‘Waiting to Exhale’ still allows Black women to breathe 30 years later

On Sunday, December 14, 2025, Waiting to Exhale didn’t just return to the big screen, it exhaled again, filling Brooklyn’s historic Kings Theatre with nostalgia, reverence, and a reminder of why the film remains a cultural cornerstone three decades later. The 30th anniversary celebration, brought to you by Hulu and Disney, honored the legacy of the 1995 classic with a full film screening punctuated by live musical performances that transformed the evening into a cinematic concert experience rooted in Black womanhood, heartbreak, healing, and resilience.

The night opened with a live band featuring Adam Blackstone, renowned musical director, arranger, and producer, setting the foundation for what would become an emotionally rich, impeccably curated tribute. His presence immediately signaled that this wasn’t a simple anniversary screening, but a thoughtfully orchestrated celebration of one of the most influential soundtracks and stories in Black film history.

Honoring Whitney Houston and the Soundtrack That Defined an Era

Andra Day took the stage first, delivering a sultry, soul-soaked tribute to Whitney Houston, whose voice remains inseparable from Waiting to Exhale and whose passing in 2012 still reverberates through music and culture. Day’s performance was met with a standing ovation, her rich vocals setting a reverent and powerful tone for the evening. Moments later, the film began, ushering the audience back into a pre-social-media era defined by corded phones, handwritten letters, and the kind of intimacy that unfolded without digital interference.

Thirty years later, the film still hits. The laughter, the gasps, and the collective mmhmms rippled through the theatre, particularly during Bernadine Harris’ (played by Angela Bassett) now-iconic moment: burning her husband’s collection of “trash” in the front yard of their Arizona home. That scene remains both cathartic and symbolic, a release of rage, betrayal, and long-suppressed emotion that still resonates deeply with audiences and women today.

Act One & Act Two – Vocal Power, Nostalgia, and Show-Stopping Moments

Immediately following Bernadine’s moment, Tamar Braxton stormed the stage with a powerhouse rendition of Mary J. Blige’s “Not Gon’ Cry,” belting with raw emotion and precision. Deborah Cox followed with a soaring live performance of “Why Does It Hurt So Bad,” originally sung by Whitney Houston, her voice effortlessly bridging past and present.

Sheléa closed out Act One and took the audience to church with a stunning performance of Aretha Franklin’s Grammy nominated song “It Hurts Like Hell.” With robust, soulful vocals and commanding stage presence, she emerged as the undeniable star of the evening, earning a prolonged standing ovation.

Act Two opened with The Amours delivering a smooth, nostalgic take on Brandy’s “Sittin’ Up in My Room,” followed by Brooklyn native Kay Manée, who captivated the audience with a phenomenal rendition of Chaka Khan’s “My Funny Valentine.” The night concluded as Sheléa and Deborah Cox joined forces for “Count On Me,” the iconic duet originally performed by Whitney Houston and CeCe Winans, an intimate, hopeful close that left the audience visibly moved.

The Women of Waiting to Exhale – Still Familiar, Still Necessary

Beyond the music, the film itself remains the true headliner. Waiting to Exhale portrayed four very different, yet painfully familiar, relationship journeys: Savannah (the late Whitney Houston), the successful TV producer who couldn’t quite secure love; Bernadine (Angela Bassett), the devoted wife discarded after helping build a multimillion-dollar empire; Robin (Lela Rochon), young and beautiful yet chronically misled in love; and Gloria (Loretta Devine), a single mother navigating loneliness, self-rediscovery, and unexpected romance after her ex-husband’s coming out.

Bernadine, in particular, taught an entire generation of young Black women how to stand up for themselves in failing marriages as it pertained to how to advocate, emote out loud, and reclaim their power. Bernadine reminded all women that it’s okay to feel, and to show it. She gave Black women permission to be angry out loud, to grieve publicly, and to demand accountability when they’ve been wronged. She reminded us that protecting your mental health doesn’t mean suppressing pain or “performing” strength, it means acknowledging what hurts and responding to it honestly. Bernadine showed that it’s healthy to process betrayal instead of internalizing it, to name emotional harm, and to release anger rather than letting it turn inward.

Bernadine reminded Black women that emotional honesty is essential to healthy mental well-being.

Thirty Years Later, the Message Still Resonates

Thirty years later, what’s changed? Not much, except the volume. The same narratives around love, betrayal, and self-preservation remain, now amplified by social media, the internet, and AI-driven discourse. Yet Waiting to Exhale reminds us that before hashtags and viral think pieces, Black women were already having these conversations, honestly, vulnerably, and unapologetically.

The anniversary event wasn’t just a celebration of a film, it was a collective inhale, a shared memory, and a powerful reminder that some stories don’t age. They deepen.