Divorce in the Black (marketed as Tyler Perry's Divorce in the Black) is a 2024 American thriller-drama film directed by Tyler Perry and released on Amazon Prime Video. It stars Meagan Good as Ava, a young bank professional whose seemingly perfect marriage unravels when her husband abruptly leaves without explanation.
The film is a part of Tyler Perry's multi-picture deal with Amazon Studios, following previous collaborations with Netflix movies such as “A Jazzman’s Blues,” “A Madea Homecoming” and “A Fall from Grace”.[2] Divorce in the Black combines psychological drama, suspense, and commentary into a movie based on emotional abuse, trauma, and healing within a relationship.. The narrative centers on Black love and the resilience of Black women, a recurring focus in Perry's body of work.
Divorce in the Black was released on July 11, 2024, and received negative reviews from critics.[3][4] While Meagan Good's performance and the film's emotional themes were noted positively, some reviewers criticized aspects of the plot as overly dramatic. The film prompted discussions on social media about themes such as relationship dynamics, gaslighting, and personal empowerment, particularly within Black communities.
Plot
Ava returns to her hometown with her husband Dallas to attend the funeral of his oldest brother. At the service, tensions rise when Ava's father, Clarence, a local preacher, offends Dallas's mother, Linda. After a heated argument, Linda orders her remaining sons to take the body from the church and bring it home. Ava stays behind to speak with her parents and her friend Rona, discussing her troubled relationship with Dallas.
Later, Ava goes to the Bertran family home to convince Dallas to return to Atlanta with her. In his old truck, Dallas accuses her of trying to change him and his family and tells her to leave. She falls asleep in her car waiting for him, but Linda wakes her and says Dallas is gone. Ava finds Dallas and his brothers drinking at a bar and pleads with him to leave. The brothers provoke a fight with Benji, a man Ava once nearly hooked up with as a teen. After a scuffle, Ava retrieves the truck keys and she and Dallas return to her parents' home. That night, Dallas drunkenly confesses that his mother made him kill his abusive father.
The next day, Rona asks why Ava stays with Dallas despite his behavior. Ava says she doesn't want to give up on him. That night, Dallas leaves Ava for taking too long to get ready for dinner with friends. At the restaurant, he publicly announces he wants a divorce. Rona comforts Ava and gives her a list of the terrible things Dallas has done during their marriage. Ava is reluctant to read it but ends up at her parents' house in the middle of the night.
In the morning, Ava tells her parents she and Dallas are divorcing. Her mother, Gene, finds the list and comforts Ava, expressing regret for not being there more. They decide not to tell Clarence, fearing his reaction. Over the next few days, Ava begins to regain a sense of peace. At a local carnival, she runs into Benji and they reflect on their past. Though Ava suggests being intimate, Benji says they should wait until she's emotionally ready.
Back at work, Ava tells Rona she's feeling better. Dallas shows up, having been misled by his brothers into believing Ava had an affair with Benji. He demands she attend the divorce meeting. While Rona urges Ava to take Dallas for everything, Ava wants a clean break. She signs the papers quickly. Rona later throws Ava a divorce party, inviting Benji. That night, Ava and Benji sleep together.
The next morning, Dallas shows up at Ava's house. He says he's willing to give her another chance and goes upstairs, only to find Benji in bed. A fight breaks out and Benji knocks Dallas unconscious. Ava drags Dallas to his truck and warns him never to return. Later, Clarence and the sheriff visit Benji, whose animals have been mysteriously dying. Benji suspects Dallas and accidentally reveals he was at Ava's that morning. Clarence rushes off to confront Dallas.
Meanwhile, Dallas assaults Gene at a grocery store. In response, Clarence changes Ava's locks, installs cameras, and arms her for protection. When Clarence reaches the Bertran house and demands to see Dallas, the brothers ambush and beat him. Linda eventually tells them to stop, and Clarence is left injured outside. Ava and Benji arrive and call 911. At the hospital, doctors say Clarence is in bad shape, but the sheriff says there's no legal action they can take without evidence.
Determined to protect her family, Ava calls Dallas and taunts him into returning. She waits for him at home, and when he breaks in, she confronts him. She tells him she tried her best but he pushed her past her breaking point. Dallas attacks her, threatening to kill her. Ava warns him to stop, then shoots him in self-defense. Rona, Jim, and Benji arrive to support her.
Later, Ava, Benji, and Gene help Clarence out of the hospital. Linda, there with her wounded sons, threatens Ava again. Ava tells her it's over and walks away with her family, finally feeling safe and free.
Divorce in the Black was directed, and produced by Tyler Perry.[5] In June 2023, it was confirmed that the film would be among the first projects under this deal, along with Black, White & Blue.[6]Meagan Good and Cory Hardrict were cast in the leading roles,[7] with Joseph Lee Anderson, Taylor Polidore, Shannon Wallace, Richard Lawson, and Debbi Morgan joining the supporting cast.[8]
Principal photography for Divorce in the Black began in June 2023 in the US state of Georgia, largely in Atlanta and Savannah. Most of the shooting has taken place at Tyler Perry Studios at 315 Deshler Street Southwest Atlanta, where Perry had shot many of his previous projects.[9] The size of the facilities allowed filming to run on schedule with consistent production. A number of sequences was also been done across Atlanta area, including Fulton and DeKalb counties. Included among those are CODA at Tech Square, a large mixed-use development that is home to Ava's workplace; establishing shots of the skyline; and daytime-to-nighttime views of downtown Atlanta.[10]
Additional scenes were shot in Savannah, which provided a more visually contrasting area from much of the urban settings within the film. This coastal city helped develop motifs of renewal and personal freedom throughout the story. Among several different locations used in Savannah was Saint Bartholomew's Episcopal Church of Burroughs, a 19th-century historic site where several key scenes featuring actor Richard Lawson were shot.[10][11]
Michael Watson was the director of cinematography on this film, applying low-key light and tight framing to great effect in capturing the often-emotive intensity between this film's central characters. Production designer Sharon Busse and set decorator Gretchen Gattuso collaborated with a keen eye for recreating the confined, tense atmosphere that characterizes so much of the narrative.[10]
Writing
Divorce in the Black was written by Tyler Perry under a four-film deal between Tyler Perry Studios and Amazon Studios. The screenplay was developed by Perry.[12] While writing the film, Perry drew from themes of social injustice, loyalty, and moral conflict to create a story that reflects both personal struggle and greater societal issues. The narrative contains elements of drama and suspense yet keeps the emotional tone for which Perry's work is known.[12]
In interviews and promotional material, Perry noted that the film was intended to explore "the pain of emotional imprisonment and the power of self-liberation,"[13][14] positioning the story as a character-driven drama infused with elements of psychological thriller and domestic suspense.[15]
Faith-based elements are also present in the screenplay, particularly through the character of Ava's father, a pastor whose views create tension within the family. The dialogue and structure reflect Perry's established narrative style, which is characterized by directness and heightened emotional stakes.[16]
Music
Sherri Chung (pictured in 2024), composed the original score
Despite receiving negative critical reviews, Divorce in the Black was among the most viewed titles on Prime Video during its release week.[22] A report by Variety indicated that the film contributed to a significant increase in new Amazon Prime Video subscriptions, surpassing previous records for the platform's original films at the time.[23] According to The Source, the film attracted 498 million minutes watched within its first four days on the platform and ranked third on Nielsen's Top 10 streaming chart during the week of July 8 to14, 2024.[24]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 0% of 17 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 3.0/10.[25][26]Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 30 out of 100, based on 4 critic reviews, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".[27]
Andrew Lawrence of The Guardian described Divorce in the Black as "Tyler Perry's dull drama" and "his worst to date", criticizing the film for its lackluster plot and underdeveloped characters. He awarded it one out of five stars.[28] Mary Kassel of Screen Rant gave the film two out of five stars, noting that "with inconsistent pacing and tonal shifts that make the audience question the story's purpose, Divorce in the Black doesn't stand out."[29] Barry Levitt of The Daily Beast gave the film a negative review and wrote, "Good has been great for a long time, and while she can't save Divorce, her performance is a reminder that she's more than worthy of leading roles."[30]
John Serba of Decider advised viewers to skip the film, describing it as a "shabby melodrama" with "clumsy plotting and poor character development," failing to reach the engrossing absurdity of Perry's previous works.[31]
Audience response
Some viewers praised Meagan Good's performance and connected with the film's exploration of toxic relationships.[32]Cory Hardrict, who portrayed Dallas, defended the film amid poor reviews, stating, "The people love the movie and we do it for the people, that's who I do it for. If the culture's rocking with it, it's all love."[33]
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