Little Richard

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The documentary traces the life and career of musician Little Richard. Production began in December 2020, when it was announced Lisa Cortés would direct and produce, with Rolling Stone Films producing and Dee Rees executive producing. In May 2022, CNN Films and HBO Max joined as co-producers. The film premiered at Sundance on January 19, 2023, then screened at South by Southwest on March 13, 2023, and at the Douglass Theater in Macon, Georgia on April 14, 2023. It was released theatrically on April 21, 2023, and premiered on CNN on September 4, 2023. Critics responded strongly: on Rotten Tomatoes, 96% of 48 reviews are positive with an average rating of 7.8/10, and the site's consensus reads: 'Woooo! An engaging tribute to the rock pioneer, Little Richard: I Am Everything should shut up anyone who doubts the title's veracity.' Metacritic assigned a score of 79 out of 100 based on five critics, indicating 'generally favorable' reviews. The film was nominated for a 2023 Peabody Award.

Reader's Guide

The documentary features original music by Tamar-kali, Valerie June, and Cory Henry. The soundtrack was released on June 16, 2023, on Varèse Sarabande and distributed by Concord. Jonathan Finegold served as music supervisor and co-produced the original soundtrack alongside Andy Fisher. The film's release strategy included a world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2023, followed by a screening at South by Southwest on March 13, 2023, and a special screening at the Douglass Theater in Macon, Georgia on April 14, 2023. Magnolia Pictures acquired distribution rights shortly after Sundance and released the film on April 21, 2023. The documentary later premiered on CNN on September 4, 2023. Critical reception was strong: 96% of 48 critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave positive reviews, with an average rating of 7.8/10. The film earned a nomination for a 2023 Peabody Award.

Did You Know?

• The film had its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2023.
• 96% of 48 critics' reviews on Rotten Tomatoes are positive, with an average rating of 7.8/10.
• The documentary was a nominee for a 2023 Peabody Award.
• The soundtrack was released on June 16, 2023, on Varèse Sarabande and distributed by Concord.
• The film screened at the Douglass Theater in Macon, Georgia on April 14, 2023.

Production & Creative Vision

In December 2020, it was announced Lisa Cortés would direct and produce a documentary revolving around Little Richard, with Rolling Stone Films set to produce, and Dee Rees executive producing. In May 2022, it was announced CNN Films and HBO Max would co-produce the film.

Festival Run & Multi-Platform Release

The film had its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2023. Shortly after, Magnolia Pictures acquired distribution rights to the film. It also screened at South by Southwest on March 13, 2023 and at the Douglass Theater in Macon, Georgia on April 14, 2023. It was released on April 21, 2023. It premiered on September 4, 2023, on CNN.

Critical Acclaim & Award Recognition

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 96% of 48 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.8/10. The website's consensus reads: 'Woooo! An engaging tribute to the rock pioneer, Little Richard: I Am Everything should shut up anyone who doubts the title's veracity.' Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 79 out of 100 based on five critics, indicating 'generally favorable' reviews. Little Richard: I Am Everything was a nominee for a 2023 Peabody Award.

Original Soundtrack & Musical Collaborators

The documentary features original music by Tamar-kali, Valerie June, and Cory Henry. On June 16, 2023, the soundtrack was released on Varèse Sarabande and distributed by Concord. Jonathan Finegold served as the music supervisor of the film, and he also co-produced the original soundtrack alongside Andy Fisher.