Tina Mabry
as Director
An American Girl Story: Melody 1963 - Love Has to Win
Watch Video
Description
The drama film An American Girl Story: Melody 1963 - Love Has to Win, starring Marsai Martin, Idara Victor, Frances Fisher, etc., directed by Tina Mabry, was released on October 21, 2016 in the United States. It tells the story of Melody is an irrepressible African-American girl whose vivid imagination and creativity reinforce her optimism. When shocking national events threaten her sense of security, Melody must find strength to restore her hope for a better world. This is a Drama, Family film with a runtime of 240 minutes and its worldwide box office is not listed in the available detail data. It has received a rating of 7.5/10 from 257 viewers.
Top Cast
Marsai Martin
as Melody Ellison
Idara Victor
as Frances Ellison
Frances Fisher
as Miss Abbot
Frankie Faison
as Frank Ellison
Garrett McQuaid
as Donald
Dara Iruka
as Lorraine
Lola Wayne Villa
as Trish
Matthew Foster
as Principal Davis
Briana Lane
as Sales Clerk aka Val
Chuck McCollum
as Store Manager
Rocky McMurray
as Mr. Schuler
Daija Bickham
as Neighborhood Girl #1
Skyelar Wesley
as Neighborhood Girl #2
Libby Ewing
as Mother in Store
Joelle Better
as Daughter in Store
Isabel Myers
as Mary Beth
Joshua Wilkinson
as Male Bystander
Errol Gillett
as Church Choir
Alison McDonald
as Writer
Where to Watch
kickasstorrents.toJp Vanzyl
Availability may vary by country, language, and release window. Some titles are included with platform subscriptions, while others may require rental, purchase, or app-based access. Streaming catalogs and licensing agreements are updated regularly, so playback options can change over time. For the most accurate viewing experience, check the latest listing on your selected service and confirm regional support, subtitle options, and device compatibility before starting.
Filming Location
127A Smithfield Road, Frederiksted, Virgin Islands
Production
Castle Rock Entertainment
Award
21 wins & 43 nominations total
Get MovieBox / FM / TV APK
Download the latest MovieBox packages for mobile, FM builds, and TV-compatible APK versions. Choose the package that matches your device and region, then follow the official install guide for best compatibility and security.
User Review
Good movie!
Good movie!
Spiritually moving and inspires critical thinking. Well acted by a quality lead cast. Tough to watch because it speaks to critical matters of race relations, yet, well worth seeing.
American Girl has a great way of tackling sensitive historical issues in a way that appropriately educates & entertains. Similar to the American Girls Addy, Josefina & Kaya in their depictions of young girls who lived through tumultuous cultural periods of American history, Melody is no exception & true to form. We see her innocent view of the world challenged as she increasingly becomes aware of the social injustices that surrounds her. But in true American Girl spirit, that innocence merges with an irrepressible spirit of determination, strength and the faith that good & love will always triumph in the end.
I grew up in the 60's, although younger than the age of Melody. I dressed like her even down to the eyeglasses. I grew up in Indianapolis. This was very realistic! The majority of my white teachers cared. I'm from a two parent home and had a mother who was so loving but she also stood up for us and taught me to stand up for myself. I never saw this or even knew about this show. I'm so pleased and impressed by this excellent production! I have spent much of my creative life telling people in community theater and the musical productions I've been involved in, the real black experience. Thank you for the excellent job done here!!!
I was very disappointed by this movie. I've seen the other American Girl movies so I wasn't expecting it to completely faithful to the book. However, this film barely resembles the books besides having a main named Melody. First, the movie eliminates her siblings, father, friends, and grandmother, all important characters. Second, Melody's family is poor instead of lower middle class. Third, her personality is completely changed. Melody wants to be a astronaut and enjoys drawing in the film, while she is a singer and loves to garden in the books. Third, Melody goes to an all-white school. Why? Just to inject a litttle more racism, I guess. This film really missed the mark in its attempt to be a social justice warrior. It could've been so much more if it told Melody's story.
Good movie!
Similar Movie Recommendations
Blog
Finding Free Alternatives to Movie Box
A detailed breakdown of recent pricing changes, why users are reconsidering their watch setup, and how to evaluate an alternative workflow without losing your discovery habits.
How to Download Movie Box APK: Complete Setup Guide
Learn the right flow to install Movie Box APK: version basics first, then clean installation steps, and finally how to choose among TV, iOS, Web, and app usage paths.
Project Hail Mary Review: The Rare Sci-Fi Blockbuster That Thinks and Feels
A long-form review covering why Project Hail Mary stands out in 2026: adaptation quality, scientific storytelling, emotional depth, and audience reactions.
Common Types
Comedy
Comedy stories are designed to entertain through humor. Popular formats include situational comedy, sketch-style humor, workplace comedy, and romantic comedy.
Action and Adventure
Action titles emphasize excitement, physical conflict, heroic characters, and fast-paced storytelling. Adventure titles often feature exploration, survival, or epic journeys.
Crime and Mystery
Crime dramas follow investigators, detectives, lawyers, or journalists as they solve criminal cases. Mystery stories encourage audiences to uncover clues alongside the characters.
Science Fiction
Science fiction explores futuristic technology, space travel, artificial intelligence, alternate realities, and scientific speculation.
Horror
Horror storytelling creates suspense through psychological tension, supernatural events, monsters, or survival scenarios.
Romance
Romantic stories focus primarily on relationships, love arcs, and emotional development between characters.
Animation
Animation includes works for children, families, and adults, ranging from educational content to complex dramatic storytelling.
Romance
Romantic stories focus primarily on relationships, love arcs, and emotional development between characters.