Downbeat vs Ray
Downbeat has the higher audience score (10/10 against 7.4/10 for Ray). Downbeat is the shorter watch at 1h 31m compared with 2h 32m. Ray is the older of the two (2004 against 2026). Both are drama, music movies, so they suit a similar mood.
Downbeat
Ray| Downbeat | Ray | |
|---|---|---|
| Audience score | ★ 10.0/10 | ★ 7.4/10 |
| Year | 2026 | 2004 |
| Length | 1h 31m | 2h 32m |
| Genres | Drama, Music | Drama, Music |
| Country | – | – |
| Director | Danny Madden | Taylor Hackford |
| Main cast | Christie Lynn Smith, Gary Galone, Will Madden, Skyler Bible, Dustin Hahn | Richard Schiff, David Krumholtz, Larenz Tate, Kerry Washington, Harry Lennix |
Synopsis
Downbeat
Fleeing mistakes in Atlanta, Mauro crashes on his sister’s couch in Boston. He takes to bucket drumming on the streets for a way out, but can’t stop screwing things up and drawing everyone else into his own feral shortcomings.
Ray
Born on a sharecropping plantation in Northern Florida, Ray Charles went blind at seven. Inspired by a fiercely independent mom who insisted he make his own way, He found his calling and his gift behind a piano keyboard. Touring across the Southern musical circuit, the soulful singer gained a reputation and then exploded with worldwide fame when he pioneered coupling gospel and country together.