American Fiction
A brilliant but disillusioned Black writer returns to Boston after his sister's sudden death, forced to confront his estranged family, his mother's fading mind, and a literary world that demands authenticity he refuses to sell.
“Once you go full black, you ain't never going back!”
Synopsis
A novelist, disillusioned with the establishment's exploitation of "Black" entertainment, adopts a pen name to write a book that catapults him into the very hypocrisy and madness he claims to despise.
Credits
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How many hands made this film
The scale of the collaboration
A crew of 303+ credited
Why a floor?
This is a minimum, not a total. We only count the credits we’ve captured so far, and coverage is uneven — a blockbuster might show a few hundred names while another of the same size shows a couple dozen. The real crews all ran into the thousands. The number here only grows as full credits are enriched — so we frame it as a floor, never a headcount.
Craft leads on file
Edited by Hilda RasulaShot by Cristina DunlapScored by Laura KarpmanDesigned by Jonathan GuggenheimSound by Michael CrumleyCostumes by Rudy ManceStunts by John MasonVFX by Giles Harding
Box Office
2023 · Box office
⚖️ Fell short of break-even — grossed 1.4× its budget
Why 2.5×?
Cinemas keep roughly half of every ticket sold, and a wide release’s marketing often costs about as much again as the film — so a movie needs to gross around 2.5× its production budget just to break even theatrically. It’s a rule of thumb, not the studio’s ledger (home video and streaming come later).
Worldwide gross
$22.5M
US & Canada: $21.1M — 94% of worldwide · International: $1.4M (6%)
Full synopsis
Also known as
- Amerikanische Fiktionde
- (Bulgarian)Американско четиво
Release dates around the world2 countries · showhide
- CanadaSep 8, 2023
- United StatesOct 7, 2023
Production & Distribution
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Cast & Crew
303 unique people credited
Top billed cast
Jeffrey Wright
as Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison
Skyler Wright
as Brittany
Marielle Sciore
as as Layne
John Ales
as Leo
Patrick Fischler
as Mandel
Carmen Cusack
as Gilda
Adam Brody
as Wiley Valdespino
John Ortiz
as Arthur
Joseph Marrella
as Matthew Wilson
Stephen Burrell
as Jordan Phillips
Sterling K Brown
as Clifford Ellison
Issa Rae
as Sintara Golden
Supporting cast
49Nicole Kempskie
as Sintara's Moderator
Becki Dennis
as Clinic Receptionist
Tracee Ellis Ross
as Lisa Ellison
Myra Lucretia Taylor
as Lorraine
Leslie Uggams
as Agnes Ellison
Ryan Richard Doyle
as Ned
Kate Avallone
as Woman on Patio
Dustin Tucker
as Phillip
Erika Alexander
as Coraline
Michael Jibrin
as Jelani
Michele Proude
as Bulger's Nurse
David De Beck
as Dr. Bulger
Okieriete Onaodowan
as Van Go Jenkins
Keith David
as Willy the Wonker
Miriam Shor
as Paula Baderman
Raymond Anthony Thomas
as Maynard
Greta Quispe
as Luz Borquez
J C Mackenzie
as Carl Brunt
Justin Andrew Phillips
as Arthur's Intern
Neal Lerner
as Wilson Harnet
Jenn Harris
as Ailene Hoover
Bates Wilder
as Jon Daniel Sigmarsen
Jason Armani Martinez
as Nursing Home Orderly
Michael Cyril Creighton
as John Bosco
Celeste Oliva
as Dr. Tiefel
Megan Robinson
as Kenya Dunston
Christopher Barrow
as Burt
Alexander Pobutsky
as Kenny
Joshua Olumide
as Alvin
Chhoyang Cheshatsang
as Wiley's Assistant
Michael Malvesti
as Plainclothes Cop
Anu Bamidele
as Teen
Guiverlly Blaise
as Book Convention Attendee
Russell J Gannon
as Man At Book Fair
Heidi Garza
as Coffe costumer
Samantha Gordon
as Gaby
Josh Habib
as Lunch Patron
Jane Howes
as Bookseller Convention Attendee
Ian Dylan Hunt
as Book signing, Awards Dinner Guest
Nahna James
as Book Convention Attendee
Ken Kansky
as Book Awards Guest
Emily Kokidko
as Student
Erin Mcanespie
as College Student
Adrian M Mompoint
as Jeff
Mike Ortega
as Racist Taxi Driver
Kevin Pitcairn
as Boston Restaurant Patron
Sophia Silveria
as Bride
Cheryl Thorup
as Personal Assistant
Gene Yee
as Book Awards Dinner Guest
Directors
1Writers
2Producers
37Ben Leclair
Producer, producer (p.g.a.)
Ben Leclair Nm1444110
Producer
Brett Pierce
dailies producer
Bruce Wayne Gillies
line producer: Los Angeles
Cord Jefferson
Producer, Producers, producer (p.g.a.)
Damon Lindelof
the producers wish to thank
Dan Bakkedahl
the producers wish to thank
Dan Diaz
the producers wish to thank
Dan Watson
associate producer
Deborah Robertson
the producers wish to thank
Dee Nelson
the producers wish to thank
Felix Bowes
the producers wish to thank
Giles Harding
visual effects producer / visual effects supervisor
Hannah Offer
associate producer
Ida Ziniti
the producers wish to thank
James Jordan
the producers wish to thank
Jennifer Jubinville
the producers wish to thank
Jenny Eagan
the producers wish to thank
Jermaine Johnson
Producer, Producers, producer (p.g.a.)
Lee Grubin
the producers wish to thank
Lenny Payan
co-producer
Leopold Hughes
the producers wish to thank
Michael Bowes
executive producer
Michael Schur
the producers wish to thank
Nikos Karamigios
Producer, Producers, producer (p.g.a.)
Percival Everett
executive producer
Pete Stein
the producers wish to thank
Ram Bergman
executive producer
Rian Johnson
executive producer
Robin King
the producers wish to thank
Rosalien Van Der Bom
visual effects producer
Samantha Gordon
the producers wish to thank
Stephanie Bond
the producers wish to thank
Stephen F Newnam
finishing producer
Thanasi Andrianos
epk & bts producer
Will Evans
the producers wish to thank
Zach Cowie
the producers wish to thank
Other crew
210Clint Porte
2nd assistant camera
Xavier Thompson
a' camera & steadicam operator
Audrey L Stevens
a" second assistant camera
Isaiah Jones
additional music
Lucas Fehring
additional music engineer
Catherine Jelski
additional script supervisor
Mehrnaz Mohabati
adr mixer
Paloma Escola
Agnes Ellison
Augustus Augustus
art department assistant
Rory Brett
art department coordinator
Jake Swartz
art department coordinator / set decoration coordinator
Maddy Young
Art Director
Parents Guide
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Not currently streaming on any platform we track.
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