Bob Marley: One Love

This article is about the 2024 biographical film. For the song, see One Love/People Get Ready. For the compilation album, see One Love: The Very Best of Bob Marley & The Wailers.

Bob Marley: One Love
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Reinaldo Marcus Green
Screenplay by	Terence Winter Frank E. Flowers Zach Baylin Reinaldo Marcus Green
Story by	Terence Winter Frank E. Flowers
Produced by	Robert Teitel Dede Gardner Jeremy Kleiner Ziggy Marley Rita Marley Cedella Marley
Starring	Kingsley Ben-Adir Lashana Lynch James Norton
Cinematography	Robert Elswit
Edited by	Pamela Martin Nick Houy
Music by	Kris Bowers
Production companies	Plan B Entertainment State Street Pictures Tuff Gong Pictures
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release dates	January 23, 2024 (2024-01-23) (Carib 5) February 14, 2024 (2024-02-14) (United States)
Running time	107 minutes[1]
Country	United States
Languages	English Jamaican Patois[2][3]
Budget	$70 million[4]
Box office	$180.8 million[5][6]

Bob Marley: One Love is a 2024 American biographical drama musical film based on the life of reggae singer and songwriter Bob Marley, played by Kingsley Ben-Adir, from his rise to fame in the mid-1970s up until his death in 1981. The film is directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, who co-wrote the screenplay with Terence Winter, Frank E. Flowers, and Zach Baylin. It also stars Lashana Lynch as Rita Marley, and James Norton as Chris Blackwell.

Bob Marley: One Love premiered at the Carib 5 in Kingston, Jamaica on January 23, 2024, and was released in the United States by Paramount Pictures on February 14, 2024. It received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $180 million worldwide.

Plot

In 1976, amidst armed political conflict that is affecting daily life in Jamaica, Bob Marley announces he will perform at a concert, Smile Jamaica, promoting peace amongst the warring factions. While preparing for the concert, Marley, his wife Rita, and several other members of his band are shot by assailants. Rita and Marley are hospitalized, but survive and recover from their injuries in time for the concert. After performing, Marley, saddened that his own countrymen would try to kill him and his wife, shows the crowd his bullet wounds before walking off stage. He tells Rita to take their children to Delaware in the United States and stay with his mom, as he and the rest of his band venture to London to record their next two albums.

After struggling to come up with a new album concept, Marley asks Rita to rejoin him and the band in England, and taking inspiration from the soundtrack of the film Exodus and their own situation, he and the band begin recording what would become their album of the same name, in conjunction with a second album released in 1978. The album becomes a hit and helps further popularize reggae music and the Rastafari movement around the world. When the recording company schedules a tour in Europe, Marley also aims for stops throughout Africa to inspire the people there. This leads to friction with Rita as she and Marley argue about his responsibilities and both his and Rita's infidelities, in addition to having given up on promoting peace back in Jamaica. Marley also gets into an altercation with manager Don Taylor over a financial dispute.

After a toenail infection caused by being hit by a football raises concern from Rita and his record producer Chris Blackwell, Marley is later diagnosed with a rare skin cancer. Blackwell confronts Marley about treatment choices, reluctantly dismissed by a firm Marley. Faced with his own mortality, Marley reconciles with Rita and Taylor and finally decides to return to Jamaica in 1978, where he is welcomed back by a crowd at the airport. Back home, the gunman who had shot him and the others arrives and begs for forgiveness, to which Marley states he "keeps no vengeance". After Marley debuts a song to Rita and the children about reconciliation, she finally deems him ready to perform a peace concert. The film ends as Marley and his band gear up to perform again for the Jamaican crowd with the song "One Love".

A pre-credits montage shows clips of the real Marley and his band during the One Love Peace Concert, which sees them joined on-stage by the heads of both of Jamaica's political parties, also revealing that Marley and his band were able to perform in Zimbabwe to celebrate the nation's independence before he died of his cancer in 1981 at the age of 36.

