Ray

Play trailer

Ray

PG-13

2004

2h 35m

Biography

History

Drama

Music

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

80%

Tomatometer

205 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Legendary soul musician Ray Charles is portrayed by Jamie Foxx in this Oscar-winning biopic. Young Ray watches his 7-year-old brother drown at age seven. When he loses his sight at the age of 9, his hardworking mother (Sharon Warren) urges him not to feel sorry for himself. He rises through the ranks of the Seattle jazz scene, struggling with drug addiction and infidelity while on the road. Supported by his wife (Kerry Washington), Ray Charles redefines soul music and inspires a generation.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

An engrossing and energetic portrait of a great musician's achievements and foibles, Ray is anchored by Jamie Foxx's stunning performance as Ray Charles.

Read Critics Reviews

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Dec 28, 2010

4/5

Excellent portrayal of extraordinary musician.

Go to Full Review

David Ansen

Newsweek

Nov 1, 2007

Ray is filled with such pleasures, but it's hobbled by the too-familiar conventions of the musical biopic: with so many chapters of Charles's life to cover, Hackford's movie never finds a rhythm, a groove, to settle into.

Go to Full Review

Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

Nov 6, 2004

3.5/4

As if we weren't sure before, now it's official: This is the year of the Foxx.

Go to Full Review

Allison Rose

FlickDirect

Mar 31, 2026

4.5/5

Jamie Foxx delivers a brilliant, career-defining performance in this powerful music biopic

Go to Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Mar 31, 2026

3/4

Just how good is Jamie Foxx’s central performance in Ray? Let’s just say that without him, this biopic about music legend Ray Charles wouldn’t be half as memorable.

Go to Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Feb 6, 2025

6/10

It’s impossible to deny the power of the music; the genius and legacy of Ray Charles make for thoroughly cinematic material.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Hotwheels T

@RT00311887 Jun 27, 2026

What an amazing movie

See more

Todd T.

@D_underhill May 18, 2026

Great story with incredible acting. I didn’t know much about Ray Charles’s personal life before this…very informative and entertaining.

See more

Robbie M

@lowkeylit67 Apr 24, 2026

One of the most emotional movies I've ever seen, Jamie Foxx had a phenomenal performance

See more

Moon M.

@MisterMoon Apr 2, 2026

Hands down the worst biopic (music-related or not) I’ve ever seen. Walk the Line is very similar in certain aspects but that one was done a lot better. Ray is just a drag to watch through and through. Awful lighting, a story that really doesn’t move anywhere, not enough material for a film, and very odd flashbacks that service nothing to the story

See more

Ronald R.

@RonaldMiamiMovieCritic Jan 14, 2026

Great Movie!!! Highly Recommended!!! A++ 🍿🎥🍿

See more

Menew A

@RT54658755 Jul 16, 2025

The soul-stirring sounds of music legend Ray Charles keep saving the day for this straightforward, safe-bet biopic.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Taylor Hackford

Director

Jamie Foxx

Ray Charles

Kerry Washington

Della Bea Robinson

Regina King

Margie Hendricks

Clifton Powell

Jeff Brown

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor

Mary Ann Fisher

Walk the Line

83%

90%

Walk the Line

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Walk the Line

The Aviator

86%

79%

The Aviator

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Aviator

Judy

82%

86%

Judy

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Judy

Chevalier

76%

96%

Chevalier

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Chevalier

Hotel Rwanda

91%

94%

Hotel Rwanda

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Ray: Official Clip - A Wake Up Call

2:21

Now Playing

Ray: Official Clip - No More Segregation

1:46

Now Playing

Ray: Official Clip - It's Starting to Show

1:41

Now Playing

Ray: Official Clip - A Better Deal

1:32

Now Playing

Ray: Official Clip - Drunk at a Recording Session

2:12

Now Playing

Ray: Official Clip - I Might Be Blind, But I Ain't Stupid

2:18

Now Playing

Ray: Official Clip - Impromptu Audition

2:20

Now Playing

Ray: Official Clip - A Healing Flashback

2:36

Now Playing

Ray: Official Clip - Hummingbirds

1:57

Now Playing

Ray: Official Clip - The Raelettes

1:20

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Legendary soul musician Ray Charles is portrayed by Jamie Foxx in this Oscar-winning biopic. Young Ray watches his 7-year-old brother drown at age seven. When he loses his sight at the age of 9, his hardworking mother (Sharon Warren) urges him not to feel sorry for himself. He rises through the ranks of the Seattle jazz scene, struggling with drug addiction and infidelity while on the road. Supported by his wife (Kerry Washington), Ray Charles redefines soul music and inspires a generation.

Director: Taylor Hackford
Producer: Howard Baldwin, Stuart Benjamin, Karen Elise Baldwin
Screenwriter: Robert Eisele, James L. White
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Crusader Entertainment LLC, Unchain My Heart Louisiana
Rating: PG-13 (Sexuality|Drug Addiction|Some Thematic Elements)
Genre: Biography, History, Drama, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 29, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $75.3M
Runtime: 2h 35m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings