Waiting To Exhale -

: Opened at #1 in North America, eventually grossing approximately $81.45 million worldwide on a $16 million budget.

: The novel was a massive hit, selling over 335,000 copies in its first six months. Waiting to Exhale

: The Rotten Tomatoes consensus notes it as an underseen perspective often held back by uneven pacing, though it is widely celebrated by audiences as a "social phenomenon". The Iconic Soundtrack : Opened at #1 in North America, eventually

: It is credited with introducing the interior worlds of professional, 30-something Black women to a mainstream audience, paving the way for future series like Sex in the City and Insecure . The Film Adaptation (1995) The Iconic Soundtrack : It is credited with

: Pocket Books purchased the paperback rights for $2.64 million , which at the time was the second-largest paperback deal in publishing history.

: Directed by Forest Whitaker in his feature directorial debut, the film was primarily shot in Arizona, featuring landmarks like the Arizona Biltmore Resort .

: Starred Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, and Lela Rochon.