Beyond the Lights

Critics Consensus

Thanks to smart direction and a powerhouse performance from Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Beyond the Lights transcends its formulaic storyline to deliver thoroughly entertaining drama.

83%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 89

75%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 19,232
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Movie Info

Beyond the Lights is the story of Noni, the music world's latest superstar. But not all is what it seems, and the pressures of fame have Noni on the edge - until she meets Kaz Nicol, a young cop and aspiring politician who's been assigned to her detail. Drawn to each other, Noni and Kaz fall fast and hard, despite the protests of those around them who urge them to put their career ambitions ahead of their romance. But it is ultimately Kaz's love that gives Noni the courage to find her own voice and break free to become the artist she was meant to be. (c) Relativity
  • Rating:
    PG-13 (sexual content including suggestive gestures, partial nudity, language and thematic elements)
  • Genre:
    Drama
  • Directed By:
    Gina Prince-Bythewood
  • Written By:
    Gina Prince-Bythewood
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Box Office:
    $14,617,945
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Relativity Media

Cast

Gugu Mbatha-Raw
as Noni
Nate Parker
as Kaz Nicol
Minnie Driver
as Macy Jean
Danny Glover
as Captain Nicol
Machine Gun Kelly
as Kid Culprit
Darryl Stephens
as Quentin
Elaine Tan
as April
Isaac Keys
as Jonas
Tyler Christopher
as Liam King
Benito Martinez
as Jesse Soria
Aisha Hinds
as J Stanley
India Jean-Jacques
as Noni (Age 10)
Deidrie Henry
as Felicia
Estelle
Malieek Straughter
as Billboard Awards Stage Manager
Brandon Wilson
as Male Fan
Jordan Belfi
as Steve Sams
Greg Davis Jr
as Officer Aforo
Sky Soleil
as LAPD Cop #2
Hayley Marie Norman
as Shai-Bartender
Robert Locke
as Emcee
Laurie-Anne Gibson
as Choreographer Gibson
Aml Ameen
as Trey
Jesse Woodrow
as Carl
Onahoua Rodriguez
as Donia
Wren T. Brown
as Pastor Marks
Sean Anderson
as Himself
Irving Whitlow
as Irv
Wade Allain-Marcus
as Photographer
Ithamar Enriquez
as Spanish Karaoke Guy
Erika Ringor
as Town Car Driver
Chris Barnes
as Worthy Farm Stage Manager
Hector Bucio
as Man at Mexico Market
Tom Wright
as Reverend Brown
Tina D'Marco
as Vendor
Amy Johnson
as Reporter
Debra Lee Ortega
as Herself
Roland Martin
as Himself
Mark Ridley Thomas
as Himself
Chaka Khan
as Herself
Amare Stoudemire
as Himself
Don Lemon
as Himself
Gayle King
as Herself
DeAndre Jordan
as Himself
James Hardy
as Himself
Ashley Hamilton
as Himself
Brandee Evans
as Dancer
Christina Webber
as Dancer
Anisha Gibbs
as Dancer
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Critic Reviews for Beyond the Lights

All Critics (89) | Top Critics (32) | Fresh (74) | Rotten (15)

  • In every scene here, Prince-Bythewood calmly and sensitively melts our resistance to the outlandish, outsized quality of her plot and stays true to the message she wants to deliver without ever getting pious or preachy.

    Jan 5, 2015 | Full Review…

    Dan Callahan

    TheWrap
    Top Critic

  • Has the elements of a classic backstage story, but they don't quite crystallize into an integral drama.

    Dec 1, 2014 | Full Review…

    Richard Brody

    New Yorker
    Top Critic

  • It's a movie about a rising superstar that features two of them-Mbatha-Raw and Parker, both enormously appealing, impossibly attractive performers with big futures ahead of them.

    Nov 14, 2014 | Full Review…

    Dana Stevens

    Slate
    Top Critic

  • "Beyond the Lights" is a faint shadow of 1992's "The Bodyguard," without the star power of Whitney Houston or Kevin Costner.

    Nov 14, 2014 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

    Rafer Guzman

    Newsday
    Top Critic

  • Director Prince-Bythewood, who made the move from television to the big-screen in 2000 with the terrific romance Love and Basketball has a way with actors.

    Nov 14, 2014

    Lisa Kennedy

    Denver Post
    Top Critic

  • Unfortunately for a film about the importance of keeping it real, the drama here is largely formulaic, and the finish line crosses into the realm of artistic fantasy.

    Nov 14, 2014 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Matthew Lickona

    San Diego Reader
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (89)

Audience Reviews for Beyond the Lights

  • Jul 07, 2015
    A cop saves the life of a suicidal rising star, and they begin a frowned-upon romance. While the film's heart is in the right place and its depiction of the music world is a well-aimed barb, there is something off about the pace and plot of this film. It is essentially an emotional, over-wrought scene followed by a montage, followed by an emotional, over-wrought scene, and the plot points of the romance are awfully quick and - you guessed it - over-wrought. The characters jump to conclusions that no real, reasonable lovers would reach, and when the plot calls for a sincere moment, the film settles for a montage that doesn't reveal enough about their journey. Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Nate Parker are acceptable in their roles, but in their tender scenes together, there's something insouciant about much of their acting, as though the characters they create aren't making real and vital decisions. Overall, Beyond the Lights would have benefited from reworking its plot and stronger performances.
    Jim H Super Reviewer
  • Apr 09, 2015
    Despite predictable cliches and one really boring performance, Prince-Bythewood still constructed a surprisingly low key and mature love story. For something I assumed would be terrible, it's a remarkable accomplishment.
    Alec B Super Reviewer
  • Feb 17, 2015
    Striking just the right amount of emotion without being too sappy, "Beyond the Lights" tells the story of a pop-star submerged in stardom, with no freedom from her mother, as she tries to grasp the concept of true love and reality. Fame can be hard, and this film explores both that and the ideal of a happy life without it. I absolutely loved how this film as executed, and it;s smart script isolates itself from any cliched story that may be similar to it. It distances itself from the predictable story you think it will be and opens your mind. "Beyond the Lights" helms a breakout star performance, a great script, anice balance of terrible and good music, and I thoroughly believe that this is a fantastic film that could have failed miserably. Overall, I highly recommend this film, especially to those who are skeptical or have no idea what it is.
    KJ P Super Reviewer
  • Feb 14, 2015
    The usual tale of glamour in the spotlight and learning to find yourself because you cannot cope with it all. Very well performed with some actually really good songs. This surprised me and was far more entertaining than the synopsis will have you believe.
    Ian W Super Reviewer
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