Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- uplifting
- witty
- sincere
- feel good movie night
- family gathering
What critics said
Critics generally found the musical numbers entertaining and praised Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton’s chemistry, but considered the surrounding story uneven, inauthentic, and too lacking in conflict.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The small-town choir pursues a national competition while framing its performances as expressions of faith and praise.
Vi Rose, G.G., and the younger singers navigate disagreements about leadership, musical direction, and competition strategy.
The choir’s rehearsals and escalating efforts to win the national competition organize the film’s central narrative.
The film emphasizes colorful, upbeat gospel and pop-inflected choir performances in a broadly accessible commercial style.
Films like Joyful Noise, and why
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit
ensemble musical comedy centered on competitive performance and community spirit
The Fighting Temptations
uplifting choir competition, faith-centered themes, and accessible musical numbers
A Prairie Home Companion
small-town musical ensemble balancing personal conflict with a high-stakes performance
The Muppets
feel-good music-driven comedy with charismatic performers and sentimental themes
Movie Details
- Director
- Todd Graff
- Release Date
- 2012-01-13
- Runtime
- 117 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (170)
Cast
- Queen Latifah
- Dolly Parton
- Keke Palmer
- Jeremy Jordan
- Dexter Darden
- Courtney B. Vance
- Jesse L. Martin
- Kirk Franklin
- Angela Grovey
- Andy Karl
Where to watch in United States
- 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 Joyful Noise about?
- A determined Southern choir battles internal disagreements and daunting competition on its way toward a national gospel showcase.
- What is Joyful Noise like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Joyful Noise as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Joyful Noise violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Joyful Noise.
- What did critics think of Joyful Noise?
- Critics generally found the musical numbers entertaining and praised Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton’s chemistry, but considered the surrounding story uneven, inauthentic, and too lacking in conflict.
- Which films are like Joyful Noise?
- Films with a similar feel include Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, The Fighting Temptations, A Prairie Home Companion, and The Muppets.
- How long is Joyful Noise?
- Joyful Noise runs 117 minutes.
- Where can I watch Joyful Noise?
- In United States, Joyful Noise is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
