Waiting to Exhale

Waiting to Exhale (1995)

  • 52% of critics liked it
    (25 reviews)

  • 78% of users liked it
    (37,358 ratings)

A surprise Hollywood hit, this film is based on the novel of the same name by Terry McMillan and centers on four well-to-do African-American women and their relationships with men and one another. All of them are "holding their breath" until the day they can feel comfortable in a committed… More

Play Trailer

R, 2 hr. 1 min.
Directed By
Forest Whitaker
Genres
Drama, Comedy
In Theaters
Dec 22, 1995 Wide
On DVD
Mar 6, 2001
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

  • Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

    Never escapes the queasy aura of Melrose Place: just another story about beautiful people with small problems.

  • Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

    A pleasant if undemanding piece of work that is diverting to sit through though it won't stand up to any kind of rigorous examination.

  • Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

    With one possible exception, none of its women is at all likable.

  • Susan Stark, Detroit News

    For all the pleasure there is in seeing effective, great-looking black women grappling with major life issues on screen, Waiting to Exhale is an uneven piece.

  • James Berardinelli, ReelViews

    With the exception of Bernadine, I never felt anything for the women populating this film, as they failed to capture my interest or sympathy.

Read all 12 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Tim S


    Meh.

  • Nani V


    It gets a little slow towards the end...but, it's okay.

  • Candy R


    Movie about friendship and how very different women deal with their partners.

  • danny d


    a movie about angry chicks

  • Sunil J


    A cute movie I saw when I was a bit too young and just rewatched. I liked the characters but there was a bit sloppy stories that were a little too overdone or one-sided.

Cast

See full cast

Trailers & Clips

facebook_logo

Now you can share movies with your friends on Facebook!

  • Discover movies your friends are watching
  • Keep track of what you want to see
  • Add your reviews to your Timeline