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Datari Turner

Datari Turner

Producer and actor, also writer · Born April 2, 1979 (47) · Oakland, California, USA

Independent Spirit Award nominee

With 20 years in the entertainment business, Datari Turner has worked along side some of the biggest names in entertainment history. From 2010 to Date, as a feature film producer, Datari Turner has produced close to 30 feature films, making him one of the most prolific independent producers working today. "Another Happy Day" and "Salvation Boulevard" both premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2011. LUV premiered at Sundance Film Festival in 2012. Ten Thousand Saints in 2015 and Gook premiering at Sundance in 2017. Turner produced, co-starred, and wrote the film "Video Girl" starring Meagan Good and Academy Award nominee Ruby Dee. The screenplay for "Video Girl," was recently accepted into the Academy of Motion Pictures Library and is on display in their exclusive archive. "Another Happy Day" starred Hollywood heavy weights Demi Moore, Ellen Barkin and Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn. "Salvation Boulevard" starred Oscar Winners Marisa Tomei and Jennifer Connolly in addition to A- List veterans Pierce Brosnan and Ed Harris. "LUV," produced by Turner, starring Rapper/Actor Common, Danny Glover, and Dennis Haysbert, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews and opened in theaters across the country in January 2013. While working on "LUV" Turner also produced "About Cherry" starring Academy Award nominee James Franco, and Dev Petal, who starred in the Oscar winning film "Slumdog Millionaire." "About Cherry" premiered at the 62nd Annual Berlin Festival to critical acclaim. Turner then produced and starred in the popular indie comedy "Dysfunctional Friends "which premiered at both the SXSW and ABFF Film Festivals respectively. "Dysfunctional Friends" stars Turner, Meagan Good, Stacey Dash, Stacy Keibler, and NFL Icon Terrell "T.O." Owens in his acting debut. The dark comedy "It's a Disaster" produced by Turner, opened in theaters in April, 2013 and was rated one of the 5 Best Independent films of 2013 by the Huffington Post. "It's a Disaster starred Julia Stiles, and America Ferrera. "Kilimanjaro" starring Brian Geraghty and Abigail Spencer premiered at SXSW in 2013. The Neil Labute film "Some Velvet Morning" starring Alice Eve and Stanley Tucci, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2013. Turner produced Kilimanjaro and was an Executive Producer on the Neil Labute film. Turner produced, co-wrote and co-starred in the film "Lap Dance" starring James Remar, Mariel Hemingway, Briana Evigan, Omari Hardwick and Lisa Raye. The John Stockwell thriller "Kid Cannabis." And the Katherine Heigl film "Jackie and Ryan" which premiered at the 71st Venice Film Festival. Turner is credited as an Executive Producer on Kid Cannabis and Associate Producer on Jackie and Ryan. Thousand Saints, starring Ethan Hawke, Emil Hircsh, and Hailee Steinfeld, became Turners 4th Produced Sundance Film in five years. Turner signed a First Look deal with CodeBlack/ Lions Gate Films in 2015. Datari Turner is currently producing, writing, and staring in "Supermodel" a film about the fashion industry which also stars Tyson Beckford, Sessilee Lopez, Roger Guenveur Smith and many others. "A Girl Like Grace" produced and co-starred in by Turner, stars Meagan Good, Raven Symone and Garcelle Beauvais, premiered at the LA Film Festival last June. "9 Rides" produced by Turner premiered at the SXSW Film Festival to critical acclaim. Gook, a story about two Korean Kids who protect their shoe store in South Los Angeles during the L.A. Riots in 1992, won the prestigious Audience Award at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival and was acquired by Samuel Goldwyn for theatrical release in August, 2017. Supermodel was acquired by Netflix and premieres in the fall of 2017. A Boy. A Girl. A Dream is currently in production starred Omari Hardwick, Meagan Good, and Jay Ellis. In Television: Datari recently signed a First Look Television Producing Deal with the largest Independent studio in the world, Entertainment One, to create, produce and develop new original programing. Turner has produced over 100 hours of original programming for networks WEtv, BET, TvOne, Starz, and the Oxygen network. Most recent television credits include "Love Thy Sister" premiering on the WE Channel in January of 2015. Datari serves as the shows Creator and Executive Producer. "Growing Up Hip-Hop" is in it's forth season staring Angela Simmons and Romeo for the WETV Channel. Datari serves as the shows Creator and Executive Producer. Growing Up Hip has turned into a lucrative franchise and is currently the highest rated television series on WETV. Growing Up Hip-Hop Atlanta, the first spin-off from the franchise, is in it's second season. Datari currently resides in Beverly Hills, California and currently sits on the board of The Black House Foundation. He is an alum of the ABC/ Disney program and is repped at CAA.

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Biography from IMDb.

Born
April 2, 1979 (47)
From
Oakland, California, USA
Works as
Producer and actor, also writer
Titles
48 on MovieCove · 59 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 6% in 30 days

What are Datari Turner's films like?

