Ricky (2025 film)
| Ricky | |
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Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Rashad Frett |
| Written by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Sam Motamedi |
| Edited by | Daysha Broadway |
| Music by | Simon Taufique |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Blue Harbor Entertainment |
Release dates |
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Running time | 109 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Ricky is a 2025 American drama film, directed and produced by Rashad Frett, in his directorial debut, from a screenplay by Frett and Lin Que Ayoung. It is an expansion of the 2023 short film of the same name by Frett.[1] It stars Stephan James, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Titus Welliver, Maliq Johnson, Imani Lewis, Simbi Kali and Andrene Ward-Hammond.
It had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2025. It was released on March 20, 2026, by Blue Harbor Entertainment.
Premise
After being imprisoned in his teenage years, Ricky, now an adult, navigates the challenges of life post-incarceration.
Cast
- Stephan James as Ricardo "Ricky" Smith
- Sheryl Lee Ralph as Joanne
- Titus Welliver as Leslie Torino
- Maliq Johnson as James
- Imani Lewis as Jaz
- Simbi Kali as Winsome
- Andrene Ward-Hammond as Cheryl
- Sean Nelson as Terrence
Production
In January 2023, it was announced Rashad Frett would direct a feature-length version of his short film of the same name.[2] The screenplay was selected for the 2023 Sundance Institute Screenwriting Lab.[3]
Release
The film had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2025.[4][5] In January 2026, Blue Harbor Entertainment was announced to be distributing the film, setting a March 20, 2026, release.[6]
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 87% of 30 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "Anchored by Stephan James' soulful performance and Rashad Frett's assured direction, Ricky is a raw, empathetic, and quietly powerful parable that delivers a moving gut punch through its realistic portrayal of life after incarceration."[7] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 80 out of 100, based on 8 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[8]
References
- ^ Graver, David (January 18, 2023). "Sundance 2023: "Ricky" Short Film Director, Rashad Frett". Cool Hunting. Archived from the original on January 15, 2025. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (January 23, 2023). "WME Signs Rashad Frett; Agency Will Help Writer-Director's Sundance Short 'Ricky' To Become A Feature". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 15, 2025. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
- ^ "Sundance Institute Names 2023 Screenwriters Lab and Screenwriters Intensive Fellows". Sundance Institute. January 13, 2023. Archived from the original on January 15, 2025. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Patten, Dominic (December 11, 2024). "Sundance 2025: JLo, Sly Stone, Putin, Ayo Edebiri, André Holland, & Ex-NZ PM Jacinda Ardern Films Among Park City Festival Offerings". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 11, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
- ^ "Ricky". Sundance Film Festival. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
- ^ Welk, Brian (January 15, 2026). "Sundance Award Winner 'Ricky' Finally Gets a Theatrical Release — and a Kickstarter Campaign to Help Reach More Audiences". IndieWire. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Ricky". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
- ^ "Ricky". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved March 6, 2025.