Cast

• Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley^[7]
  • Quan-Dajai Henriques as teenage Bob
  • Nolan Collignon as young Bob
• Lashana Lynch as Rita Marley^[7]
  • Nia Ashi as teenage Rita
• James Norton as Chris Blackwell^[7]
• Tosin Cole as Tyrone Downie
• Aston Barrett Jr. as Aston "Family Man" Barrett
• Anthony Welsh as Don Taylor
• Hector Roots Lewis as Carlton Carly Barrett^[8]
• Alexx A-Game as Peter Tosh
  • Narado Williams as teenage Peter
• Abijah "Naki Wailer" Livingston as Bunny Wailer
  • Courtney Edwards as teenage Bunny
• Stefan A.D Wade as Seeco Patterson
  • Matthew Malcolm Blake as young Seeco
• Sevana as Judy Mowatt^[8]
• Michael Gandolfini as Howard Bloom
• Nadine Marshall as Cedella Malcolm
• Umi Myers as Cindy Breakspeare
• Gawaine "J-Summa" Campbell as Antonio "Gillie" Gilbert
• Naomi Cowan as Marcia Griffiths
• David Kerr as Junior Marvin
• Sheldon Sheperd as Neville Garrick
• Andrae Simpson as Donald Kinsey
• Jeff Crossley as Clement "Coxsone" Dodd
• Sundra Oakley as Diane Jobson

Production

Development

In June 2018, it was announced that Paramount Pictures was developing a biographical drama film based on the life of singer and songwriter Bob Marley, with Marley's son Ziggy Marley serving as a producer.^[9] In March 2021, Reinaldo Marcus Green had been hired to direct, with Zach Baylin (who wrote Green's 2021 film King Richard), Frank E. Flowers, and Terence Winter writing the screenplay.^[10][11] In February 2022, Kingsley Ben-Adir was cast as the titular character, after an extensive, yearlong and globe-spanning search by the studio.^[12] In August, Lashana Lynch had joined the cast playing as Bob's wife Rita Marley.^[13] In February 2023, Michael Gandolfini, Nadine Marshall, James Norton and Anthony Welsh had joined the cast.^[14]

Filming

Principal photography began in December 2022 in London^[15][16] and Jamaica and wrapped in April 2023.^[17][18] The film's title, Bob Marley: One Love, was announced by producer Ziggy Marley at CinemaCon that same month.^[18][19]

Music

Main article: Bob Marley: One Love (soundtrack)

In October 2023, it was reported that Kris Bowers had composed the film's score, after working with Green on Monsters and Men (2018) and King Richard.^[20] On January 26, 2024, American country singer Kacey Musgraves released a cover of the Wailers' "Three Little Birds" (1977), part of the film's soundtrack.^[21] The soundtrack EP of the film was released on February 14, 2024, by Island Records and Tuff Gong.^[22]

Release

Bob Marley: One Love held its world premiere in Marley's hometown of Kingston, Jamaica, on January 23, 2024.^[23] It was released theatrically in the United States on February 14, 2024.^[24] It was originally scheduled to be released on January 12, 2024.^[14] It was released in the United Kingdom on the same day as the North American release.^[1]

Home media

It premiered on Paramount+ and MGM+ in the US and Canada on April 12, 2024, with a linear streaming on the same day.

It was released on 4K Ultra HD, DVD and Blu-ray on May 28, 2024 by Paramount Home Entertainment.

Reception

Box office

Bob Marley: One Love grossed $96.9 million in the United States and Canada, and $83.9 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $180.8 million.^[5]

In the United States and Canada, One Love was released alongside Madame Web, and was initially projected to gross $30–35 million from 3,536 theaters over its six-day opening frame.^[4] The film made $14 million on its first day, a Valentine's Day mid-week record (surpassing The Vow's $11.5 million in 2012), and $3.8 million on its second.^[25][26] After making $7.5 million on Friday, six-day estimates were raised to $46 million. It went on to debut to $51 million over its first six days (including $27.7 million in its opening weekend), finishing first at the box office and marking one of the best openings for a music biopic.^[27] In its second weekend the film made $13.5 million (a drop of 53%), remaining in first.^[28] It made $7.4 million in its third weekend, finishing second behind newcomer Dune: Part Two.^[29]

In Jamaica, the film's opening day gross of $100,000 and an 89% market share set a record for the biggest box office opening of all-time in the country.^[30][31][32]

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 44% of 196 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.4/10. The website's consensus reads: "Kingsley Ben-Adir does an admirable job in the central role, but Bob Marley: One Love is ultimately a standard biopic that doesn't do justice to its brilliant subject."^[33] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 43 out of 100, based on 36 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.^[34] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, while those polled at PostTrak gave it a 91% positive score, with 80% saying they would definitely recommend the film.^[25][27]

