Woman King

The Woman King is a 2022 American historical action drama film directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, centering on the Agojie, an elite all-female warrior regiment that protected the West African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 19th century.^[1] Starring Viola Davis as the battle-hardened General Nanisca, the film portrays her efforts to train a new cohort of recruits amid threats from European colonizers and rival tribes, while grappling with personal traumas and the kingdom's internal politics.^[2] Inspired by true historical events, it highlights the Agojie's role in Dahomey's military and cultural legacy during the 1820s, though it has faced criticism for inaccuracies in depicting the kingdom's involvement in the Atlantic slave trade.^[3][4] The screenplay, written by Dana Stevens with story contributions from Maria Bello and Gina Prince-Bythewood, draws from accounts of the Dahomey Amazons, reimagining their exploits as a tale of empowerment and resilience.^[1] Principal cast includes Thuso Mbedu as Nawi, a spirited young recruit; Lashana Lynch as Izogie, a veteran warrior; Sheila Atim as Amenza, a fellow warrior; and John Boyega as King Ghezo, the monarch who relies on Nanisca's counsel.^[1][5] Produced by TriStar Pictures and Entertainment One, the film features cinematography by Polly Morgan and a score by Terence Blanchard, emphasizing authentic African settings filmed primarily in South Africa.^[2] Released theatrically on September 16, 2022, following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, The Woman King grossed $97.6 million worldwide against a $50 million budget, marking a commercial success despite pandemic-era challenges.^[6][1] It received widespread critical acclaim, earning a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes for its powerful performances, especially Davis's portrayal of Nanisca, and its fresh depiction of Black female heroism in historical cinema.^[3] The film garnered multiple accolades from various awards bodies, underscoring its impact on representation in Hollywood.

Background and production

Development

The concept for The Woman King originated with producer and actress Maria Bello in the 1990s, inspired by her discovery of the Agojie warriors during travels in Africa and a desire to create a female-led historical epic similar to Braveheart.^[7] Bello developed the story and pitched it to Viola Davis in 2015 at an awards event, leading to Davis joining as producer alongside her husband Julius Tennon.^[7] Cathy Schulman later came on board as a producer through her company STXfilms.^[8] Dana Stevens was hired to write the screenplay, with story credits shared with Bello, drawing from historical accounts of the Dahomey Amazons in the 19th century.^[9] The script focused on General Nanisca and the Agojie's role under King Ghezo in 1823, incorporating themes of empowerment, sisterhood, and resistance to the slave trade while exploring a fictionalized shift toward palm oil production.^[9] Gina Prince-Bythewood was attached as director in 2019, bringing her experience with female-led stories to emphasize authentic representation and action sequences.^[10] Development faced challenges in securing financing due to Hollywood skepticism toward a Black female-led action film, with initial offers around $20 million before Sony Pictures finalized a $50 million budget.^[7]

Recording

Principal photography began in November 2021 in South Africa, primarily in KwaZulu-Natal and Cape Town, chosen for its landscapes evoking 19th-century West Africa despite the story's setting in the Kingdom of Dahomey (modern-day Benin).^[11] Filming was paused after a few weeks due to a COVID-19 Omicron variant outbreak, with over 65% of the cast and crew testing positive, and resumed in January 2022.^[12] Production wrapped in April 2022 after five months of shooting, six days a week.^[13] Cinematographer Polly Morgan employed Arri Alexa LF cameras to capture raw, authentic visuals, emphasizing natural light and handheld shots for battle scenes to highlight the warriors' physicality.^[14] The production prioritized cultural accuracy, consulting historians and Benin locals, though some sequences were filmed in Ghana and Benin for authenticity.^[12]

Music and lyrics

Musical style

The score for The Woman King was composed by Terence Blanchard, who created a heavy orchestral sound mimicking historical epics while incorporating West African musical traditions. The music features full orchestral arrangements, choral elements with a choir of opera singers led by Ghanaian-American mezzo-soprano Tesia Kwarteng, and percussion inspired by African rhythms.^[15] Blanchard played the kalimba, a traditional African instrument with a wooden soundboard and metal keys, to evoke the 19th-century Dahomey setting.^[16] Vocal contributions from South African musician Lebo M and five-time Grammy winner Dianne Reeves add authenticity and emotional depth, blending Western orchestral melodrama with African vocalizations and percussion.^[15][17] The style emphasizes epic tension and heroism, with layered strings, brass, and rhythmic percussion supporting the action sequences and character arcs. Tracks build dynamically, using sustained orchestral swells and choral harmonies to underscore the Agojie's resilience and the kingdom's cultural legacy.^[18] This fusion creates a cohesive sound that honors the historical context while enhancing the film's narrative of empowerment.^[19]

