Ricky (2025 film)
2025 American film
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
- Rashad Frett
- Lin Que Ayoung
- Rashad Frett
- Pierre M. Coleman
- Simon Taufique
- DC Wade
- Josh Peters
- Sterling Brim
- Cary Joji Fukunaga
- Stephan James
- Sheryl Lee Ralph
- Titus Welliver
- Maliq Johnson
- Imani Lewis
- Simbi Kali
- Andrene Ward-Hammond
| Ricky | |
|---|---|
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 |
It had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2025. It will be released on April 24, 2026, by Blue Harbor Entertainment.
Plot
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]