Cadillac Records

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2:18

Cadillac Records

R

2008

1h 48m

Drama

Biography

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

66%

Tomatometer

122 Reviews

66%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

In 1947 Chicago, Polish emigrant and bar owner Leonard Chess (Adrien Brody) hires a blues combo that includes guitarist Muddy Waters (Jeffrey Wright) and harmonica player Little Walter (Columbus Short). Waters' and Walter's success leads to Chess' management of stars Etta James (Beyoncé Knowles), Howlin' Wolf (Eamonn Walker), Chuck Berry (Mos Def) and others. Inevitably, business and personal lines blur as the sometimes-turbulent lives of the musicians play out.

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Critics Consensus

What Cadillac Records may lack in originality, it more than makes up for in strong performances and soul-stirring music.

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Cosmo Landesman

The Times (UK)

Feb 26, 2009

4/5

The music is good, the suits are sharp, but it's the outstanding performances that wow. Walker is electrifying as Howlin' Wolf and Beyoncé - playing Etta James - has never been so sultry and sexy.

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Peter Howell

Toronto Star

Feb 20, 2009

2.5/4

Perhaps there were insurmountable legal restrictions. But the movie still serves as a dandy primer for rediscovering a lot of great music.

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Stephen Cole

Globe and Mail

Feb 20, 2009

3/4

Anyone who likes pop music or wonders how bands like the Rolling Stones got rolling will enjoy the ride.

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Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

Nov 7, 2019

It's got a good beat and you can dance to it. And on this week's Rate-A-Record card, I give [Cadillac Records] a 98.

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Nikki Baughan

Roll Credits

Oct 30, 2019

4/5

Darnell Martin takes some dramatic licence with the tale of Chess Records. But it's an enthralling story nonetheless, and the outstanding ensemble cast - together with a primal, heart-thumping blues soundtrack - make it a blast from start to finish.

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Kelly Vance

East Bay Express

Aug 16, 2011

It turns out to be grittier and more lowdown than that Ray Charles bio.

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Nigel S

@Funkleberry Oct 6, 2026

If you like music and musical history, this is a must see!

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Aug 23, 2025

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Brian M

@RT29505648 Jul 13, 2025

One of my all time favorite movies.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 May 12, 2025

Beyoncé as Etta James? That's sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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joyana24 T

@RT92115990 Mar 10, 2025

Would have loved to see Ethan Hawke as Chess.

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Sharang L

@Scribe187 Dec 8, 2024

Would have liked it even more if I were able to follow the accents. Really struggled to understand the dialogues in the absence of subtitles (shame on you, Sony Liv).

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Darnell Martin

Director

Adrien Brody

Leonard Chess

Beyoncé

Etta James

Jeffrey Wright

Muddy Waters

Gabrielle Union

Geneva

Columbus Short

Little Walter

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Synopsis

In 1947 Chicago, Polish emigrant and bar owner Leonard Chess (Adrien Brody) hires a blues combo that includes guitarist Muddy Waters (Jeffrey Wright) and harmonica player Little Walter (Columbus Short). Waters' and Walter's success leads to Chess' management of stars Etta James (Beyoncé Knowles), Howlin' Wolf (Eamonn Walker), Chuck Berry (Mos Def) and others. Inevitably, business and personal lines blur as the sometimes-turbulent lives of the musicians play out.

Director: Darnell Martin
Producer: Andrew Lack, Sofia Sondervan
Screenwriter: Darnell Martin
Distributor: Sony Pictures
Production Co: LightWave Entertainment, Sony Music Film, Parkwood Pictures
Rating: R (Some Sexuality|Pervasive Language)
Genre: Drama, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 5, 2008, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $8.1M
Runtime: 1h 48m

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