Themes

The music of The Woman King explores themes of strength, sacrifice, and cultural pride, reflecting the Agojie's role as protectors of Dahomey. Blanchard's score conveys the warriors' humanity and burdens through poignant melodies and rhythmic intensity, drawing on African traditions to highlight resilience against colonial threats.^[16] Choral and vocal elements evoke communal solidarity and spiritual depth, mirroring the film's portrayal of female leadership and historical legacy.^[15] The end-credits song "Keep Rising", written by Jessy Wilson, Jeremy Lutito, and Angélique Kidjo, and performed by Wilson featuring Kidjo, serves as an anthem of empowerment. Its lyrics rally against injustice and oppression, urging perseverance with lines about overcoming societal burdens and rising freely, connecting the 19th-century warriors' spirit to contemporary struggles. Kidjo sings in Fon, her native Beninese language, adding cultural authenticity.^[20] The song's uplifting gospel-influenced style reinforces themes of liberation and unbreakable will.^[18]

Release and promotion

Release details

The Woman King had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2022. Sony Pictures Releasing distributed the film theatrically in the United States and Canada on September 16, 2022.^[21] It was released digitally for purchase and rental on November 22, 2022, followed by Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K UHD on December 13, 2022.^[22] As of 2025, the film is available for streaming on platforms including Netflix, Hulu, and Max.^[23]

Promotion and commercial performance

Promotion for The Woman King emphasized themes of Black female empowerment and historical representation, with a culture-first PR campaign led by Cashmere Agency.^[24] Marketing included trailers highlighting Viola Davis's performance, partnerships for global artwork featuring artist Dionn Reneé, and targeted outreach to older female and African American audiences.^[25] The campaign positioned the film as a fresh take on historical action drama, building buzz through festival screenings and social media.^[26] Commercially, the film opened at number one at the North American box office with $19 million in its first weekend across 3,765 theaters, exceeding projections of $12–15 million and earning an A+ CinemaScore.^[27] It grossed $67.3 million domestically and $97.3 million worldwide against a $50 million production budget, achieving profitability despite post-pandemic challenges.^[6] International earnings totaled $30 million, with strong performance in the United Kingdom ($4.3 million).^[28]

Reception

Critical reviews

The Woman King received widespread critical acclaim upon its release. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 94% based on 276 reviews, with an average rating of 8.1/10. The site's consensus reads: "Led by a powerhouse performance from Viola Davis, The Woman King is a rousing addition to the period epic genre that balances historical drama with thrilling action."^[3] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 76 out of 100, based on 53 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.^[29] Critics praised the film's powerful performances, particularly Davis's portrayal of Nanisca, its depiction of Black female heroism, and the action sequences. Roger Ebert awarded it 3.5 out of 4 stars, calling it a "rousing historical epic" that "honors the Agojie with thrilling action and emotional depth."^[30] Variety described it as an "Africa-set epic" that "rightfully falls to the locals" to defend their continent, highlighting the muscular action and sweeping scope.^[31] The Guardian gave it 4 out of 5 stars, noting it as a "thunderously cinematic good time" with vivid presences from the cast, though questioning some plot elements.^[32] The New York Times commended the film's rapturous reception and its balance of intensity with levity.^[33]

Legacy

The Woman King has been recognized for its cultural impact, particularly in promoting representation of Black women in historical cinema. It was named one of the top ten films of 2022 by the American Film Institute and the National Board of Review. The African American Film Critics Association selected it as the best film of 2022.^[34] At the 23rd Black Reel Awards, the film won Outstanding Film, Outstanding Director for Gina Prince-Bythewood, Outstanding Ensemble, Outstanding Breakthrough Actress for Thuso Mbedu, Outstanding Score, and Outstanding Editing.^[35] The film received four Academy Award nominations: Best Actress for Viola Davis, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, and Best Makeup and Hairstyling. It also earned nominations at the 28th Critics' Choice Awards and other ceremonies, underscoring its role in highlighting African history and female empowerment. Despite some audience review bombing controversies, the film has endured as a landmark in inclusive storytelling, influencing discussions on historical accuracy and Hollywood representation as of 2023.^[36]

Track listing and credits

Track listing

The The Woman King (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) was released digitally on September 16, 2022, by Milan Records. Composed by Terence Blanchard, the album features 43 tracks with a total runtime of 82:56.^[18][15]

Personnel

The score was composed by Terence Blanchard, who also served as album producer.^[15] Additional musicians and contributors include:

• Conductor: Allan Wilson
• Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra
• Vocal ensemble: Vox Noire
• Special vocalists: Dianne Reeves, Tesia Kwarteng
• Orchestrators: Terence Blanchard, Howard Drossin, Robert Elhai
• Recording and mixing engineer: Greg Hayes
• Editors: Louie Schwartz, Del Spiva
• Additional music: Lebo M (tracks 10, 27, 35), Jessy Wilson and Angélique Kidjo (track 43), Jeremy Lutito

The score was recorded with a full orchestra and choir to evoke West African musical traditions.^[18]