X
  • 2017
  • TV-MA
  • Showtime Networks
  • 1 h 45 m
  • 2017
  • TV-MA
  • Showtime Networks
  • 1 h 45 m

Summary By the time Whitney Elizabeth Houston was 15, she was singing background vocals for Chaka Khan, Lou Rawls, and Jermaine Jackson. In 1983 Whitney signed a worldwide recording contract with Clive Davis's Arista Records. However her success came with its fair share of drug use, love affairs, and scandals.

Directed By: Nick Broomfield, Rudi Dolezal

Written By: Marc Hoeferlin, Nick Broomfield

  • 2017
  • TV-MA
  • Showtime Networks
  • 1 h 45 m
  • 2017
  • TV-MA
  • Showtime Networks
  • 1 h 45 m

Whitney: Can I Be Me

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 15 Critic Reviews
64
User Score Generally Favorable Based on 4 User Ratings
7.3
My Score
Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Where to Watch

Summary By the time Whitney Elizabeth Houston was 15, she was singing background vocals for Chaka Khan, Lou Rawls, and Jermaine Jackson. In 1983 Whitney signed a worldwide recording contract with Clive Davis's Arista Records. However her success came with its fair share of drug use, love affairs, and scandals.

Directed By: Nick Broomfield, Rudi Dolezal

Written By: Marc Hoeferlin, Nick Broomfield

Where to Watch

Top Cast

View All

Whitney Houston

Self

Michael Baker

Self - Musical Director

Wayne Lindsey

Self - Piano

Sharlotte Gibson

Self - Vocalist

Kirk Whalum

Self - Whitney's Saxophonist

Pattie Howard

Self - Whitney's Bass Singer

Gary Houston

Self - Whitney's Brother

Cissy Houston

Self - Whitney's Mother

Toni Gregory

Self - Whitney's Childhood Friend

John Russell Houston Jr.

Self

Ellin Lavar

Self - Friend and Stylist

Frances Grill

Self - Whitney's Modelling Agent

Michael Houston

Self - Whitney's Brother

Robyn Crawford

Self - Whitney's Closest Confidant

Kenneth Reynolds

Self - Marketing Executive, Arista Records

Clive Davis

Self - Chairman and CEO, Arista Records

Tony Anderson

Self - Head of Promotion, Arista Records

Doug Daniel

Self - R&B Promotions Executive, Arista Records

Allison Samuels

Self - Friend and Writer

Bobby Brown

Self

View All Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 15 Critic Reviews
64
53% Positive
8 Reviews
40% Mixed
6 Reviews
7% Negative
1 Review

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 15 Critic Reviews
64
53% Positive
8 Reviews
40% Mixed
6 Reviews
7% Negative
1 Review

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
83
Apr 29, 2017
The film’s main triumph is in crafting a convincing narrative with a clear point of view.
By Jude Dry FULL REVIEW
80
Apr 29, 2017
It just has a story to tell, and it does that incredibly compellingly.
By Owen Gleiberman FULL REVIEW
70
Aug 17, 2017
A surprisingly conventional, dutifully respectful behind-the-scenes portrait of Whitney Houston’s rise and struggles with fame and drugs before her death at 48.
By Ben Kenigsberg FULL REVIEW
70
Apr 29, 2017
Whitney Can I Be Me delivers yet another tragic lesson in the toxic mix of fame and talent and children: it should be required viewing for all those who seek to follow this diva’s path to fame and fortune.
By Fionnuala Halligan FULL REVIEW
60
Jun 27, 2017
A compelling re-telling of the singer's story.
By Ben Nicholson FULL REVIEW
60
Apr 29, 2017
The film doesn’t use enough of Houston’s music.
By Ren Jender FULL REVIEW
38
Aug 18, 2017
It's no surprise that Nick Broomfield finds little use for the moments of unabashed triumphalism in Houston's life, as he's doggedly fixated on the humiliating swan dive.
By Eric Henderson FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 4 User Ratings
7.3
50% Positive
2 Ratings
50% Mixed
2 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 4 User Ratings
7.3
50% Positive
2 Ratings
50% Mixed
2 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Details

 View All
Production Company Lafayette Films, Passion Pictures, Showtime Networks
Release Date Aug 18, 2017
Duration 1 h 45 m
Rating TV-MA
Genres
Tagline An incredible and poignant life story.
View All Details

Awards

Nantucket Film Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Hawaii Film Critics Society
• 1 Nomination
Dublin Film Critics Circle Awards
• 1 Nomination

Related Movies

Hoop Dreams

98
Universal Acclaim

Man with a Movie Camera

96
Universal Acclaim

Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)

96
Universal Acclaim

I Am Not Your Negro

95
Universal Acclaim

Woodstock

95
Universal Acclaim

Collective

95
Universal Acclaim

Amazing Grace

94
Universal Acclaim

Stop Making Sense

94
Universal Acclaim

We Were Here

94
Universal Acclaim

Faces Places

94
Universal Acclaim

David Byrne’s American Utopia

93
Universal Acclaim

Shoah: Four Sisters

93
Universal Acclaim

Our Body

93
Universal Acclaim

Sherpa

93
Universal Acclaim

The Decline of Western Civilization

93
Universal Acclaim

Brother's Keeper

93
Universal Acclaim

Crumb

93
Universal Acclaim

One More Time with Feeling

92
Universal Acclaim

Sugarcane

92
Universal Acclaim

The Act of Killing

92
Universal Acclaim

De Humani Corporis Fabrica

92
Universal Acclaim

Menus Plaisirs - Les Troisgros

92
Universal Acclaim

Related News

2024 Movie Release Calendar

2024 Movie Release Calendar

Jason Dietz

Find release dates for every movie coming to theaters, VOD, and streaming throughout 2024 and beyond, updated weekly.

  • movie
Every Zack Snyder Movie, Ranked

Every Zack Snyder Movie, Ranked

Nick Hyman

With the arrival of Zack Snyder's latest Rebel Moon chapter on Netflix, we rank every one of the director's films—from bad to, well, less bad—by Metascore.

  • movie
Every Guy Ritchie Movie, Ranked

Every Guy Ritchie Movie, Ranked

Nick Hyman

We rank every one of the British director's movies by Metascore, from his debut Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels to his brand new film, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.

  • movie
April Movie Preview (2024)

April Movie Preview (2024)

Keith Kimbell

The month ahead will bring new films from Alex Garland, Luca Guadagnino, Dev Patel, and more. To help you plan your moviegoing options, our editors have selected the most notable films releasing in April 2024, listed in alphabetical order.

  • movie
DVD/Blu-ray Releases: New & Upcoming

DVD/Blu-ray Releases: New & Upcoming

Jason Dietz

Find a list of new movie and TV releases on DVD and Blu-ray (updated weekly) as well as a calendar of upcoming releases on home video.

  • movie