Story perspectives

Aleshea Harris' “Is God Is” Debuts $4.5M, 96% Rotten Tomatoes

5/13/2026

Summary

Story summary

Aleshea Harris’s feature debut *Is God Is* opens nationwide on Thursday, May 14, 2026.
The film, adapted from Harris’s 2018 stage play, stars Kara Young, Mallori Johnson, Vivica A. Fox, Sterling K. Brown, and Janelle Monáe.
Critics gave it an 8.5/10 rating, a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score and an 86 Metacritic rating, noting its bold depiction of Black women’s rage, grief and revenge.
Opening-weekend box-office is projected at $4.5 million despite the strong critical praise.

History

Historical Context

On November 18 1992, Spike Lee’s biopic “Malcolm X,” starring Denzel Washington and released by Warner Bros., earned $48 million domestically and received an 89 % Rotten Tomatoes rating. Its box-office and critical success highlighted the market for African-American stories, a legacy reflected in today’s high-profile release Aleshea Harris’s “Is God Is.”

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Story summary

Aleshea Harris’s feature debut *Is God Is* opens nationwide on Thursday, May 14, 2026.
The film, adapted from Harris’s 2018 stage play, stars Kara Young, Mallori Johnson, Vivica A. Fox, Sterling K. Brown, and Janelle Monáe.
Critics gave it an 8.5/10 rating, a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score and an 86 Metacritic rating, noting its bold depiction of Black women’s rage, grief and revenge.
Opening-weekend box-office is projected at $4.5 million despite the strong critical praise.

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