Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles, Eddie Murphy

Set in the turbulent early 1960s to mid-70s, "Dreamgirls" follows the rise of a trio of women--Effie, Deena and Lorrell--who have formed a promising girl group called The Dreamettes. At a talent compe...( read more  read more... )tition, they are discovered by an ambitious manager named Curtis Taylor Jr., who offers them the opportunity of a lifetime: to become the back-up singers for headliner James "Thunder" Early. Curtis gradually takes control of the girls' look and sound, eventually giving them their own shot in the spotlight as The Dreams. That spotlight, however, begins to narrow in on Deena, finally pushing the less attractive Effie out altogether. Although the Dreams become a crossover phenomenon, they soon realize that the cost of fame and fortune may be higher than they ever imagined.

Flixster Users

73% liked it

114,306 ratings

Critics

78% liked it

197 critics

PG-13, 2 hrs. 5 min.

Directed by: Bill Condon

Release Date: December 25, 2006

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DVD Release Date: May 1, 2007

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Flixster Reviews (24,360)


  • February 1, 2007
    Entertaining & emotional! Eddie Murphy is back on top thanks to his seriocomic performance as Jimmy "Thunder" Early.
  • July 1, 2009
    good performances but nothing else
  • November 23, 2008
    Jennifer Hudson is quite possibley the greatest R&B singer of the past 3-4 years. Her voice is one of grace, power, and a formiddable range not unlike that of Aretha Franklin. But I dygress, Hudson Plays Effie, the lead of a girl group, until she is pushed into he background as ...( read more)their manager begins a love affair first with her and then her group mate Dee (played by Beyonce Knowles, based on Diana Ross, though far less narcissistic than Ross actually is.) Knowles then takes over to stardom (apparently oblivious to Effie being sabotaged into obscurity) until the end when she leaves her manager and appologizes to Effie. OK, nice ending, but this isn't really what happened. In real life Florence Ballard, tried to make a go of things but Barry Gordy put an end to that and Ballard died of a heart attack at age 33, and Ross continued to be a star. Good overall movie, filled with good music, and good acting (knowles is her usually good girl cheezy self). Hudson, however shows her vocal abilities, as well as her wonderful acting abilities. Not necessarily for everyone, its a musical, but based on the history of the biggest girl group of the 1960's. If musicals annoy you this may not be for you.
  • October 12, 2008
    borderline musical, scoff scoff
  • September 1, 2008
    Detroit, the early 1960s. Curtis Taylor, Jr., a car salesman, breaks into the music business with big dreams. He signs a trio of 18-year-olds, the Dreamettes, gets them a job backing an R&B performer, James "Thunder" Early, establishes his own record label and starts wheeling and...( read more) dealing. When Early flames out, Curtis makes the Dreamettes into headliners as the Dreams, but not before demoting their hefty big-voiced lead singer, Effie White, and putting the softer-voiced looker, Deena Jones, in front. Soon after, he fires Effie, sends her into a life of proud poverty, and takes Deena and the Dreams to the top. How long can Curtis stay there, and will Effie ever get her due?

    An amazing musical treat for those who love the jazz, blues and the 60's Motown music scene. But, if you're not really into these kinds of music well don't worry, after you watch this film, I'll bet you'll become a fan. The music was just spectacular. It was uplifting, it was alive, it has got the 'soul' just like James "Thunder" Early said.

    I can't believe I'm even saying this but I must say, Eddie Murphy gave a fine performance was soulful singer James Early. His last great performance before he plunged into the deep dark recesses of Norbit and Meet Dave. Kudos to Jennifer Hudson too. She got a big voice and her performance here is one for the books. Its not easy singing and acting at the same time, that's a very hard task to accomplish but she did it amazingly.

    If you like musicals and the blues, I suggest you go see this one.

