Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project is a documentary film about poet and activist Nikki Giovanni, directed by Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson. It premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival before a limited theatrical release from HBO Documentary Films and its television premiere on HBO on January 8, 2024. As of August 2026, the film has been streaming on Max for over two years, and its original score has since been released as a standalone album.
Quick Facts
| Title | Type | Genre | Release Date | Composer | Status (as of Aug 2026) | Where to Watch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project | Documentary Film | Biography / Documentary | January 8, 2024 (HBO premiere) | Chris Pattishall & Samora Pinderhughes | Released; streaming | HBO / Max |
Official Synopsis:- A look at the life of poet Nikki Giovanni and the revolutionary historical periods she lived through, from the Civil Rights Movement to Black Lives Matter.
Who Composed the Going to Mars Soundtrack?
Chris Pattishall and Samora Pinderhughes composed the original score for Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project.
Chris Pattishall is a pianist and composer known for his wide stylistic range, with credits including Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022), Knives Out (2019), and Nightmare Alley (2021).
Samora Pinderhughes is a composer, pianist, and vocalist known for The Tale (2018) and Mojave (2015), in addition to his work on this film.
The pair’s 32-track score for Going to Mars was released as a standalone soundtrack album on June 7, 2024, and went on to earn nominations at the IDA Documentary Awards and Cinema Eye Honors. It is available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube.
Where to Watch Going to Mars
Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project is an HBO Original documentary — it is not a Netflix release. The film premiered on HBO on January 8, 2024, following a limited theatrical run by HBO Documentary Films in late 2023, and it remains available to stream on Max as of August 2026.
Cast and Crew
The film is directed and written by Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson, and its cast includes Nikki Giovanni, Taraji P. Henson, Virginia Fowler, Kai Giovanni, Thomas Giovanni, and Touré Neblett, along with others who knew and worked with the poet.
Joe Brewster, Michèle Stephenson, and Tommy Oliver produced the film, which is executive produced by Nancy Abraham, Taraji P. Henson, and Lisa Heller. Arielle Knight and Karem Orrego served as associate producers, with Amilca Palmer as an additional producer.
Sound Department:- The sound department for Going to Mars includes Carmen Borgia, Fredrick Helm, Brian O’Haram, and Ben Whitver.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project on Netflix?
No. Going to Mars is an HBO Original documentary distributed by HBO Documentary Films. It premiered on HBO and streams on Max, not Netflix.
Who composed the score for Going to Mars?
Chris Pattishall and Samora Pinderhughes composed the original score, which was later released as a 32-track standalone soundtrack album on June 7, 2024.
Who directed Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project?
The film was directed by Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson, who also wrote and produced it.
What is Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project about?
The film explores the life of poet Nikki Giovanni and the revolutionary historical periods she lived through, spanning from the Civil Rights Movement to Black Lives Matter.
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Who is playing tonight at alto on the soundtrack?