Mo’ Better Blues (1990)
| Theatrical Performance | ||
| Domestic Box Office | $16,153,000 | Details |
| International Box Office | $72 | Details |
| Worldwide Box Office | $16,153,072 | |
| OpusData ID: 28990100 More info... | ||
| Further financial details... | ||
Synopsis
Talented trumpeter Bleek Gilliam, who’s obsessed by his music and indecisive about his two girlfriends. But when he has to come to the aid of his manager and childhood friend, Bleek finds his world more fragile than he ever imagined.
Metrics
| Opening Weekend: | $4,387,360 (27.2% of total gross) |
| Legs: | 3.68 (domestic box office/biggest weekend) |
| Domestic Share: | 100.0% (domestic box office/worldwide) |
| Production Budget: | $10,000,000 (worldwide box office is 1.6 times production budget) |
| Theater counts: | 544 opening theaters/572 max. theaters, 2.8 weeks average run per theater |
| Infl. Adj. Dom. BO | $43,291,570 |
Movie Details
| Domestic Releases: | August 3rd, 1990 (Wide) by Universal, released as Mo' Better Blues |
| International Releases: | April 30th, 2026 (Limited) (New Zealand) |
| Video Release: | December 28th, 2004 by Universal Home Entertainment, released as Mo' Better Blues |
| MPA Rating: | R |
| Running Time: | 129 minutes |
| Geographical setting: | Brooklyn |
| Plot point: | Gambling, Loan Shark, Money Troubles, Musicians |
| Subgenre: | Comedy Drama |
| Time period setting: | 1960s |
| Source: | Original Screenplay |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Production Method: | Live Action |
| Creative Type: | Contemporary Fiction |
| Production/Financing Companies: | 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks |
| Production Countries: | United States |
| Languages: | English |
Weekend Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 3, 1990 | 7 | $4,387,360 | 544 | $8,065 | $4,387,360 | 1 | |
| Aug 10, 1990 | 11 | $2,439,580 | -44% | 572 | $4,265 | $8,627,580 | 2 |
| Aug 17, 1990 | 15 | $1,450,820 | -41% | 482 | $3,010 | $11,096,560 | 3 |
Weekly Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 3, 1990 | 8 | $6,188,000 | 544 | $11,375 | $6,188,000 | 1 | |
| Aug 10, 1990 | 11 | $3,457,740 | -44% | 572 | $6,045 | $9,645,740 | 2 |
Top International Territories
Box Office Summary Per Territory
| Territory | Release Date |
Opening Weekend |
Opening Weekend Screens/Theaters |
Maximum Screens/Theaters |
Theatrical Engagements |
Total Box Office |
Report Date |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 4/30/2026 | $0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | $72 | 6/2/2026 | |||
| International Total | $72 | 6/2/2026 | ||||||||
Note: Territories vary in whether they report screens or theaters. Full details on international box office data are available via our OpusData service.
Leading
| Denzel Washington | Bleek Gilliam | |
| Spike Lee | Giant |
Supporting
| Wesley Snipes | Shadow Henderson | |
| Giancarlo Esposito | Left Hand Lacey | |
| Robin Harris | Butterbean Jones | |
| Joie Lee | Indigo Downes | |
| Bill Nunn | Bottom Hammer | |
| John Turturro | Moe Flatbush | |
| Dick Anthony Williams | Big Stop Williams | |
| Cynda Williams | Clarke Bentancourt | |
| Nicholas Turturro | Josh Flatbush | |
| Jeff "Tain" Watts | Rhythm Jones | |
| Samuel L. Jackson | Madlock | |
| Leonard L. Thomas | Rod | |
| Charles Q. Murphy | Eggy | |
| Steve White | Born Knowledge | |
| Ruben Blades | Petey | |
| Abbey Lincoln | Lillian Gilliam | |
| Linda Hawkins | Jeanne | |
| Raye Dowell | Rita | |
| Angela Hall | Cora | |
| Coati Mundi | Roberto | |
| Zakee Howze | Young Bleek / Miles | |
| Deon Richmond | Tyrone | |
| Anaysha Figueroa | Shanika | |
| Raymond Anthony Thomas | Joe | |
| Sheldon Turnipseed | Benny | |
| Christopher Skeffrey | Louis | |
| Terrence Williams | Sam | |
| Darryl M. Wonge, Jr. | Miles at Birth | |
| Jelani Asar Snipes | Miles at 1 Year | |
| Glenn Williams III | Miles at 3 Years | |
| Arnold Cromer | Miles at 5 Years | |
| Leon Addison Brown | Smith | |
| Scot Anthony Robinson | Cooley | |
| Herbert Daughtry | Minister | |
| Bill Lee | Father of the Bride | |
| Branford Marsalis | Party Guest | |
| Douglas Bourne | Jimmy the Busboy | |
| Tracy Camilla Johns | Club Patron | |
| John Canada Terrell | Club Patron | |
| Monty Ross | Club Patron | |
| Carol M. Wiggins | Club Patron | |
| Isabella | Club Patron | |
| Mamie Louise Anderson | Club Patron | |
| Jon Seneca | Big Stop's Friend | |
| John Sobestanovich | Taxi Driver | |
| Flavor Flav | Impatient Movie Patron |
Production and Technical Credits
| Spike Lee | Director | |
| Spike Lee | Screenwriter | |
| Spike Lee | Producer | |
| Monty Ross | Co-Producer | |
| Jon Kilik | Line Producer | |
| Ernest Dickerson | Director of Photography | |
| Sam Pollard | Editor | |
| Bill Lee | Composer | |
| Wynn Thomas | Production Designer | |
| Robi Reed | Casting Director | |
| Randy Fletcher | Assistant Director | |
| Preston Holmes | Production Supervisor | |
| Ted Glass | Set Decorator | |
| Ruth E. Carter | Costume Designer | |
| Susie Money | Costume Supervisor | |
| Frank Stettner | Sound Mixer | |
| Tom Fleischman | Re-recording Mixer | |
| Skip Lievsay | Sound Designer | |
| Philip Stockton | Dialogue Editor | |
| Kevin Lee | Dialogue Editor | |
| Alex Steyermark | Music Editor | |
| Tom Brumberger | Special Make-up Effects | |
| Branford Marsalis | Song Writer | |
| Christopher Martin | Song Writer | |
| Keith Elam | Song Writer | |
| Lolis Eric Elie | Song Writer | |
| Jeff Ward | Stunt Coordinator |
Cast and crew with above-the-line roles are marked in bold. The line marks the division between above-the-line and below-the-line roles.
Synopsis
Talented trumpeter Bleek Gilliam, who’s obsessed by his music and indecisive about his two girlfriends. But when he has to come to the aid of his manager and childhood friend, Bleek finds his world more fragile than he ever imagined.
Metrics
| Opening Weekend: | $4,387,360 (27.2% of total gross) |
| Legs: | 3.68 (domestic box office/biggest weekend) |
| Domestic Share: | 100.0% (domestic box office/worldwide) |
| Production Budget: | $10,000,000 (worldwide box office is 1.6 times production budget) |
| Theater counts: | 544 opening theaters/572 max. theaters, 2.8 weeks average run per theater |
| Infl. Adj. Dom. BO | $43,291,570 |
Movie Details
| Domestic Releases: | August 3rd, 1990 (Wide) by Universal, released as Mo' Better Blues |
| International Releases: | April 30th, 2026 (Limited) (New Zealand) |
| Video Release: | December 28th, 2004 by Universal Home Entertainment, released as Mo' Better Blues |
| MPA Rating: | R |
| Running Time: | 129 minutes |
| Geographical setting: | Brooklyn |
| Plot point: | Gambling, Loan Shark, Money Troubles, Musicians |
| Subgenre: | Comedy Drama |
| Time period setting: | 1960s |
| Source: | Original Screenplay |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Production Method: | Live Action |
| Creative Type: | Contemporary Fiction |
| Production/Financing Companies: | 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks |
| Production Countries: | United States |
| Languages: | English |
Weekend Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 3, 1990 | 7 | $4,387,360 | 544 | $8,065 | $4,387,360 | 1 | |
| Aug 10, 1990 | 11 | $2,439,580 | -44% | 572 | $4,265 | $8,627,580 | 2 |
| Aug 17, 1990 | 15 | $1,450,820 | -41% | 482 | $3,010 | $11,096,560 | 3 |
Weekly Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 3, 1990 | 8 | $6,188,000 | 544 | $11,375 | $6,188,000 | 1 | |
| Aug 10, 1990 | 11 | $3,457,740 | -44% | 572 | $6,045 | $9,645,740 | 2 |
Top International Territories
Box Office Summary Per Territory
| Territory | Release Date |
Opening Weekend |
Opening Weekend Screens/Theaters |
Maximum Screens/Theaters |
Theatrical Engagements |
Total Box Office |
Report Date |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 4/30/2026 | $0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | $72 | 6/2/2026 | |||
| International Total | $72 | 6/2/2026 | ||||||||
Note: Territories vary in whether they report screens or theaters. Full details on international box office data are available via our OpusData service.
Leading
| Denzel Washington | Bleek Gilliam | |
| Spike Lee | Giant |
Supporting
| Wesley Snipes | Shadow Henderson | |
| Giancarlo Esposito | Left Hand Lacey | |
| Robin Harris | Butterbean Jones | |
| Joie Lee | Indigo Downes | |
| Bill Nunn | Bottom Hammer | |
| John Turturro | Moe Flatbush | |
| Dick Anthony Williams | Big Stop Williams | |
| Cynda Williams | Clarke Bentancourt | |
| Nicholas Turturro | Josh Flatbush | |
| Jeff "Tain" Watts | Rhythm Jones | |
| Samuel L. Jackson | Madlock | |
| Leonard L. Thomas | Rod | |
| Charles Q. Murphy | Eggy | |
| Steve White | Born Knowledge | |
| Ruben Blades | Petey | |
| Abbey Lincoln | Lillian Gilliam | |
| Linda Hawkins | Jeanne | |
| Raye Dowell | Rita | |
| Angela Hall | Cora | |
| Coati Mundi | Roberto | |
| Zakee Howze | Young Bleek / Miles | |
| Deon Richmond | Tyrone | |
| Anaysha Figueroa | Shanika | |
| Raymond Anthony Thomas | Joe | |
| Sheldon Turnipseed | Benny | |
| Christopher Skeffrey | Louis | |
| Terrence Williams | Sam | |
| Darryl M. Wonge, Jr. | Miles at Birth | |
| Jelani Asar Snipes | Miles at 1 Year | |
| Glenn Williams III | Miles at 3 Years | |
| Arnold Cromer | Miles at 5 Years | |
| Leon Addison Brown | Smith | |
| Scot Anthony Robinson | Cooley | |
| Herbert Daughtry | Minister | |
| Bill Lee | Father of the Bride | |
| Branford Marsalis | Party Guest | |
| Douglas Bourne | Jimmy the Busboy | |
| Tracy Camilla Johns | Club Patron | |
| John Canada Terrell | Club Patron | |
| Monty Ross | Club Patron | |
| Carol M. Wiggins | Club Patron | |
| Isabella | Club Patron | |
| Mamie Louise Anderson | Club Patron | |
| Jon Seneca | Big Stop's Friend | |
| John Sobestanovich | Taxi Driver | |
| Flavor Flav | Impatient Movie Patron |
Production and Technical Credits
| Spike Lee | Director | |
| Spike Lee | Screenwriter | |
| Spike Lee | Producer | |
| Monty Ross | Co-Producer | |
| Jon Kilik | Line Producer | |
| Ernest Dickerson | Director of Photography | |
| Sam Pollard | Editor | |
| Bill Lee | Composer | |
| Wynn Thomas | Production Designer | |
| Robi Reed | Casting Director | |
| Randy Fletcher | Assistant Director | |
| Preston Holmes | Production Supervisor | |
| Ted Glass | Set Decorator | |
| Ruth E. Carter | Costume Designer | |
| Susie Money | Costume Supervisor | |
| Frank Stettner | Sound Mixer | |
| Tom Fleischman | Re-recording Mixer | |
| Skip Lievsay | Sound Designer | |
| Philip Stockton | Dialogue Editor | |
| Kevin Lee | Dialogue Editor | |
| Alex Steyermark | Music Editor | |
| Tom Brumberger | Special Make-up Effects | |
| Branford Marsalis | Song Writer | |
| Christopher Martin | Song Writer | |
| Keith Elam | Song Writer | |
| Lolis Eric Elie | Song Writer | |
| Jeff Ward | Stunt Coordinator |
Cast and crew with above-the-line roles are marked in bold. The line marks the division between above-the-line and below-the-line roles.