Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody

This article is about the film. For the song, see I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me).

Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody
Theatrical release poster
Directed byKasi Lemmons
Written byAnthony McCarten
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyBarry Ackroyd
Edited byDaysha Broadway
Music byChanda Dancy
Production
companies
Distributed bySony Pictures Releasing
Release dates
  • December 13, 2022 (2022-12-13) (AMC Lincoln Square)
  • December 23, 2022 (2022-12-23) (United States)
Running time
146 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$45 million[1]
Box office$59.8 million[2][3]

Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody is a 2022 American biographical musical drama film directed by Kasi Lemmons, from a screenplay by Anthony McCarten, based on the life and career of American pop icon and actress Whitney Houston. The film stars Naomi Ackie as Houston with Stanley Tucci, Ashton Sanders, Tamara Tunie, Nafessa Williams, and Clarke Peters in supporting roles.

An authorized biopic on Houston's life was announced in early 2020, with Ackie cast in the lead role that December, and the rest of the cast signing on later the next year. Produced on a $45 million budget, filming took place in Massachusetts and New Jersey from August to December 2021.

Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody was released in the United States on December 23, 2022, by Sony Pictures Releasing. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with praise going to Ackie's performance and criticisms for the film's hewing to music biopic conventions. It grossed $59.8 million.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference VarietyChristmas was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (2022)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  3. ^ "Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody – Financial Information". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved February 24, 2023.