Metacritic reviews

Almost a quarter of a century after its initial performance on the stage (and seventeen years after the revival that really established it), this most haunting of American musical dramas has been transmitted on the screen in a way that does justice to its values and almost compensates for the long wait.

A simple story carried into the stratosphere by the glorious music.

As screen entertainment, Porgy and Bess retains most of the virtues and some of the libretto traits of the folk opera.

Rarely has a film been cast with so many gifted performers who are either wrong for their roles or are given nothing to do.