Akeelah and the Bee Movie (2006) - Release Date, Cast, Story, Budget, Collection, Trailer, Poster, Review

Movie Details:

Country	United States
Language	English
Genres	Drama, Family
Release date	March 16, 2006 (CIFF) April 28, 2006 (United States)
Running time	1hr 52min
Age rating	PG
Starring	Laurence Fishburne Angela Bassett Keke Palmer Curtis Armstrong
Directed by	Doug Atchison
Written by	Doug Atchison
Produced by	Laurence Fishburne Sid Ganis Nancy Hult Ganis Danny Llewelyn Michael Romersa
Cinematography by	David Mullen
Edited by	Glenn Farr
Music by	Aaron Zigman
Production Company	Lionsgate 2929 Entertainment Starbucks Entertainment Out of the Blue Entertainment Reactor Films Cinema Gypsy Productions
Distributor	Lionsgate

Cast & Characters:

Sahara Garey as Georgia Carver
Sean Michael Afable as Dylan Chiu (Chinese: 邱德倫; pinyin: Qiū Délún)
J.R. Villarreal as Javier Mendez
Curtis Armstrong as Bob Welch
Laurence Fishburne as Dr. Joshua Larabee
Keke Palmer as Akeelah Anderson

Storyline:

Akeelah, a young gifted girl, comes from a dysfunctional family and is on the verge of quitting school. She discovers that she has a high aptitude for spellings and enters a spelling bee contest.

About Movie:

Akeelah and the Bee is an American drama film written and directed by Doug Atchison. The story centers on Akeelah Anderson (played by Keke Palmer), an 11-year-old girl who competes in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The film explores her journey, supported by her mother (Angela Bassett), schoolmates, and her coach, Dr. Joshua Larabee (Laurence Fishburne).

Production Background

The film’s development spanned 10 years, with Atchison inspired by the 1994 Scripps National Spelling Bee, noting that most competitors came from affluent backgrounds. After winning a Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting in 2000, he attracted producers Sid Ganis and Nancy Hult Ganis. Following initial funding challenges, the success of the documentary Spellbound helped revive interest in the project. Filming took place in South Los Angeles on a budget exceeding $6 million.

Themes

Atchison aimed to create an inspirational narrative about overcoming obstacles while portraying African Americans in a non-stereotypical light. The film addresses community importance, challenges faced by Black communities, and critiques of the public school system.

Release and Reception

Released on April 28, 2006, the film received positive reviews from both critics and audiences. While many praised its storyline and performances—especially Palmer’s—some critics found the story familiar and criticized the portrayal of Asian-American characters. The film grossed $19 million and earned several awards and nominations, including recognition from the Black Reel Awards and NAACP Image Awards.

Legacy

Film critics commended it for avoiding common African-American stereotypes in Hollywood, although some scholars argued it reinforced certain clichés. Overall, Akeelah and the Bee is celebrated for its heartwarming message and representation of determination and intellect in young people.