Lovia Gyarkye of The Hollywood Reporter wrote: "[Ben-Adir] wholly conjures Marley's charisma while also teasing the musician's sense of isolation, stemming from a childhood marked by abandonment. His compelling performance enlivens a film that otherwise feels like it's perpetually struggling to take off."^[35] Javier Ocaña of El País called the film "a serviceable biopic that is saved by its soundtrack"^[36] while Expresso thought it "showed the man beyond the myth".^[37]

Brian Lowry of CNN called the film "a dutiful addition to a recent wave of such biographies (see Rocketman and Bohemian Rhapsody), but a largely uninspired one."^[38] The Age's Jake Wilson gave it 1.5/5 stars, calling it a "routine biopic" and writing, "considering this is unlikely to be the last attempt to dramatise Marley's life story, next time it wouldn't hurt if a Jamaican filmmaker had a go."^[39] The Atlantic's Hannah Giorgis wrote, "One Love might offer a less daunting entry point than Marley, which can feel intimidating in its scope. But his music and ideas—and all the people who helped usher them into this fractured world—deserve better."^[40]

Accolades

Award	Date of ceremony	Category	Recipient(s)	Result	Ref.
BET Awards	June 30, 2024	Best Movie	Bob Marley: One Love	Won	[41]
Black Reel Awards	February 10, 2025	Outstanding Supporting Performance	Lashana Lynch	Pending	[42]
		Outstanding Hairstyling & Makeup	Nadia Stacey and Carla Farmer	Pending
		Outstanding Score	Kris Bowers	Pending
		Outstanding Soundtrack	Bob Marley: One Love (Soundtrack)	Pending
NAACP Image Awards	February 22, 2025	Outstanding Motion Picture	Bob Marley: One Love	Pending	[43]
		Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture	Reinaldo Marcus Green	Pending
		Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture	Kingsley Ben-Adir	Pending
		Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture	Lashana Lynch	Pending
		Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture	The cast of Bob Marley: One Love	Pending
		Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album	Bob Marley: One Love (Soundtrack)	Pending

