Miss Juneteenth

Miss Juneteenth

Year: 2020

Runtime: 103 min

Language: English

Director: Channing Godfrey Peoples

Echo Score: 80
Drama

Turquoise Jones, a former Miss Juneteenth winner, now works tirelessly to prepare her daughter, Kai, for the same pageant. Determined to give Kai opportunities she never had, Turquoise pushes her toward the competition, which celebrates African American heritage and freedom. However, Kai has her own ideas about what she wants, leading to a complex and emotional exploration of dreams, expectations, and mother-daughter relationships.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Miss Juneteenth yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Miss Juneteenth (2020)

Trace every key event in Miss Juneteenth (2020) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Turquoise's Past

Turquoise Jones, a former winner of the Miss Juneteenth pageant, experiences a turning point in her life. After becoming a single mother, she is forced to leave college and take on jobs to support her daughter, Kai.

Fort Worth, Texas
2

Entering Kai in the Pageant

Despite Kai's disinterest, Turquoise decides to enter her 15-year-old daughter in the Miss Juneteenth pageant. Turquoise sees this as an opportunity for Kai to secure a scholarship and follow in her mother's footsteps.

Fort Worth, Texas
3

Turquoise's Career Challenges

Turquoise struggles to provide for her family, juggling multiple jobs as a bar employee and a beautician at a mortuary. Her past experiences as a stripper weigh heavily on her, but she remains determined to create a better life for Kai.

4

Complicated Relationships

Despite being officially separated, Turquoise maintains a romantic relationship with Kai's father, Ronnie. Their union is fraught with challenges, but the connection remains strong as they share intimate moments.

5

Kai's Ambition

Kai struggles with her preparations for the Miss Juneteenth pageant, expressing a desire to pursue her passion for dance instead. The pressure from Turquoise for her to compete creates tension between them.

6

Financial Setback

When Ronnie fails to provide the money needed for Kai's pageant dress, Kai is left with no choice but to wear her mother's old gown. This situation heightens Kai's resentment towards the pageant and her mother's ambitions.

7

The Pageant Begins

The Miss Juneteenth pageant takes place, filling the air with excitement and hopes for the contestants. Turquoise watches anxiously, hoping her daughter will shine on stage despite her evident reluctance.

Fort Worth, Texas
8

Kai's Talent Performance

Surprising everyone, Kai performs Maya Angelou's 'Phenomenal Woman' set to dance during the talent portion. This was the same poem Turquoise had performed years ago, showcasing Kai's unexpected talent and growth.

9

Disappointment at the Pageant

Despite a powerful performance, Kai fails to place in the Miss Juneteenth pageant. While Turquoise feels proud of her daughter's bravery, it is evident that Kai is still disillusioned with the pageant experience.

Fort Worth, Texas
10

Bar Owner's Health Crisis

The owner of the bar where Turquoise works suffers from heart problems, prompting him to decide to sell the establishment. This news shocks Turquoise, as she realizes the impending loss of her job and routine.

11

Turquoise's Business Proposal

In a bold move, Turquoise offers a counter-proposal to the bar owner, suggesting she buy out his business over time. This decision marks a significant shift in her life as she steps into the world of entrepreneurship.

12

Starting a New Chapter

Turquoise embarks on her new journey as a businesswoman following the acceptance of her proposal. This decision opens new possibilities for her future and signifies her resilience and determination.

Last Updated: December 13, 2024 at 06:47

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies with bittersweet hope like Miss Juneteenth

Stories where resilience shines through quiet disappointments and everyday struggles.If you liked the mix of heartfelt realism and quiet optimism in Miss Juneteenth, you'll find movies here with similar themes of resilience. These are character-focused dramas about everyday people finding hope and personal growth after disappointment.

hopefulbittersweetreflectiveauthenticresilientmelancholicgrounded

Narrative Summary

These narratives often follow characters grappling with the gap between their past dreams and current realities. A central disappointment, like a lost competition or missed opportunity, serves as a catalyst for a more personal and meaningful form of success, emphasizing resilience over a traditional 'happy ending'.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a core emotional tone: they balance the melancholy of life's disappointments with a persistent, quiet hopefulness. They feature steady pacing, medium emotional weight, and a focus on authentic personal growth rather than high-stakes drama.

Movies about mother-daughter relationships like Miss Juneteenth

Explores the complex bonds where a mother's dreams collide with her daughter's ambitions.Find more movies like Miss Juneteenth that explore the powerful dynamic between mothers and daughters. These stories often deal with generational legacy, unfulfilled dreams, and the emotional push and pull of expectations versus individuality.

determinednostalgicemotionalcomplex relationshipscoming of agegenerationalheartfelt

Narrative Summary

The plot typically involves a mother projecting her own lost ambitions or rigid ideals onto her daughter, creating a central conflict. The daughter's journey toward self-discovery forces both characters to re-evaluate their relationship, leading to a deeper, more honest connection built on mutual understanding rather than imposed dreams.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their strong focus on the mother-daughter relationship as the primary driver of the narrative. They share themes of legacy, expectation, and coming-of-age, often with a determined yet melancholic mood and a moderate, character-driven intensity.

Unlock the Full Story of Miss Juneteenth

Don't stop at just watching — explore Miss Juneteenth in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Miss Juneteenth is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Miss Juneteenth Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Miss Juneteenth, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Miss Juneteenth Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Miss Juneteenth

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Miss Juneteenth. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Miss Juneteenth

Miss Juneteenth Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Miss Juneteenth that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Miss Juneteenth Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Miss Juneteenth

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Miss Juneteenth: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Miss Juneteenth

Similar Movies to Miss Juneteenth

Discover movies like Miss Juneteenth that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.