Oscar-nominated Sing Sing to make its Max debut: Release date and more, explored

Sing Sing has been one of the most acclaimed films of 2024. The prison drama is co-written, co-produced, and directed by Greg Kwedar, and it's about a real-life program that took place in the namesake jail that is situated in New York. The film had its world premiere at the 2023 Toronto Film Festival and was released theatrically on July 12, 2024.

Here's the official synopsis of the film:

Divine G, imprisoned at Sing Sing for a crime he didn't commit, finds purpose by acting in a theatre group alongside other incarcerated men in this story of resilience, humanity, and the transformative power of art.

The film is finally getting released on Max. Here are the details.

When will Sing Sing release on Max?

Expand Tweet

Sing Sing will be available to stream on Max (previously HBO Max) through subscription from March 21, 2025. The timing of the release is positioned in a way that it will start streaming only after the 2025 Oscars, which is scheduled for March 2nd. The film will drop on the linear channel of HBO on March 22, 2025.

If the film manages to win big at the Academy Awards, Sing Sing might manage to earn strong viewership on Max. The film had its theatrical release by A24 on July 12, 2024. It has received three Oscar nominations in the categories of Best Actor (Colman Domingo), Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Song.

What is the plot of Sing Sing?

Sing Sing takes place at the Sing Sing prison, where a bunch of convicted men take part in a theatrical play, which is a part of their rehabilitation program. The main protagonist is Divine G, who has been jailed despite being innocent. Soon after joining the theater group of the prison, he emerges as their popular performer. As their production expands, the group starts hiring new inmates as their members.

The story is by Greg Kwedar, Clint Bentley, John Whitfield, and Clarence Maclin, while the screenplay is by Kwedar and Bentley (they are also its producers along with Monique Walton).

Who is starring in Sing Sing?

The film consists of some really talented actors, including Colman Domingo, who plays the role of John Whitfield, aka Divine G, a man wrongfully convicted in the namesake prison. In one scene, the real Divine G also makes a brief appearance. The film also has Clarence Maclin playing himself. Other cast members include Sean San José as Mike Mike and Paul Raci as Brent Buell. Besides these professional actors, the film also consists of some real-life ex-convicts who were a part of the program.

Here is their list:

David Giraudy
Patrick Griffin
Mosi Eagle
James Williams
Sean Johnson
Dario Peña
Miguel Valentin
Jon-Adrian Velazquez
Pedro Cotto
Camillo Lovacco
Cornell Alston

Speaking to Screen Rant, the film's director, Greg Kwedar, spoke about the inspiration. He said,

"You know, I discovered the story over eight years ago. I was producing a short documentary inside of a maximum security prison in Kansas, and it was my first time ever behind the walls. And we were doing a doc about something else. But on a tour of the facility, I passed by a cell and there was a young man raising a rescue dog inside of a cell. And immediately, my expectations about prison and people in prison was upended because I saw the healing that was happening in both directions between this young man and this animal. And I was just desperate to know more about who was doing things differently in prison."