‘The Color Purple’ Gets a Digital Release: Here’s When to Stream It Online

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The film adaptation of The Color Purple (2023) will be streaming on Max starting on Feb. 16.

Based on the Broadway musical by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, Stephen Bray and Marsha Norman (which in turn is based on Alice Walker’s best-selling novel), the awards-nominated movie stars Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo and Fantasia Barrino. It has been nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actress (Brooks), two BAFTA Award nominations (best lead actress for Barrino, best supporting actress for Brooks), and five Critics Choice Awards nods (best picture, best acting ensemble, best supporting actress for Brooks, best acting ensemble, best costume design and best hair & makeup).

Below, keep reading to find out where to stream both the 2023 and 1984 versions of The Color Purple, as well as the best deals on the original book by Alice Walker.

Where to Stream The Color Purple (2023) Online

The Color Purple will be streaming on Max (formerly HBO Max) starting on Friday, Feb. 16 exclusively for subscribers, and you can also watch the 1985 film directed by Steven Spielberg on the streamer. Max is $9.99 per month for the ad-supported plan, $15.99 per month for the basic ad-free plan or $19.9 per month for the Ultimate plan with 4K streaming and more perks.

Max subscribers can access hundreds of movies and TV series, including the Oscar-nominated film Barbie, Avatar: The Way of Water, Blue Beetle, Dune, Succession, Barry, The Gilded Age and more. Additionally, subscribers can watch live sports with B/R Sports with NBA, NHL, and other sports leagues.

You can also buy The Color Purple (2023) in 4K Ultra HD on sale on digital for $22.74 (reg. $25) or rent it for $17.74 (reg. $20) on Prime Video, Apple TV and other video-on-demand platforms.

Where to Stream Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple (1985) Online

If you want to watch the original adaptation of The Color Purple directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Rae Dawn Chong and Oprah Winfrey, the 1985 film is also streaming on Max, but only for subscribers.

Where to Buy The Color Purple Novel

The Color Purple movie is based on the best-selling Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Alice Walker. It was first published in 1982.

It’s available at Amazon on hardcover for $17 (reg. $30), as a paperback for $12 (reg. $18), as a Kindle ebook for $3 (reg. $18) and as an audiobook for $10 (reg. $20) on Audible.

Not an Audible member? Sign up for a 30-day free trial and get two free audiobooks (including The Color Purple). The service usually auto-renews at $14.99 per month. Learn more about Audible here.

Directed by Blitz Bazawule, The Color Purple (2023) follows Celie (Fantasia Barrino, Phylicia Pearl Mpasi), a young woman who faces many hardships in life, including being torn apart from her children and an abusive husband (Colman Domingo), in Georgia in the early 20th century. However, with the support of Shug (Taraji P. Henson), a sultry jazz singer, and Sofia (Danielle Brooks), her stepdaughter, Celie finds strength to survive through sisterhood.

The film also stars Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., Halle Bailey, Jon Batiste, Louis Gossett Jr., David Alan Grier, Deon Cole, Tamela Mann and others.

Where to Buy The Color Purple (1985) Online

Want to own the physical media version of The Color Purple? While it’s unclear when the 2023 musical version of The Color Purple will be available on disc, the original 1985 film, which starred Goldberg and Glover, is on DVD for $15 and Blu-ray for $13 via Amazon.