Blitz Bazawule helms the 2023 American musical historical drama film, The Color Purple, which follows a coming-of-age storey. The same-titled stage musical, which itself was based on Alice Walker’s 1982 novel, served as the inspiration for Marcus Gardley’s screenplay. Following the 1985 picture that Steven Spielberg directed and Quincy Jones produced, this is the second cinematic version of the book. The Broadway producers Scott Sanders and Oprah Winfrey the latter of whom previously featured in the 1985 film return to the production as producers of the 2023 picture with Spielberg and Jones.

Danielle Brooks, Taraji P, Fantasia Barrino, and Colman Domingo star in the critically acclaimed film The Color Purple, which is nominated for an Oscar and is based on the Broadway musical by Allee Willis, Brenda Russell, Bray, and Marsha Norman, which is based on the best-selling novel by Alice Walkers. The movie has been nominated for two BAFTA Awards for best lead actress (Barrino) and best costume design. It has also gotten five Critics Choice Award nods for Best Picture, Best Acting Ensemble, Best Supporting Actress (Brooks), Best Hair and Makeup, and Best Costume Design.

Release date of The Color Purple

On November 20, 2023, the movie made its international debut in London. On December 25, 2023, it was released in theatres. The release date was initially set for December 20, 2023, but Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom took precedence.

Cast of The Color Purple

• Fantasia Barrino as Celie Harris-Johnson
• Phylicia Pearl Mpasi as young Celie
• Taraji P. Henson as Shug Avery
• Danielle Brooks as Sofia
• Colman Domingo as Albert “Mister” Johnson
• Corey Hawkins as Harpo Johnson
• H.E.R.^[a] as Mary “Squeak” Agnes
• Halle Bailey as Nettie Harris
• Ciara as older Nettie
• Louis Gossett Jr. as Ol’ Mister Johnson
• Jon Batiste as Grady
• Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as Mama
• David Alan Grier as Rev. Samuel Avery
• Deon Cole as Alfonso
• Tamela Mann as First Lady
• Elizabeth Marvel as Miss Millie
• Stephen Hill as Henry “Buster” Broadnax

Plot of The Color Purple 

Adolescent Celie Harris, living in 1909 Georgia, is raised by her violent father, Alfonso, and sister, Nettie. After Celie’s mother died away some time ago, Alfonso began raping her, which led to Celie getting pregnant twice. As he had done with Celie’s first kid, Alfonso takes away Celie’s second child when she gives birth. Albert “Mister” Johnson, a local farmer and father of three, is the man he compels her to wed.

Nettie moves into Mister’s farmhouse when Alfonso tries to harass her, and he banishes her when she rejects him. Before she leaves, she vows to write to Celie every day. By 1917, Mister and Celie remain wed, but Harpo, their son, marries the strong, rebellious Sofia. After attempting to construct a house, Harpo converts it into a juke bar. Celie makes Sofia his buddy, but when he tries to physically abuse her, she runs away.

Shug Avery, an independent jazz singer, visits the city one day to play at the bar. Mary “Squeak” Agnes is the name of the woman Harpo has been seeing. Mary Agnes interrupts him as he attempts to dance with Sofia, which leads to a brawl that completely destroys the venue. Shug chooses to bring Celie rather than allow her to stay with him despite Celie’s pleas. Upon their return to Mister’s house, Shug discovers and shares with Celie a letter from Nettie addressed to her in the mailbox, which discloses that Nettie has been residing in Africa.

When the mayor’s wife calls Sofia back to Georgia, she declines and gets into a physical altercation, which leads to her detention. After serving her six-year sentence, she is freed and is forced to work for the mayor’s wife despite her terrible sadness, which seems to have sapped all of her ferocity.

In front of Mister’s father and their family on Easter Sunday in 1943, Celie confronts him and takes Shug with her. They travel to Memphis with Mary Agnes, who helps Sofia snap out of her coma. Celie swears to Mister that everything in his life will fall apart until he treats her well. When Alfonso passes away in 1945, his wife discloses that he was neither Celie’s or Nettie’s real father. As a result, the two sisters inherit the grocery shop and the house from their mother. With assistance from Shug, Sofia, and Mary Agnes, Celie opens a store selling apparel for pants. Mister has turned into a wretched alcoholic in the meanwhile. 

He enters Celie’s shop and purchases a pair of trousers after promising to treat her fairly. She consents to keep up a friendship with him even if she is apprehensive to meet him. Mister plans to get Nettie and Celie back together. Together with her children, Adam and Olivia, Celie reunites with Nettie in 1947. She extends her hand to join them in giving gratitude to God for their progress.

Review

227 reviewers have left reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, a review aggregate website, with an average rating of 7.3/10, and 83 percent of them are favourable. The consensus on the website is as follows: “The Color Purple is a crowd-pleasing testimony to perseverance in the face of adversity, building on the legacy of the previous film adaption while including parts of the stage musical. 

Based on reviews from 49 critics, the weighted average site Metacritic gave the movie a score of 72 out of 100, signifying “generally good” reviews. According to PostTrak, 92% of moviegoers gave the movie a good rating, while CinemaScore’s survey of audiences gave the movie an average grade of “A” on an A+ to F scale. It was named one of the top movies of 2023 by a number of publications, including the New York Post.

Where can I watch The Color Purple online?

Starting on Friday, February 16, only subscribers will be able to watch The Color Purple on Max, formerly known as HBO Max. Additionally, the 1985 Steven Spielberg film may be viewed on the streaming service. The starting prices for the ad-supported plans are $9.99 for Max, $19.9 for the Ultimate plan, which includes 4K streaming and more, and $15.99 for the basic, ad-free plan.