Stevie Wonder Movies
When
Stevland Hardaway Judkins was born prematurely in 1950, the infant's mother and father were no doubt very distraught when their son's retinas detached and he became blind within a few days. The boy's blindness would have no bearing on his future success, however, as he would become a famous, successful, and increasingly innovative musician later in life -- after he changed his name to
Stevie Wonder.
Wonder's musical gift was apparent almost from the beginning, as he'd mastered the piano by age nine, and was also playing the drums, bass, and harmonica by ten. Raised in the middle of the Motown scene,
Wonder soon caught the ear of
Miracles vocalist Ronnie White, who brought the 11-year-old in to showcase his talents for label founder
Berry Gordy.
Wonder was signed, and subsequently began a successful recording career that would last for decades to come, releasing such classic songs as "Uptight (Everything's Alright)," "For Once in My Life," "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours," "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," "Isn't She Lovely," and countless others.
A legend in his industry,
Wonder's creative, romantic, socially conscious style continued to inspire fans of subsequent generations. He would continue touring steadily through the 2000s, and ramped up his social and political activism for the 2008 election, advocating for democratic candidate
Barack Obama, who would become the first African-American U.S. President. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi

- 2011
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Taped live on The Ed Sullivan Show between 1964 and 1971, these collection of classic Motown hits includes powerhouse performances from Diana Ross & the Supremes, Gladys Knight & the Pips, The Jackson 5, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, and many more. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Diana Ross, The Jackson 5, (more)

- 2008
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This concert program by legendary performer Stevie Wonder captures a live stage show, filmed in front of a crowd of 15,000 at the O2 Arena, London, on September 30th and October 1st 2008. Some of the songs featured in the program include Isn't She Lovely, Knocks Me Off My Feet, All I Do, and more. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Aisha Wonder

- 2007
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- Add A Very Special Christmas: The 20th Anniversary Video Collection to Queue
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The 'Very Special Christmas' albums began appearing in the late 1980s. A series of yuletide-themed compilations that featured contemporary rock stars performing beloved Christmas songs (some secular, some not) the albums were recorded and issued to raise money for the Special Olympics. Volume One emerged in 1989, and by the holiday season of 2001-2, four sequels had been produced and issued. Now, the home video release A Very Special Christmas compiles some of the most memorable music videos and live performances of songs from those initial albums, with additional renditions of holiday tunes culled from the 1998 and 2000 Christmas at the White House specials. Performers include Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow, Wyclef Jean, Tracy Chapman, Jon Bon Jovi and many others. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Run-D.M.C., U2, (more)

- 2007
- PG
- Add Darfur Now to Queue
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Ted Braun's documentary about Darfur showcases how six different people have each done their part in order to help stop the genocide in the region and bring humanitarian relief to the millions there who suffer. His subjects include a UCLA student who, with no political experience whatsoever, passes a state bill to stop any money from going to Sudan; the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court; Pablo Recalde, a central figure in the World Food Program; and actor Don Cheadle, the star of the movie Hotel Rwanda. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
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- 2006
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- Add Tony Bennett: An American Classic to Queue
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The concert film Tony Bennett: An American Classic serves as a video accompaniment and companion piece to the legendary crooner's 2006 album of the same title. On that LP, Bennett duets on a series of pop standards, with nineteen of the world's top rock and pop artists. In the film version - originally produced and aired on NBC - Bennett teams up with many of the same guests, including Christina Aguilera, k.d. Lang, Stevie Wonder, Chris Botti, Elton John, Juanes, John Legend, Barbra Streisand and Diana Krall, to celebrate his own 80th birthday. Rob Marshall, the helmer of Chicago, directs. Tracks include: "Smile" with Streisand, "Sing, You Sinners" with Legend, "Because of You" with Lang and Botti, "The Best is Yet to Come" with Krall, "The Shadow of Your Smile" with Juanes, "Rags to Riches with John, "Just in Time" with Michael Buble, "For Once in My Life" with Wonder and "Steppin' Out" with Aguilera. Bennett then performs his standard closer, the seminal "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," as a solo number. Throughout, Marshall and his collaborators re-create, via elaborate onstage production design, classic settings from various periods in Bennett's life and career, including the 52nd Street Swing Club, one of the earlier incarnations of Columbia's recording studio, Carnegie Hall, the stage of the 'Rat Pack,' the set of Bennett's infamous MTV Unplugged performance in the early nineties, and much, much more. As these settings magically come to life on stage, such celebrities as Catherine Zeta-Jones, Billy Crystal, Robert de Niro, John Travolta and Bruce Willis, recount the tale of Bennett's life, career and musical journey, and their narration is interwoven with the musical performances by Bennett and his fellow vocalists. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Tony Bennett

