The Five Heartbeats (1991): cast, story & where to watch
1991 · Film · ★ 7.3
Released in 1991, The Five Heartbeats is a drama and music film directed by Robert Townsend, running about 121 minutes.
What it’s about. 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.
Who’s in it. The Five Heartbeats stars Robert Townsend as Duck, Michael Wright as Eddie, Leon as J.T. and Harry Lennix as Dresser, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.3/10, The Five Heartbeats has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube and Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Five Heartbeats page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Five Heartbeats tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Five Heartbeats (1991)?
- In US, The Five Heartbeats is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Google Play Movies and YouTube. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Five Heartbeats worth watching?
- The Five Heartbeats holds an audience score of 7.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and music. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Five Heartbeats?
- The Five Heartbeats stars Robert Townsend, Michael Wright, Leon, Harry Lennix and Tico Wells.
- When was The Five Heartbeats released?
- The Five Heartbeats was released in 1991, with a runtime of about 121 minutes.