Respect

References

Respect

film by Tommy [2021]

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 22, 2026

Quick Summary

The film Respect (2021) is a biopic that stars Jennifer Hudson as the iconic American singer, songwriter, and civil rights activist Aretha Franklin. Franklin, known as the "Queen of Soul," significantly impacted popular music starting in the 1960s. Her musical journey spanned gospel, soul, jazz, blues, pop, rock, and rhythm and blues. Some of her most famous songs include "Respect," "Think," and "(You Make Me Feel like) A Natural Woman". The film chronicles her rise to fame and her contributions to music and the civil rights movement.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Mary J. Blige
Acting career
… in the Aretha Franklin biopic Respect (2021), which starred Jennifer Hudson in the lead role. In 2024 Blige costarred in the film Rob Peace, playing the mother of a young man whose promising future is compromised by his economic situation and issues involving his family and past.
Read More
… in the Aretha Franklin biopic Respect (2021), which starred Jennifer Hudson in the lead role. In 2024 Blige costarred in the film Rob Peace, playing the mother of a young man whose promising future is compromised by his economic situation and issues involving his family and past.
Read More

Jennifer Hudson
…Aretha Franklin in the biopic Respect.
Read More
…Aretha Franklin in the biopic Respect.
Read More

Marc Maron
Television and film work
In the biopic Respect (2021), about legendary soul singer Aretha Franklin, Maron played record executive Jerry Wexler. In 2022 he lent his voice to the animated comedy The Bad Guys.
Read More
In the biopic Respect (2021), about legendary soul singer Aretha Franklin, Maron played record executive Jerry Wexler. In 2022 he lent his voice to the animated comedy The Bad Guys.
Read More

Audra McDonald
Films and TV
…Disney animated classic; the biopics Respect (2021), about Aretha Franklin, and Rustin (2023), about Bayard Rustin; and Origin (2023), Ava DuVernay’s dramatization of Isabel Wilkerson’s research and writing of the book Caste (2020).
Read More
…Disney animated classic; the biopics Respect (2021), about Aretha Franklin, and Rustin (2023), about Bayard Rustin; and Origin (2023), Ava DuVernay’s dramatization of Isabel Wilkerson’s research and writing of the book Caste (2020).
Read More

Forest Whitaker
…Aretha Franklin in the biopic Respect.
Read More
…Aretha Franklin in the biopic Respect.
Read More