Synopsis

Four close friends in Phoenix navigate romance, betrayal, motherhood, careers, and the pressures of finding fulfillment. Savannah longs for a committed relationship, Bernadine faces the collapse of her marriage, Gloria struggles with a complicated love life, and Robin confronts a pattern of unavailable men. Their friendship provides the honesty and support they need as they learn to stop waiting for others to complete their lives.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film was adapted from Terry McMillan's bestselling 1992 novel, with McMillan and Ron Bass writing the screenplay.

• Released on December 22, 1995, the film opened at number one in North America and earned approximately $81.45 million worldwide.

• Whitney Houston's role marked her second feature film. She also co-produced the soundtrack and recorded three new songs for it.

• Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds assembled the soundtrack, which included performances by several major female R&B and soul artists. The album reached number one on the Billboard 200 and eventually sold more than 12 million copies worldwide.

• Houston's "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" became a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100. The soundtrack also won the 1996 Billboard Music Award for Soundtrack Album of the Year.

• The film's success was viewed as a significant cultural moment for Black women in mainstream cinema. Its commercial performance helped encourage further studio films centered on Black ensembles and women's perspectives.

• Angela Bassett's famous car-burning monologue was partly improvised, adding to the scene's sense of emotional spontaneity.