- 2006
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- 2001
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The Ed Sullivan Show was the definitive variety show on television for over two decades. This compilation is comprised of a series of musical performances by some of the most beloved rhythm and blues acts of the day including James Brown, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, and The Jackson 5 as well as many others. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
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- 2000
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- Add MTV Unplugged: Babyface to Queue
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Eric Clapton, Beverly Crowder, and Stevie Wonder are just three of the performers who join Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds on stage in this 1997 production. The Grammy-winning producer and singer/songwriter drops the digital effects and synthesizers for an acoustic performance of some of his best-known songs in MTV Unplugged: Babyface. Released to video in 2000, the songs performed on the video are "Change the World," "Talk to Me," "Whip Appeal," "Breathe Again," "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)," "I'll Make Love to You," "End of the Road," "I Care About You," "The Day (That You Gave Me a Son)," "Gone Too Soon," and "How Come, How Long." ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
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- 1998
- NR
Smokey Robinson was not only one of the greatest singers to come out of the Motown Records stable in the 1960s, he was an astute businessman (he was also a vice president at Motown) and a superb songwriter, well. (Bob Dylan once called him one of America's greatest poets.) See and hear Smokey working his magic with some of his finest songs on this live video. Selections include "I Second That Emotion," "The Tracks of My Tears," "Being With You," "Just to See Her," "Ooo Baby Baby," and "Double Good Everything." ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
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- 1998
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- 1998
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- Add Brian Wilson: Imagination to Queue
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Imagination is a live performance video interspersed with interviews with music legend Brian Wilson, and other artists who worked with him or were influenced by him. Wilson, the singer/songwriter powerhouse that drove the Beach Boys to fame and fortune, released his new album of the same name in 1998. This groundbreaking effort is a testament to Wilson's continued musical genius, and revitalized career after long years of personal struggle. The closed-captioned video features Wilson singing with a band composed of such rock greats as Timothy B. Schmitt of the Eagles, as well as Bruce Johnson and Joe Thomas of the Beach Boys. Beach Boy classics, penned by Wilson, are in the repertoire : "California Girls", "In My Room", "Don't Worry Baby". Notable selections in the new material are "South America", and "Your Imagination".Guest stars include Christopher Cross, Jimmy Buffett, Stevie Wonder, Eric Claptan, Elvis Costello, and Glen Campbell. Great performances and great film making combine to make Imagination an inspiration. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, Rovi
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- 1998
- G
- Add Mulan to Queue
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Inspired by a familiar Chinese folk tale, this $90 million animated Disney drama follows the adventures of a young woman in ancient China. Character animator Tony Bancroft and 17-year Disney veteran Barry Cook (Captain EO, Tron, Trail Mix-Up) formed the directing team with production design by Hans Bacher (Balto), and work on the film began 2 January 1995 under the working title The Legend of Mulan. While the merciless Shan-Yu (Miguel Ferrer) leads invading Huns over the Great Wall, young Mulan (Ming-Na Wen, with singing by Lea Salonga) sees a matchmaker about her matrimonial future. Mulan's views on accepted marriage traditions prompt the ballad, "Reflection," as she hopes for a recognition of her true self. To repel the Huns, a man from each family is required to join the Imperial Army. When Mulan's elderly father Fa Zhou (Soon-Tek Oh) volunteers, she objects. He warns, "I know my place. It is time you learned yours." Mulan, however, cuts her hair, dresses as a man, and is ready for military camp, prompting the concern of her First Ancestor (George Takei), who converts an inanimate incense burner into the 18-inch high comedic dragon Mushu (Eddie Murphy). With Mushu hidden in her clothing, she joins a group of raw recruits under the command of Captain Shang (B.D. Wong, singing by Donny Osmond). During an ambush by the Huns in a mountain pass, Mulan steps in to turn defeat into a victory. Mulan was the first Disney feature from the company's 200,000-square-foot Orlando facility (now known as Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida). ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Ming-Na Wen, Lea Salonga, (more)

- 1997
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In 1976, Stevie Wonder released Songs in the Key of Life, a stunningly ambitious two-record-set that is still regarded as the finest hour in Wonder's remarkable career. This documentary (produced for VH1's "Classic Albums" series) traces this history of this masterpiece of pop and R&B, from its initial inspiration to the recording sessions with some of the industry's top talent. Stevie Wonder discusses the creation of this album, with additional reminiscences from Motown founder Berry Gordy, Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, and several of the musicians who played on the sessions. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
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- 1996
- G
- Add The Adventures of Pinocchio to Queue
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Unlike the more familiar animated Pinocchio by Disney, there are no song interludes here, and characters added to the story by Disney (such as Jiminy Cricket) are not included. Producer Francis Ford Coppola and director Steve Barron, (known for the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film) closely adhere to Carlo Collodi's 1883 novel and use the visually timeless setting of a Czechoslovakian village. Jim Henson's puppet studio skillfully brings this Pinocchio to life. Long ago, in his youth, Gepetto (Martin Landau) loved but did not court Leona (Genvieve Bujold), who married Gepetto's brother instead. In that earlier time, he carved her initials with his onto a tree. Now his brother is dead, and though he still feels for Leona, he is still too shy to woo her. Instead, the old puppet-maker goes into the forest and cuts down a tree in order to make a puppet just for himself. The tree is the same one he carved his initials into when he was younger, and it has the magic of his love in it. Soon after the puppet Pinocchio is made, he comes to life. Aside from being made of wood, he begins to live the life of a perfectly normal little boy. He even goes to school. Lorenzini, an evil magician who runs a children's puppet show, hears of Pinocchio and wants to use him in his show. Lorenzini lures children to his show, only to later turn them into donkeys. Donkeys are useful creatures, and Lorenzini makes a lot of money selling them. Through many trials and tribulations, the puppet-boy earns the right to become the human boy Pinocchio (Jonathan Taylor Thomas). ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Martin Landau, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, (more)