Across their 41 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama17 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 40th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
31%
Self
29%
Society
13%
Survival
11%
Morality
11%
Power
5%
Ideas
0%
Family bonds18 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity9 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition7 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 32 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 10 · Serious 11 · Dark 11

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 27 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 7 · Charged 15 · Intense 10

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 16 · Shifting 13 · Whiplash 3

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 19 · Some laughs 11 · Funny 2

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 20 · Even-paced 11 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 20 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 4

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 7 · Affecting 15 · Heavy 10

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 19 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 5

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
18
Melancholic
20
Contemplative
13
Warm
12
Bittersweet
12
Other
32

How their films linger

Hopeful20 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet14
  • Ambiguous16
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Datari Turner's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 39 of their 48 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (20).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Datari Turner's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

59 credits, 48 with a MovieCove page.

  • Girl Dad(2026)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Happy Birthday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Producer

  • Ride or Die (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Executive Producer

  • To Live and Die and Live(2023)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Number One on the Call Sheet(2025)

    Show 2 episodes · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • Back in Action(2025)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Luther: Never Too Much(2024)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was...(2024)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Barnes Bunch(2024)

    Show Producer

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Braxtons(2024)

    Show Producer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Burial(2023)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Story Ave(2023)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • They Cloned Tyrone(2023)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Alert(2023)

    Show 9 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows

  • Toya & Reginae(2023)

    Show Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Hip Hop Family Christmas Wedding(2022)

    Executive Producer · Writer · as Rocko

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Day Shift(2022)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Hip Hop Family Christmas(2021)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Death of a Telemarketer(2020)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Nine Days(2020)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Brat Loves Judy(2021)

    Show Producer

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all shows

  • If Not Now, When?(2019)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Uncorked(2020)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Waka & Tammy: What the Flocka(2020)

    Show Producer

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Growing Up Hip Hop: New York (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Show 13 episodes · Creator

  • Same Difference (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Producer

  • Night Diner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Executive Producer

  • Shut Up and Dribble(2018)

    Show 3 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all shows

  • A Boy. A Girl. A Dream.(2018)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Killing Hasselhoff(2017)

    as Bouncer

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • We Are Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Daniel

  • Gook(2017)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta(2017)

    Show Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all shows

  • 9 Rides(2016)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Growing Up Hip Hop(2016)

    Show 7 episodes · Creator · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all shows

  • Adulterers(2015)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Lucky Girl(2015)

    Co-Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Ten Thousand Saints(2015)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • A Girl Like Grace(2015)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Lap Dance(2014)

    Producer · as Chicago

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Kid Cannabis(2014)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Jackie & Ryan(2014)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Some Velvet Morning(2013)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • It's a Disaster(2012)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Kilimanjaro(2013)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • About Cherry(2012)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Dysfunctional Friends(2012)

    Producer · as Aaron

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Luv(2012)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Video Girl(2011)

    Producer · Screenplay · as Jason

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Salvation Boulevard(2011)

    Co-Producer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Another Happy Day(2011)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • American Dream (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as X.L.

  • All You've Got(2006)

    as Becca's Boyfriend

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Ultimate Hustler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show Creator

  • 100 Kilos(2001)

    as O.G.

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Boston Public (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Joel Rivers

  • Nikki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Wrestler #1

  • Moesha(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · as Guy

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • Fight for '84 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Executive Producer

Career shape

A full career of 46 titles, 45 of them dated from 1996 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Nine Days (2020)

$968K worldwide

Highest rated

The Burial (2023)

Midcredits 86th

Most popular right now

Number One on the Call Sheet (2025)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting12 of 46: 8 only acting, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score30thWriting3 of 46: 0 only writing, 3 with another roleProducing35 of 46: 30 only producing, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score39thOther crew3 of 46: 3 only other crew, 0 with another role

46 titles, 5 with more than one role — producing and acting overlap on 4 of them.

By decade

1990s1 · acting2000s6 · 5 acting · 1 crew2010s20 · 5 acting · 18 crew2020s18 · 1 acting · 18 crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

Awards

Nominated for an Independent Spirit Award in 2021, Best First Feature.

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Datari Turner's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 39th percentile, the median of all 37; across their 32 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 40th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

40thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Approval · how many liked their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Reach · how many have seen their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Midcredits score across 48 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th23
  • Below 25th12

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 48 titles are Divisive.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Divisive16
  • Cult Classic7
  • Crowd Pleaser7
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed15

Most divisive · producer

Brat Loves Judy (2021)

99th percentile spread · 53% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · producer

Luther: Never Too Much (2024)

Midcredits 97th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 27 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 44. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Datari Turner's work okay for kids?

Across up to 12 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles19–70 · median 44 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity12 titles15–70 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles40–64 · median 58 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles33–53 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles20–53 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Datari Turner work with?

People who share at least 2 of Datari Turner's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jamie Foxx shares the most, 10.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles