Overview
A legendary comedian rises from obscurity to create a cultural phenomenon, proving that laughter can break barriers.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- irreverent
- energetic
- comedy night
- inspirational viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a bold, highly entertaining dramatization of Rudy Ray Moore's unlikely rise, led by Eddie Murphy's acclaimed comeback performance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The story follows real-life comedian and rap pioneer Rudy Ray Moore as he develops Dolemite and enters filmmaking.
Rudy Ray Moore assembles collaborators and creates a film after conventional entertainment gatekeepers dismiss his ambitions.
The narrative depicts the emergence of Dolemite as a 1970s blaxploitation phenomenon and foregrounds its distinctive cultural appeal.
Rudy's brash hustling and belief in his own persona drive his transition from comedy and rap performance into movie production.
Films like Dolemite Is My Name, and why
The Disaster Artist
shared biographical filmmaking struggle, irreverent comedy, and determined outsider protagonist
Ed Wood
shared period comedy, show-business ambition, and charismatic real-life creative figure
Be Cool
shared music-and-comedy underdog energy, Black cultural history, and ensemble performance
Movie Details
- Director
- Craig Brewer
- Release Date
- 2019-10-04
- Runtime
- 118 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (1338)
Cast
- Eddie Murphy
- Wesley Snipes
- Da'Vine Joy Randolph
- Keegan-Michael Key
- Mike Epps
- Craig Robinson
- Tituss Burgess
- Kodi Smit-McPhee
- Snoop Dogg
- Ron Cephas Jones
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Dolemite Is My Name about?
- A brash comedian turns an outrageous alter ego into a groundbreaking 1970s film phenomenon through sheer nerve, collaboration, and self-belief.
- What is Dolemite Is My Name like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Dolemite Is My Name as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Dolemite Is My Name violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Dolemite Is My Name.
- What did critics think of Dolemite Is My Name?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a bold, highly entertaining dramatization of Rudy Ray Moore's unlikely rise, led by Eddie Murphy's acclaimed comeback performance.
- Which films are like Dolemite Is My Name?
- Films with a similar feel include The Disaster Artist, Ed Wood, and Be Cool.
- How long is Dolemite Is My Name?
- Dolemite Is My Name runs 118 minutes.
- Where can I watch Dolemite Is My Name?
- In United States, Dolemite Is My Name streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
