Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody

Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Kasi Lemmons
Written by	Anthony McCarten
Produced by	Denis O'Sullivan Jeff Kalligheri Anthony McCarten Pat Houston Clive Davis Larry Mestel Molly Smith Thad Luckinbill Trent Luckinbill Matt Jackson Christina Papagjika Matthew Salloway
Starring	Naomi Ackie Stanley Tucci Ashton Sanders Tamara Tunie Nafessa Williams Clarke Peters
Cinematography	Barry Ackroyd
Edited by	Daysha Broadway
Music by	Chanda Dancy
Production companies	TriStar Pictures Compelling Pictures Black Label Media Primary Wave Entertainment Muse of Fire Productions West Madison Entertainment TSG Entertainment II
Distributed by	Sony Pictures Releasing
Release dates	December 13, 2022 (2022-12-13) (AMC Lincoln Square) December 23, 2022 (2022-12-23) (United States)
Running time	146 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$45 million[1]
Box office	$59.8 million[2][3]

Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody is a 2022 American biographical musical drama film directed by Kasi Lemmons, from a screenplay by Anthony McCarten, based on the life and career of American pop icon and actress Whitney Houston. The film stars Naomi Ackie as Houston with Stanley Tucci, Ashton Sanders, Tamara Tunie, Nafessa Williams, and Clarke Peters in supporting roles.

An authorized biopic on Houston's life was announced in early 2020, with Ackie cast in the lead role that December, and the rest of the cast signing on later the next year. Produced on a $45 million budget, filming took place in Massachusetts and New Jersey from August to December 2021.

Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody was released in the United States on December 23, 2022, by Sony Pictures Releasing. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with praise going to Ackie's performance and criticisms for the film's hewing to music biopic conventions. It grossed $59.8 million.