On this day in 1995, “Waiting To Exhale” opened in theaters. If there would have been social media, #WaitingToExhale surely would have been trending for days. The highly anticipated film was based on the bestselling book of the same name by author Terry McMillian. Everyone from Halle Berry to Robin Givens auditioned to be in the film but the main cast ended up being Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, Lela Rochon and the late-great Whitney Houston.
With only a budget of $16 million, the film, directed by Forest Whitaker, grossed over $80 million at the box office.
On top of the film, there was the dynamic soundtrack, which was written and produced by Babyface. Two number-one Billboard Hot 100 hits came from the album — Whitney’s “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)” and “Let It Flow” by Toni Braxton. Also, three top-ten hits: “Sittin’ Up in My Room” by Brandy, “Not Gon’ Cry” by Mary J. Blige and “Count on Me” by Whitney Houston and Cece Winans. The soundtrack, which was all Black women artists, also included SWV, TLC, Patti LaBelle, Aretha Franklin, Faith Evans.
“Waiting to Exhale” is definitely a classic. Check out some of the most memorable from the film below: