Once Upon a Time in Harlem (2026)

Once Upon a Time in Harlem poster
Theatrical Performance
Domestic Box Office n/a
OpusData ID: 811960100 More info...
Further financial details...

Synopsis

A decade after his death, one of the most significant and compelling filmmakers of the past century has one last trick up his sleeve: a trove of never-before-seen footage that he believed to be the most important he ever filmed. On a summer evening in 1972, a pivotal generation of Harlem Renaissance artists and intellectuals gathered at Duke Ellington’s townhouse. For over three hours, this extraordinary group - many of whom had not seen each other in fifty years - reminisced, critiqued, argued, laughed, and drank while wrestling with their place in a rapidly shifting cultural landscape.

Metrics

Movie Details

Domestic Releases: October 16th, 2026 (Limited) by Neon
MPA Rating: PG-13 for some disturbing images, strong racial language, smoking, and brief partial nudity.
(Rating bulletin 2948 (cert #56129), 8/5/2026)
Running Time: 100 minutes
Film festival: Sundance Film Festival 2026
Geographical setting: Harlem, New York, New York City
Subgenre: Social and Cultural Documentary
Time period setting: 1970s, Renaissance
Source:Based on Real Life Events
Genre:Documentary
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Factual
Production/Financing Companies: The Cromwell Harbor Foundation, Ford Foundation, Just Films, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Production Countries: United States
Languages: English

Production and Technical Credits

William Greaves    Director
David Greaves    Director
Liani Greaves    Director
Anne de Mare    Producer
Liani Greaves    Producer
Lynn True    Editor
Anne de Mare    Editor
William Greaves    Cinematographer

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.

Full financial estimates for this film, including domestic and international box office, video sales, video rentals, TV and ancillary revenue are available through our research services. For more information, please contact us at research@the-numbers.com.


Synopsis

A decade after his death, one of the most significant and compelling filmmakers of the past century has one last trick up his sleeve: a trove of never-before-seen footage that he believed to be the most important he ever filmed. On a summer evening in 1972, a pivotal generation of Harlem Renaissance artists and intellectuals gathered at Duke Ellington’s townhouse. For over three hours, this extraordinary group - many of whom had not seen each other in fifty years - reminisced, critiqued, argued, laughed, and drank while wrestling with their place in a rapidly shifting cultural landscape.

Metrics

Movie Details

Domestic Releases: October 16th, 2026 (Limited) by Neon
MPA Rating: PG-13 for some disturbing images, strong racial language, smoking, and brief partial nudity.
(Rating bulletin 2948 (cert #56129), 8/5/2026)
Running Time: 100 minutes
Film festival: Sundance Film Festival 2026
Geographical setting: Harlem, New York, New York City
Subgenre: Social and Cultural Documentary
Time period setting: 1970s, Renaissance
Source:Based on Real Life Events
Genre:Documentary
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Factual
Production/Financing Companies: The Cromwell Harbor Foundation, Ford Foundation, Just Films, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Production Countries: United States
Languages: English

Production and Technical Credits

William Greaves    Director
David Greaves    Director
Liani Greaves    Director
Anne de Mare    Producer
Liani Greaves    Producer
Lynn True    Editor
Anne de Mare    Editor
William Greaves    Cinematographer

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.

Full financial estimates for this film, including domestic and international box office, video sales, video rentals, TV and ancillary revenue are available through our research services. For more information, please contact us at research@the-numbers.com.