- 1991
- R
- Add Jungle Fever to Queue
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Spike Lee defines "jungle fever" as sexual attraction between members of two races. In his film Jungle Fever, he examines the repercussions of an interracial affair upon two very distinct communities. Wesley Snipes is Flipper, a happily married and successful architect, and Annabella Sciorra is Angie, an office temp. When she starts working in Flipper's Manhattan office, one day they look at each other and are soon having sex over a blueprint-strewn desk. Their liaison causes an explosion on both homefronts. Flipper's family consists of his father Doctor Purify (Ossie Davis), a former preacher; his mother Lucinda (Ruby Dee); his violent, crackhead brother Gator (Samuel L. Jackson); and his wife Drew (Lonette McKee), whom he loves, despite his sexual attraction to Angie. Angie's family is a typical Italian-American household from Bensonhurst. She's engaged to Paulie Carbonne (John Turturro), who works in a deli owned by his father Lou (Anthony Quinn). When the two families find out about Flipper and Angie's affair, their shock leads to recriminations and racial animosity. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Wesley Snipes, Annabella Sciorra, (more)

- 1990
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An informative presentation that includes a guide to recycling. Includes an information booklet and stars a large group of celebrities. Bugs Bunny, B.B. King, Kenny Loggins, Bette Midler and many others are here to spread the word. ~ Rovi
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- 1990
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- 1990
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- 1989
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- 1988
- R
- Add School Daze to Queue
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Fraternity and sorority members clash with the other students at a historically black university in this politically charged musical, which marked the sophomore feature from director Spike Lee. Dap (Laurence Fishburne) is a politically conscious brother who leads anti-apartheid demonstrations and eschews the social climbing of the Greek system. But Half-Pint (Lee), his craven young cousin, is willing to endure any humiliation to join the manly Gamma fraternity. As Half-Pint tries unsuccessfully to impress the Gammas with his inept womanizing, Dap engages in philosophical debates with Rachel (Kyme), his girlfriend. Meanwhile, the light-skinned, straight-haired sisters of the Gamma Ray sorority battle it out in a beauty parlor with their darker-skinned, Afro-headed fellow coeds. Eventually, Half-Pint gets the chance to join the frat, but only after a degrading episode with Jane (Tisha Campbell), the soon-to-be ex-girlfriend of his house president, causes Dap to lose all respect for him. Based in part on the director's experiences at Atlanta's Morehouse College, School Daze was also written and produced by Lee. Despite production numbers that included "Straight and Nappy," a dis-fest between the "wannabes" and "jigaboos" on campus, the biggest hit on the film's soundtrack was the go-go anthem "Da Butt," E.U.'s ode to shaking one's backside. Supporting players Kadeem Hardison and Jasmine Guy also co-starred on the TV comedy A Different World, another look at life on a primarily African-American campus. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Laurence Fishburne, Giancarlo Esposito, (more)

- 1986
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An icy road results in a fender-bender involving the car driven by Denise (Lisa Bonet) and the limo owned by music legend Stevie Wonder. Hoping to make amends, Stevie invites the Huxtables to attend one of his recording sessions--and before long, Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) is seriously entertaining thoughts of becoming a singer himself. Musical highlights in this episode include such Stevie Wonder standards as "I Just Called to Say I Love You", "Isn't She Lovely" and "Living for the City". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
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- 1986
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- 1986
- R
- Add 'Round Midnight to Queue
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A French music lover befriends a once-great American jazz artist and attempts to save him from self-destruction in this moody drama. Saxophonist Dexter Gordon portrays Dale Turner, a fictional musician inspired by a number of famed jazz figures, including Bud Powell and Lester Young. Largely forgotten in his home country, Turner has moved to Paris in search of a more appreciative audience. He finds it in the form of Francis Borler (Francois Cluzet), a bebop aficionado who befriends the expatriate player. Borler soon becomes familiar with Turner's darker side, including his struggles with alcoholism, drug addiction, and depression. Fearing for the musician's life, the fan becomes his caretaker, an arrangement that leads to a brief improvement in Turner's health and fortunes but places great emotional strain upon them both. Director Bertrand Tavernier pays great attention to the visual and aural details of the jazz world, with outstanding musical supervision provided by Herbie Hancock. 'Round Midnight's greatest asset, however, is Gordon's Academy Award-nominated performance, informed by his own life experiences. His naturally fascinating presence combines with the film's obvious love of the music and its milieu to provide what many have hailed as one of the more authentic and affectionate presentations of the jazz world on the silver screen. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Dexter Gordon, François Cluzet, (more)