Waiting to Exhale

film by Whitaker [1995]

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July 17, 2026

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Waiting to Exhale is a 1995 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Forest Whitaker. The film is based on the 1992 novel of the same name by Terry McMillan. It stars Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, and Lela Rochon as four middle-class African American women navigating their romantic lives and friendships. The movie was a significant cultural moment, often referred to as the "first Black chick flick," and contributed to the rise of "girlfriend fiction". The film explores themes of love, heartbreak, and female solidarity.123

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- Forest Whitaker
  His credits included Waiting to Exhale (1995), based on the 1992 novel by Terry McMillan; Hope Floats (1998); and First Daughter (2004). In addition, he played Erie in a brief 2016 Broadway revival of the short Eugene O’Neill play Hughie.
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  His credits included Waiting to Exhale (1995), based on the 1992 novel by Terry McMillan; Hope Floats (1998); and First Daughter (2004). In addition, he played Erie in a brief 2016 Broadway revival of the short Eugene O’Neill play Hughie.
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