References

1. "Bob Marley One Love (12A)". BBFC. January 29, 2024. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
2. Bakare, Lanre (February 16, 2024). "'We will not accept fake Patois': Jamaican linguist on dialogue in Bob Marley biopic". The Guardian.
3. Staff Writer (February 2024). "Jamaicans Respond on How Was Kingsley Ben-Adir's Jamaican Patois in the Bob Marley Movie?". Jamaicans.com.
4. D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 12, 2024). "'Bob Marley: One Love' Has More Hearts Over Valentine's-Presidents Day Stretch Than 'Madame Web', $30M+ To $20M+ – Box Office Preview". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
5. "Bob Marley: One Love — Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
6. "Bob Marley: One Love". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
7. Vlessing, Etan (December 5, 2023). "Kingsley Ben-Adir Plays Defiant Bob Marley in Latest 'One Love' Biopic Trailer". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
8. Armstrong, Sam (December 5, 2023). "'Bob Marley: One Love': Everything We Know About The Biopic". uDiscover Music. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
9. Jr, Anita Busch,Mike Fleming; Busch, Anita; Jr, Mike Fleming (June 6, 2018). "Ziggy Marley Jammin' At Paramount With Biopic Based His Dad, Reggae Legend Bob Marley". Deadline.
10. Kroll, Justin (March 3, 2021). "Paramount's Bob Marley Biopic Sets 'King Richard' Helmer Reinaldo Marcus Green To Direct". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
11. Kroll, Justin (February 11, 2022). "Kingsley Ben-Adir Tapped To Play Reggae Legend Bob Marley In Paramount Biopic". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
12. Rubin, Rebecca (February 11, 2022). "Bob Marley Biopic to Star 'One Night in Miami' Actor Kingsley Ben-Adir". Variety. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
13. Kroll, Justin (August 4, 2022). "'No Time To Die's Lashana Lynch To Play Bob Marley's Wife, Rita, In Paramount Biopic". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
14. Kroll, Justin (February 2, 2023). "Michael Gandolfini, Jesse Cilio, Tosin Cole, James Norton & Others Round Out Cast Of Paramount's Bob Marley Biopic". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
15. Gardner, Claudia (December 18, 2022). "First Look: Ben Kingsley As Bob Marley On Set Of Reggae Legend's Biopic — See Photos". Dancehall Mag. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
16. "What's On Screen and Filming in London: March 2023". Film London. March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
17. Gardner, Claudia (April 2, 2023). "Bob Marley Biopic Wraps Up Filming, Ziggy Says Manley, Seaga, Bucky Marshall, Claudius Massop Are Featured". DancehallMag. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
18. Lang, Brent (April 27, 2023). "Paramount Teases Stirring 'Bob Marley: One Love' Trailer, With Ben Kingsley Embodying Reggae Legend". Variety. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
19. Vito Oddo, Marco (April 28, 2023). "Bob Marley Biopic Gets Official Title at CinemaCon". Collider. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
20. "Kris Bowers Scoring Reinaldo Marcus Green's 'Bob Marley: One Love'". Film Music Reporter. October 10, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
21. Corcoran, Nina (January 26, 2024). "Kacey Musgraves Covers "Three Little Birds" for Bob Marley: One Love Soundtrack: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
22. "Bob Marley: One Love (Music Inspired by the Film) EP Announced". Film Music Reporter. January 29, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
23. D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 25, 2024). "'Bob Marley: One Love' & 'Madame Web' Hope To Bring Moviegoers Together Over Valentine's-Presidents Day Frame With At Least $25M+ Each – Early Box Office Look". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
24. Couch, Aaron (September 22, 2023). "'Smile 2,' 'Mean Girls' Musical Set 2024 Release Dates". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
25. D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 15, 2024). "'Bob Marley: One Love' Gets Audiences High With 'A' CinemaScore & Midweek Valentine's Day Opening Record Of $14M; 'Madame Web' Spins $6M & C+ – Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
26. Lang, Brent (February 14, 2024). "Box Office: 'Bob Marley: One Love' Earns $3.8 Million, 'Madame Web' Ensnares $2.2 Million". Variety. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
27. D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 18, 2024). "'Bob Marley: One Love' Gets Up & Stands Up To $51M; 'Madame Web' Crawls Near $26M Over 6-Day Holiday Frame – Sunday AM Box Office Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
28. D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 25, 2024). "'Bob Marley: One Love' At $120M+ WW Takes Out Three Little Birds At The Box Office – Sunday Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
29. D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 3, 2024). "'Dune: Part Two': How Sci-Fi Space Worm Epic Reared Head To $81.5M Opening After Strike Release Delay – Sunday Box Office Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
30. Shaw-Williams, Hannah (February 17, 2024). "Bob Marley: One Love Scores Jamaica's Biggest Box Office Opening Day Ever". SlashFilm. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
31. Mallick, Dani (February 16, 2024). "'Bob Marley: One Love' Scores Box Office Record For Biggest Opening Day Ever In Jamaica". DancehallMag. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
32. Malhotra, Rahul (February 18, 2024). "'Bob Marley: One Love' Sings Its Own Tune In Spectacular Global Box Office Debut". Collider. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
33. "Bob Marley: One Love". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
34. "Bob Marley: One Love". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
35. Gyarkye, Lovia (February 8, 2024). "'Bob Marley: One Love' Review: Kingsley Ben-Adir and Lashana Lynch Enliven a Stunted Biopic". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
36. Ocaña, Javier (February 14, 2024). "'Bob Marley: One Love': A serviceable biopic that is saved by its soundtrack". EL PAÍS English. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
37. ""Bob Marley: One Love", o 'biopic' do rei do reggae, mostra-nos o homem aquém do mito. Já nos cinemas". Expresso (in Portuguese). February 14, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
38. Lowry, Brian (February 14, 2024). "'Bob Marley: One Love' review: Kingsley Ben-Adir plays the reggae star in a bland, family-authorized biopic". CNN. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
39. Wilson, Jake (February 14, 2024). "Routine biopic fails to capture the Marley magic". The Age. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
40. Giorgis, Hannah (February 17, 2024). "The Missing Piece of the Bob Marley Biopic". The Atlantic. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
41. Grein, Paul (May 16, 2024). "Drake Leads Nominations for 2024 BET Awards: Full List". Billboard. Billboard Media. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
42. Jackson, Angelique (December 19, 2024). "'Nickel Boys' Leads Black Reel Awards Nominees". Variety. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
43. Jackson, Angelique (January 7, 2025). "NAACP Image Awards: Ayo Edebiri, Keke Palmer, GloRilla, 'The Piano Lesson' and 'Fight Night' Lead Nominations". Variety. Retrieved January 7, 2025.

External links

• Official website
• Bob Marley: One Love at IMDb