Respect Movie Cast, Plot and Everything to Know

Last modified: Jul. 23, 2021

Respect

Release Date: Friday, August 13, 2021 Theaters

The life of Aretha Franklin from singing as a child in her father’s church’s choir to becoming an iconic superstar and civil rights activist.

Director: Liesl Tommy

Starring: Jennifer Hudson • Forest Whitaker • Marlon Wayans • Audra McDonald • Mary J. Blige

PG-13 Biography N/A

4.07 / 5.0

82% WILL SEE 18% WON'T SEE

Rent or buy

Plot – What's the story about?

Plot: Following the rise of Aretha Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to her international superstardom, Respect is the remarkable true story of the music icon’s journey to find her voice.

Biography Drama Music

Snap poll

Will you see Respect?

82% of people who rated this movie are planning to watch it.

18% of people have indicated they do not plan to see this movie.

Watched it? Share Your Rating!

Who stars in Respect – Cast List

Jennifer Hudson
... Aretha Franklin

PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie, The Three Stooges
Forest Whitaker
... C.L. Franklin

The King of Kings, Arrival
Marlon Wayans
... Ted White

Scary Movie 6, Him
A
Audra McDonald
... Barbara Franklin

Beauty and the Beast, Origin
Mary J. Blige
... Dinah Washington

Trolls World Tour, Rock of Ages
M
Marc Maron
... Jerry Wexler

What Is Life Worth, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere
Tituss Burgess
... Reverend Dr. James Cleveland

The Cat in the Hat, Snow White
S
Saycon Sengbloh
... Erma Franklin
H
Hailey Kilgore
... Carolyn Franklin
T
Tate Donovan
... John Hammond

Crime 101, What Is Life Worth
S
Skye Dakota Turner
... Young Aretha Franklin
H
Heather Headley
... Clara Ward

Who is making Respect – Crew List

A look at Respect behind-the-scenes crew and production team. The film's director Liesl Tommy last helmed Born a Crime.

Director: Liesl Tommy
Screenwriter: Tracey Scott Wilson
Producers: Scott Bernstein
Harvey Mason
Stacy Sher

Studios: United Artists Releasing
Production Company: Bron Studios
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
SMB Films

Production – What we know about the Respect

Key Facts

With a story by Callie Khouri (Oscar® winner for Writing, Thelma & Louise) and Tracey Scott Wilson, and screenplay written by Tracey Scott Wilson. Wilson and Tommy have worked together creatively since the 2009 play The Good Negro written by Wilson, directed by Tommy at The Public Theatre. Wilson was a writer on FX’s The Americans which garnered her a Peabody Award as well as Emmy® and WGA Award nominations (6/6/2021).
"My dream for the film -- and for Aretha and her legacy -- was to create a piece of cinema that feels like a classic you have to see in a movie theater. You have to see it on a big screen because her life was so big it deserved that." – Liesl Tommy, director of Respect (6/6/2021).
Callie Khouri, who wrote “Thelma & Louise” and is the creator of TV's Nashville, is writing the script (3/9/19).
Dreamgirls star Jennifer Hudson was handpicked by Aretha Franklin to play her before the singer's death (1/11/19).

Movie Filming Timeline: Production Status Updates

Jun 2021

Completed

Changed Respect movie production status. The movie is ready for release.

Dec 2019

Post-Production

Changed the movie production status to Post-Production. The movie is now in the editing and finishing stages.

Jan 2019

Pre-Production

Changed the movie production status to Pre-Production. Stage director Liesl Tommy is on-board to direct the biopic.

Mar 2018

Development

Changed the movie production status to Development. The movie is likely in scripting, budgeting, or stuck in 'development hell.'

Have updates about Respect? We'd love to hear from you!

Submit update

Additional Information

Parent Rating: PG-13 Parents Strongly Cautioned for mature thematic content, strong language including racial epithets, violence, suggestive material, and smoking
Runtime: N/A
Tagline: Not available
Also known as: Untitled Aretha Franklin Project, Aretha Franklin Bio Project
Language: English

Respect Trailers and Clips

Respect

The Queen’s Court – Cast Featurette

Respect

Official Trailer

Respect

Official Teaser

Respect Release Date: When was the film released?

Respect was released in nationwide movie theaters on Friday, August 13 , 2021. There were 14 14 other movies released on the same date, including Free Guy, Don't Breathe 2 and Coda.

The estimated home release date for Respect is currently being determined. Stay tuned!