Overview
A powerful journey through the life of a musical legend who fought against the odds.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- propulsive
- flamboyant
- troubled
- music movie night
- biopic marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film to be a dynamic James Brown homage elevated by Chadwick Boseman's unforgettable performance, while noting its shapeless structure and tendency to mythologize or omit aspects of his life.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film dramatizes James Brown's childhood, imprisonment, rise as a singer, and later personal collapse.
James Brown's journey is recalled through jumps among his childhood, early career, 1970s prominence, and later years.
Brown's stage movement, songwriting, and creative daring repeatedly express his ambitions and emotional volatility.
Brown's success and public influence are tied to African-American self-worth, racism, and changing possibilities in show business.
Films like Get on Up, and why
Ray
music biopic driven by a charismatic lead performance, racial history, and a volatile artistic personality
Walk the Line
energetic musician biopic combining stage spectacle, personal excess, and complicated family relationships
Cadillac Records
ambitious biographical music drama centered on African-American performance, cultural impact, and mythmaking
The Doors
dynamic performer-focused biopic with fractured chronology and a commanding central performance
Movie Details
- Director
- Tate Taylor
- Release Date
- 2014-08-01
- Runtime
- 139 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (588)
Cast
- Chadwick Boseman
- Nelsan Ellis
- Dan Aykroyd
- Viola Davis
- Lennie James
- Fred Melamed
- Jill Scott
- Octavia Spencer
- Nick Eversman
- Tika Sumpter
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Starz Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Get on Up about?
- A kinetic portrait of James Brown that turns his musical genius, racial defiance, and destructive appetites into a volatile stage spectacle.
- What is Get on Up like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Get on Up as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Get on Up violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Get on Up as moderate.
- What did critics think of Get on Up?
- Critics broadly found the film to be a dynamic James Brown homage elevated by Chadwick Boseman's unforgettable performance, while noting its shapeless structure and tendency to mythologize or omit aspects of his life.
- Which films are like Get on Up?
- Films with a similar feel include Ray, Walk the Line, Cadillac Records, and The Doors.
- How long is Get on Up?
- Get on Up runs 139 minutes.
- Where can I watch Get on Up?
- In United States, Get on Up streams on Starz Apple TV channel.
