Mo' Better Blues (1990)

Theatrical Performance
Domestic Box Office $16,153,000Details
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 $41,262,876

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists

See the Box Office tab (Domestic) and International tab (International and Worldwide) for more Cumulative Box Office Records.


Watch Now On

iTunes:iTunes

Movie Details

Domestic Releases: August 3rd, 1990 (Wide) by Universal
Video Release: December 28th, 2004 by Universal Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 129 minutes
Comparisons: vs. Jungle Fever
Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: Musicians, Comedy Drama, 1960s, Set in Brooklyn, Money Troubles, Loan Shark, Gambling
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

Ranking on other Records and Milestones

RecordRankAmountChart
Date
Days In
Release
Never Wide Domestic 49 $16,153,000 Aug 3, 1990 0

Compare this performance with other movies…

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
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

Daily Box Office Performance

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
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

Leading Cast

Denzel Washington Bleek Gilliam
Spike Lee Giant

Supporting Cast

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 Isabella Club Patron
Mamie Louise Anderson Club Patron
Jon Seneca Big Stop's Friend
John Sobestanovich Taxi Driver
Flavor Flav Impatient Movie Patron

For a description of the different acting role types we use to categorize acting perfomances, see our Glossary.

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

The bold credits above the line are the "above-the-line" credits, the other the "below-the-line" credits.


  1. Summary
  2. News
  3. Box Office
  4. International
  5. Video Sales
  6. Cast & Crew
  7. Trailer

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 $41,262,876

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists

See the Box Office tab (Domestic) and International tab (International and Worldwide) for more Cumulative Box Office Records.


Watch Now On

iTunes:iTunes

Movie Details

Domestic Releases: August 3rd, 1990 (Wide) by Universal
Video Release: December 28th, 2004 by Universal Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 129 minutes
Comparisons: vs. Jungle Fever
Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: Musicians, Comedy Drama, 1960s, Set in Brooklyn, Money Troubles, Loan Shark, Gambling
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

Ranking on other Records and Milestones

RecordRankAmountChart
Date
Days In
Release
Never Wide Domestic 49 $16,153,000 Aug 3, 1990 0

Leading Cast

Denzel Washington Bleek Gilliam
Spike Lee Giant

Supporting Cast

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 Isabella Club Patron
Mamie Louise Anderson Club Patron
Jon Seneca Big Stop's Friend
John Sobestanovich Taxi Driver
Flavor Flav Impatient Movie Patron

For a description of the different acting role types we use to categorize acting perfomances, see our Glossary.

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

The bold credits above the line are the "above-the-line" credits, the other the "below-the-line" credits.

Compare this performance with other movies…

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
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

Daily Box Office Performance

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
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