The Five Heartbeats
1991 | 121m | English
Popularity: 3 (history)
| Director: | Robert Townsend |
|---|---|
| Writer: | Keenen Ivory Wayans, Robert Townsend |
| Staring: |
| In the early 1960s, a quintet of hopeful, young African-American men form an amateur vocal group called The Five Heartbeats. After an initially rocky start, the group improves, turns pro, and rises to become a top flight music sensation. Along the way, however, the guys learn many hard lessons about the reality of the music industry. | |
| Release Date: | Mar 29, 1991 |
|---|---|
| Director: | Robert Townsend |
| Writer: | Keenen Ivory Wayans, Robert Townsend |
| Genres: | Drama, Music |
| Keywords | rhythm and blues (r&b), battle of the bands, 1960s |
| Production Companies | 20th Century Fox |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $0
Budget: $0 |
| Updates |
Updated: Aug 09, 2025 Entered: Apr 14, 2024 |
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Robert Townsend | Duck |
| Michael Wright | Eddie |
| Leon | J.T. |
| Harry Lennix | Dresser |
| Tico Wells | Choirboy |
| Diahann Carroll | Eleanor Potter |
| Harold Nicholas | Sarge |
| John Canada Terrell | Michael 'Flash' Turner |
| Chuck Patterson | Jimmy Potter |
| Hawthorne James | Big Red |
| Roy Fegan | Bird |
| Troy Byer | Baby Doll |
| Carla Brothers | Tanya Sawyer |
| Deborah Lacey | Rose |
| Theresa Randle | Brenda |
| John Witherspoon | Wild Rudy |
| Bobby McGee | Leon |
| O.L. Duke | Monroe |
| Kasi Lemmons | Cookie |
| Eugene Robert Glazer | David Green |
| Timmie Rogers | Buddy Lewis |
| Tommy Redmond Hicks | Pastor Blake |
| Donnie Simpson | Donnie Simpson |
| Norma Donaldson | Mrs. Sawyer |
| Roger Rose | The Five Horsemen |
| James Anderson | Big Red's Guys |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| Keenen Ivory Wayans | Writer |
| Ruth E. Carter | Costume Design |
| Robert Townsend | Writer, Director |
| Wynn Thomas | Production Design |
| Susan Raney | Set Decoration |
| John Lemons | Costumer |
| Bill Dill | Director of Photography |
| Samara Schaffer | Set Decoration |
| Stanley Clarke | Original Music Composer |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Robert Townsend | Producer |
| Loretha C. Jones | Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person |
|---|
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 10 | 16 | 6 |
| 2024 | 5 | 13 | 20 | 7 |
| 2024 | 6 | 11 | 19 | 5 |
| 2024 | 7 | 16 | 27 | 5 |
| 2024 | 8 | 14 | 31 | 6 |
| 2024 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 5 |
| 2024 | 10 | 13 | 21 | 6 |
| 2024 | 11 | 14 | 54 | 5 |
| 2024 | 12 | 10 | 17 | 7 |
| 2025 | 1 | 10 | 17 | 7 |
| 2025 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 2 |
| 2025 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
Trending Position
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 819 | 819 |