Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project

Play trailer

1:05

Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project

2023

1h 36m

Documentary

Biography

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

32 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

GOING TO MARS: THE NIKKI GIOVANNI PROJECT travels through time and space to reveal the enduring influence of Nikki Giovanni, one of America's greatest living artists and social commentators. Giovanni reckons with the inevitable passing of time in intimate vérité and revealing archival footage. The film is a collision of memories, moments in American history, live readings, and visually innovative treatments of her poetry.

Watch on HBO Max

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project takes a suitably inventive -- and very enjoyable -- approach to documenting a brilliant artist's life and times.

Read Critics Reviews

Cath Clarke

Guardian

03/20/2025

4/5

Her poems, read by Giovanni herself and the actor Taraji P Henson, made the hairs on the back of my neck prickle.

Go to Full Review

Carmen Phillips

Autostraddle

01/17/2024

Here are two Black queer icons, both standing at the precipice of life’s intersections... They may spar with their intellect might, but they also take boundless care of each other. The resulting dance is breathtaking.

Go to Full Review

Christy Lemire

FilmWeek (LAist)

11/29/2023

Nikki Giovanni is so cool... Just being in her presence is more than enough.

Go to Full Review

Rosalie Kicks

MovieJawn

06/19/2024

2.75/4

What makes this special is the subject, Nikki Giovanni. The filmmakers weave a beautiful portrait of an inspiration. Its impossible to not be inspired by this amazing woman.

Go to Full Review

Robert Roten

Laramie Movie Scope

01/17/2024

B

Nikki comes across as someone who does not compromise when it comes to her principles. This gets her in trouble with both conservatives and liberals. Nikki is a woman who speaks her mind, and she doesn't give a damn what anyone thinks of her.

Go to Full Review

Abby Olcese

Paste Magazine

01/12/2024

7/10

Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project does an admirable job capturing the aesthetic of Nikki Giovanni’s life and poetry. It offers... glimpses into her ongoing evolution as an artist. Unfortunately, those glimpses don’t offer enough to be memorable.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Melissa B

@RT49940901 04/25/2024

Really beautiful storytelling here. Nikki Giovanni is such an important artist.

See more

01/13/2024

There is so much depth and hope to this film. I am going to watch it again.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Joe Brewster

Director

Michele Stephenson

Director

Nikki Giovanni

Self

Taraji P. Henson

Voice

Joe Brewster

Writer

Michele Stephenson

Writer

Jane Fonda in Five Acts

97%

90%

Jane Fonda in Five Acts

Watchlist

Pamela, a Love Story

96%

92%

Pamela, a Love Story

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Pamela, a Love Story

You Can Go Now!

100%

%

You Can Go Now!

Watchlist

Show Me the Picture: The Story of Jim Marshall

91%

95%

Show Me the Picture: The Story of Jim Marshall

Watchlist

McCurry: the Pursuit of Color

%

%

McCurry: the Pursuit of Color

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project: Teaser Trailer

1:05

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

GOING TO MARS: THE NIKKI GIOVANNI PROJECT travels through time and space to reveal the enduring influence of Nikki Giovanni, one of America's greatest living artists and social commentators. Giovanni reckons with the inevitable passing of time in intimate vérité and revealing archival footage. The film is a collision of memories, moments in American history, live readings, and visually innovative treatments of her poetry.

Director: Joe Brewster, Michele Stephenson
Producer: Joe Brewster, Michele Stephenson, Tommy Oliver
Screenwriter: Joe Brewster, Michele Stephenson
Distributor: HBO Documentary Films
Production Co: Rada Studio, Confluential Films, Bertha Doc Society Journalism Fund, Ford Foundation - Just Films
Genre: Documentary, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 3, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 8, 2024
Runtime: 1h 36m