. As the group evolves into "The Dreams," Curtis faces the challenge of transitioning them from R&B favorites to mainstream pop stars. Amidst the growing fame, internal tensions rise as the members navigate their personal lives and the demands of the music industry. The story follows their journey through the 1960s and 1970s as they navigate the complexities of fame, identity, and the changing landscape of American music.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1962 Detroit, Curtis Taylor Jr. discovers the 'Dreamettes' and signs them to his new label, Rainbow Records. He promotes them as 'The Dreams' and uses payola to make them mainstream stars. During this time, lead singer Effie White falls for Curtis, while backup singer Lorrell Robinson has an affair with R&B star Jimmy 'Thunder' Early. As the group's fame grows, Curtis replaces Effie with the more 'marketable' Deena Jones. By 1973, Effie is a struggling single mother while Deena becomes a superstar and Curtis' wife. Following Jimmy's death from a drug overdose and the departure of songwriter C.C. White, Deena and Effie eventually reconcile. In a final confrontation, Deena leaves Curtis, and the group performs a final show in Detroit where Curtis realizes Effie's daughter is his own.
- First release year
- 2006
- Runtime (minutes)
- 130
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Bill Condon
- Writers
- Bill Condon · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Jamie Foxx · Curtis Taylor Jr.; Beyoncé Knowles · Deena Jones; Eddie Murphy · James (Jimmy) "Thunder" Early; Danny Glover · Marty Madison; Anika Noni Rose · Lorrell Robinson; Keith Robinson · Clarence Conrad (C.C.) White; Jennifer Hudson · Effie White
- Genres
- musical; drama
- Themes
- ambition; identity; music industry; sisterhood
- Tone and mood
- dramatic; musical
- Premise and plot tags
- musical; period piece; biographical fiction
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1981 Broadway musical
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics, who particularly praised the direction, soundtrack, production design, and performances by Jennifer Hudson and Eddie Murphy.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 79% · scale: percentage · review count: 205; Metacritic · score: 76 · scale: 100 · review count: 37
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Supporting Actress · win; Academy Award · Best Sound Mixing · win; Golden Globe Award · Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy · win; Golden Globe Award · Best Supporting Actress · win; Grammy Award · Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media · win; BET Award · Best Actress · win; Satellite Award · Best Picture — Comedy or Musical · win; Satellite Award · Best Director · win; Satellite Award · Best Actress in a Supporting Role · win; Satellite Award · Best Sound (Mixing & Editing) · win; Black Reel Award · Best Film · win
- Production trivia
- The film was one of the most expensive to feature a predominantly African-American starring cast in American film history.; The film was the first American feature film to have a roadshow release since 1972.; The film was the first live-action film to receive three nominations for Best Song.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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