The Preacher's Wife (1996)
Denzel is an angel. Whitney is the gospel choir. The church is saved — the marriage needs work.
Pastor Henry Biggs, drowning in church and neighborhood problems, prays for help and gets Dudley, an angel more interested in Henry's neglected wife Julia. A remake of The Bishop's Wife with a gospel heart; Whitney Houston's soundtrack became the best-selling gospel album of all time. Courtney B. Vance and Gregory Hines round out a cast that sings.
Whitney Houston's voice is the special effect here. Penny Marshall remade The Bishop's Wife with Denzel Washington as the angel Dudley, Courtney B. Vance as the overworked pastor, and Houston as the wife whose faith and choir carry the church — and the soundtrack became the best-selling gospel album of all time, with 'I Believe in You and Me' a signature hit. The film's Harlem church feels lived-in, and its gentle argument — that devotion to a calling can quietly starve a marriage — gives the fantasy real stakes.
From the Film
The Facts
- Year
- 1996
- Director
- Penny Marshall
- Runtime
- 124 minutes
- Network / Studio
- theatrical
- Genres
- Comedy, Drama, Romance, Family, Faith
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Denzel Washington | Dudley |
| Whitney Houston | Julia Biggs |
| Courtney B. Vance | Henry Biggs |
| Gregory Hines | |
| Jenifer Lewis | Marguerite |
| Loretta Devine |
Good to know: Whitney Houston's soundtrack became the best-selling gospel album of all time, with over 6 million copies worldwide.
Where to watch The Preacher's Wife
Streaming lineups change every season, so check the current options to stream, rent, or own it:
See every current streaming, rental, and purchase option for this title on JustWatch.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
More from the 1990s — or browse the full A–Z catalog.