    4/5
  • November 1, 2009
    well umn just seen this movie 4 the 1st time n think that this is a good movie 2 watch..........its got a good cast of actors/actressess throughout this movie...i think that sharon leal, keith robinson, danny glover, jennifer hudson, anika noni rose, jamie foxx, beyonce knowles, ...( read more)eddie murphy play good roles/parts thorughout this movie.,...i think that the director of this drama/musical/performing arts movie had done a good job of directing this movie because you never know what 2 expect throughout this movie...i think that this is a really powerful drama movie 2 watch its got a good cast thorughout this movie...this is an enjoyable movie 2 watch with a good cast throughout this movie .
  • October 23, 2009
    Beautiful, heartfelt film.
  • October 8, 2009
    An energetic musical featuring a dynamite performance by Jennifer Hudson.
  • October 7, 2009
    watched the beginning of it some parts were funny some boring love all the songs so far and i like jennifer hudson and beyone characters hate eddie murphy so obnoxious not fair that the white ppl stole their song they crasued it
  • September 30, 2009
    I love this film! Jennifer Hudson and Beyonce are great in it. A fun film for all.

Critic Reviews


December 30, 2006
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

It's a product that promises magic, and yet gives us nothing to live on. full review

December 29, 2006
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

Joy is defined as Dreamgirls, an ecstatic dose of pure top-down Motown tight-harmony effervescence that takes a hit Broadway musical about a Chicago girl group and turns it, miraculously, into a Holly... full review

December 28, 2006
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

If what you value in a movie musical is visual extravagance and a show-stopping performance or two, Dreamgirls will leave you with a feeling of absurd, unreasoning happiness. full review

December 22, 2006
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

This is the first important movie musical in decades about African-Americans and the first to deal with the revolution in civil rights and the mainstream success of black pop music. full review

December 17, 2006
Pete Hammond, Maxim

A production so good it reinvigorates the movie musical, gives it grit and substance and returns it to glory. full review

December 16, 2006
Kurt Loder, MTV

It's not just the best musical of the year (there's really no competition); it's simply one of the best movies. full review

December 14, 2006
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Jennifer Hudson is the heart and soul of Dreamgirls. When she's on the screen, the movie shines. When she's not, the whole endeavor suffers. full review

December 14, 2006
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

Audiences who go to Dreamgirls will have a good time, but theyll be going for old times sake rather than to encounter anything vital or new.

December 11, 2006
David Edelstein, New York Magazine

There's so much excitement around the opening of Dreamgirls... that I know I'm going to bring down the room by saying I think it's just okay. Well, Jennifer Hudson is more than okay. full review

November 23, 2006
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

This baby dazzles like nothing else anywhere. full review

View more Dreamgirls reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • JATbobDYLAN93
    December 5, 2008
    One of the Most Powerfull musicals ever!
  • SnugglingBunny
    August 13, 2008
    Anyone else think this movie was boring?
  • XxNatsyxX
    July 2, 2008
    This movie is great!! I love you Beyonce!!
  • SheWhoMustNotBeNamed934
    February 14, 2008
    without a doubt, the worst episode *ever.* Rest assured, I was on the Internet within minutes, registering my disgust throughout the world.
  • neogirl123
    November 23, 2007
    why isn't anika noni rose on the list of actors?? she was lorrell?? the one who slept with jimmy?? does that make her less important then the attention-gettin-little-miss-sl**ty-beyonce-who-ist-even-the-star-of-the-movie-but-she-gets-to-put-her-name-on-there-first?? hmmm??
  • msdenise08
    September 28, 2007
    and I'm telling you I'm not going.....I love that song
    I love yall too
  • phoenixrisingws
    September 16, 2007
    I love u all
  • fizzbabygurl08
    July 28, 2007
    This was one of the best movies that i have seen in a while. After watching a disapointing SAW III and the Grudge II.....Dream girls is what i needed. I hope that they do more musicals.
  • mattjb91
    July 18, 2007
    This movie is soooooooooo good. I love the music and Beyonce rocks! I loved it
  • colombianangel
    July 9, 2007
    i love this movie !!!!!!!!1

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Dreamgirls Trivia


  • In the movie Dreamgirls, which actress played the singer who got kicked out of the group?  Answer »
  • In which movie did Eddie Murphy play the role of James 'Thunder' Early?   Answer »
  • What is the name of the song that the Dreams song at the end of the movie Dreamgirls.  Answer »
  • Which Actress starred in Dreamgirls, The Pink Panther, Fade To Black, The Fighting Temptations, and Austin Powers in Goldmember?  Answer »

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