Born on a sharecropping plantation in Northern Florida, Ray Charles went blind at seven. Inspired by a fiercely independent mom who insisted he make his own way, He found his calling and his gift behind a piano keyboard. Touring across the Southern musical circuit, the soulful singer gained a reputation and then exploded with worldwide fame when he pioneered coupling gospel and country together.
Directed by Taylor Hackford
blindness and impaired vision
country music
jazz
loss of loved one
overdose
bus ride
georgia
melancholy
record producer
biography
rags to riches
childhood trauma
gospel
indianapolis
record label
recording studio
pianist
usa history
cautionary
Rank
#59 in 2004·#2763 overall
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
3.8 / 5
Where to Watch
Cast
Jamie Foxx
Ray Charles
Kerry Washington
Della Bea Robinson
Regina King
Margie Hendricks
Harry Lennix
Joe Adams
Clifton Powell
Jeff Brown
Bokeem Woodbine
Fathead Newman
Curtis Armstrong
Ahmet Ertegun
Richard Schiff
Jerry Wexler
Larenz Tate
Quincy Jones
Terrence Howard
Gossie McGee
David Krumholtz
Milt Shaw
Wendell Pierce
Wilbur Brassfield
Crew
Taylor Hackford
Director
Craig Armstrong
Original Music Composer
Paul Hirsch
Editor
Paweł Edelman
Director of Photography
Karen Elise Baldwin
Producer
Taylor Hackford
Producer
William J. Immerman
Executive Producer
Taylor Hackford
Story
Nancy Klopper
Casting
Sharen Davis
Costume Design
Karen Baker Landers
Supervising Sound Editor
Camille Friend
Hairstylist
Popular Reviews
482 reviews
Felipe Noboa
8.0★ · 05/29/26
UNDERRATED BIOPIC
Man la musica de este hp es increible
Man como carajo Jamie Foxx actúa tan bien como ciego
UNDERRATED BIOPIC
Man la musica de este hp es increible
Man como carajo Jamie Foxx actúa tan bien como ciego
Luis TorresPRO
7.0★ · 05/14/26
You lay down the pipe now 😂😂😂😂
You lay down the pipe now 😂😂😂😂
Celso SánchezPRO
8.0★ · 05/01/26
I probably would’ve been tearing up the dance floor if I was alive during this cause god damn.
I probably would’ve been tearing up the dance floor if I was alive during this cause god damn.
Sami Amin
8.0★ · 04/23/26
Pretty good great soundtrack
Pretty good great soundtrack
Evan Worden
8.0★ · 04/10/26
Jamie Fox was absolutely incredible in this. My kinda movie but definitely had some parts at the beginning that were a little messy but it came together super well.
Also it’s so sad how this story seems to follow similar paths for most creatives. Sad but maybe that’s part of the price you pay to be great. ** “I never wanted to be famous. I only wanted to be great.”- Ray Charles Robinson**
Jamie Fox was absolutely incredible in this. My kinda movie but definitely had some parts at the beginning that were a little messy but it came together super well.
Also it’s so sad how this story seems to follow similar paths for most creatives. Sad but maybe that’s part of the price you pay to be great. ** “I never wanted to be famous. I only wanted to be great.”- Ray Charles Robinson**