How Stella Got Her Groove Back

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How Stella Got Her Groove Back

R

1998

2h 4m

Romance

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

51%

Tomatometer

47 Reviews

66%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Unlucky-in-love stockbroker Stella (Angela Bassett) jets to Jamaica with her gal pal Delilah (Whoopi Goldberg) for some fun in the sun. There, the 40-year-old working woman has an island fling with Winston (Taye Diggs) -- a handsome 20-something. When it's time to return to California, Stella realizes that she's developed real feelings for her new man. But, with their distance from each other, not to mention their disparity in age, does a real relationship stand a chance?

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Critics Consensus

Angela Bassett gracefully breezes through a hot summer fling without much conflict or ado, leaving us wondering when -- or if -- she's ever getting that groove back.

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Duane Byrge

The Hollywood Reporter

Sep 3, 2020

Adapted from Terry McMillan's ribald, heartfelt novel and starring Angela Bassett in the title role, Stella's got plenty of style and brains. It's a sexier, sassier version of Hollywood's old-time romancers.

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Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Sep 7, 2011

C-

Whoopi Goldberg adds a whole lotta jerk pork as the heroine’s best friend in a plot devoid of real conflict...

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Liam Lacey

Globe and Mail

Apr 12, 2002

2/4

The movie meanders on and on, like a bad sexual dream, until you finally wake up mumbling: Stella, please: leave that groove thang alone.

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David Ehrenstein

New Times

Oct 3, 2017

The timing couldn't be better for How Stella Got Her Groove Back.

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Feb 21, 2008

4/5

Lori Hoffman

Atlantic City Weekly

Apr 20, 2007

3/5

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G L

@RT09869090 Aug 2, 2026

A little long & meandering but I liked it.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Aug 20, 2025

Funny in 2 hours and 4 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $37,700,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Cecilia S

@Cecilia2 Mar 14, 2025

Angela Bassett proves that not only she is beautiful but, she has joined hollywood's elite. Taye Diggs gives a wonderful preformance as her younger love interest. The chemistry between the two was hotter then that of Gere and Robert's(Pretty Woman). Whoopi Goldberg was totally refresh as a true comedic relief. Her preformance has rarely been matched and she delivered punchline after punchline. A movie for everyones library.

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Munkhjargal A

@RT28084692 Jul 22, 2024

this movie was about love. The film was able to show how a long distance relationship passes through the two of them, who had a lot of age difference.

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Bahad j

@RT27093708 Jul 21, 2024

The movie was a very exciting adventure from start to finish

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Steve D

@RT35616104 Sep 21, 2023

Its message is a bit muddled but the cast is great.

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Kevin Rodney Sullivan

Director

Angela Bassett

Stella Payne

Taye Diggs

Winston Shakespeare

Regina King

Vanessa

Whoopi Goldberg

Delilah Abraham

Suzzanne Douglas

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Synopsis

Unlucky-in-love stockbroker Stella (Angela Bassett) jets to Jamaica with her gal pal Delilah (Whoopi Goldberg) for some fun in the sun. There, the 40-year-old working woman has an island fling with Winston (Taye Diggs) -- a handsome 20-something. When it's time to return to California, Stella realizes that she's developed real feelings for her new man. But, with their distance from each other, not to mention their disparity in age, does a real relationship stand a chance?

Director: Kevin Rodney Sullivan
Producer: Deborah Schindler
Screenwriter: Terry McMillan, Ronald Bass
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: 20th Century Fox
Rating: R
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 14, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $37.7M
Runtime: 2h 4m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1), 35mm

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