Serving as a viewing option for moviegoers this Thanksgiving in the US is the new comedy American Fiction. The movie brings together stars Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross and an all-star cast as they tell the story of a fed-up author who abandons his usual writing prompts to create what’s stereotypical and selling. When he finds more success creating the latter, he’s left to think about the creativity that’s true to him and that which can make him a lot of money.
Here’s what else you should know about American Fiction.
How to watch American Fiction
American Fiction is playing in select movie theaters in the US and UK, but is also available for home viewing in the US via digital on-demand platforms and on MGM Plus.
American Fiction cast
As previously mentioned, the American Fiction cast is led by Jeffrey Wright. The actor won an Emmy for his part in Angels in America. He’s also starred in other projects like The Hunger Games franchise, Confirmation, Boardwalk Empire and more recently, The Batman and Asteroid City. Wright is also slated to appear in the highly anticipated Rustin.
Joining Wright in the film are powerhouses Tracee Ellis Ross and Issa Rae. Ross has plenty of experience in the world of sitcoms having starred in Girlfriends and Black-ish, but has big screen credits to her name such as The High Note and will star in Candy Cane Lane due out later this year. Rae shot to superstardom with her hit series Insecure and was recently in the blockbuster hit Barbie.
Helping to round out the cast are Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us), John Ortiz (Promised Land), Erika Alexander (Living Single), Leslie Uggams (Deadpool), Adam Brody (Fleishman Is in Trouble) and Keith David (Greenleaf).
American Fiction plot
Here is a synopsis of American Fiction as described by its Toronto International Film Festival webpage:
"Starring Jeffrey Wright in one of his most beautifully nuanced performances, American Fiction is both a wickedly smart satire about the commodification of marginalized voices and a bittersweet portrait of an artist forced to re-examine the terms of his integrity.
"Thelonious ‘Monk’ Ellison (Wright) is a respected author and professor of English literature. But his impatience with his students’ cultural sensitivities is threatening his academic standing, while his latest novel is failing to attract publishers; they claim Monk’s writing ‘isn’t Black enough.’ He travels to his hometown of Boston to participate in a literary festival where all eyes are on the first-time author of a bestseller titled We’s Lives In Da Ghetto, a book Monk dismisses as pandering to readers seeking stereotypical stories of Black misery. Meanwhile, Monk’s family experiences tragedy, and his ailing mother requires a level of care neither he nor his trainwreck of a brother (Sterling K. Brown) can afford.
"One night, in a fit of spite, Monk concocts a pseudonymous novel embodying every Black cliché he can imagine. His agent submits it to a major publisher who immediately offers the biggest advance Monk’s ever seen. As the novel is rushed to the printers and Hollywood comes courting, Monk must reckon with a monster of his own making."
The script was penned by Cord Jefferson.
American Fiction trailer
On December 18, MGM released a second official trailer. Take a look at the clip below.
The official trailer became available on October 16. We have to say, looking at the clip, we're excited to see Jeffrey Wright and the rest of the cast tell this story on the big screen.
American Fiction reviews
American Fiction is performing quite well among movie critics. As of December 6, it was Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 93%, and it had a Metacritic score of 80.
Richard Lawson of Vanity Fair states: "It’s a pleasure to be in the company of American Fiction as it mulls over these big ideas with agreeably pointed humor and weary huffs of insight. With this film, Jefferson announces himself as a director to watch."
Steve Pond of The Wrap says: "Jeffrey Wright shines in beautiful, jazzy comedy."
Lovia Gyarkye of the Hollywood Reporter claims: "American Fiction is smart and, thanks to its fine cast, has genuine heart."
American Fiction Awards
Here is a roundup of the major awards and nominations that American Fiction has earned to date:
Oscars
- Best Picture (nominee)
- Best Actor — Jeffrey Wright (nominee)
- Best Supporting Actor — Sterling K. Brown (nominee)
- Best Adapted Screenplay (winner)
- Best Score (nominee)
BAFTA Film Awards
- Best Adapted Screenplay (winner)
Golden Globes
- Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (nominee)
- Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy — Jeffrey Wright (nominee)
American Film Institute
- AFI Top 10 Motion Picture of the Year
Critics Choice Awards
- Best Picture (nominee)
- Best Actor — Jeffrey Wright (nominee)
- Best Supporting Actor — Sterling K. Brown (nominee)
- Best Adapted Screenplay (winner)
- Best Comedy (nominee)
Film Independent Spirit Awards
- Best Feature (nominee)
- Best Lead Performance — Jeffrey Wright (winner)
- Best Supporting Performance — Erika Alexander (nominee)
- Best Supporting Performance — Sterling K. Brown (nominee)
- Best Screenplay — Cord Jefferson (winner)
Gotham Awards
- Outstanding Lead Performance — Jeffrey Wright (nominee)
London Critics' Circle Awards
- Actor of the Year — Jeffrey Wright (nominee)
- The Dilys Powell Award: Excellence in Film — Jeffrey Wright (winner)
Los Angeles Film Critics Awards
- Best Leading Performance — Jeffrey Wright (runner-up)
- Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (nominee)
- Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role — Jeffrey Wright (nominee)
- Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role — Sterling K. Brown (nominee)
Toronto International Film Festival
- People's Choice Award (winner)
American Fiction director
Cord Jefferson pulled double duties in regards to American Fiction as he was both the writer and director. This serves as his first time directing a full-length feature film. On an interesting note, Jefferson won an Emmy for his writing on Watchmen.
