From Memphis to Milwaukee to Christmas Day: Craig Brewer’s journey to his biggest moviemaking stage yet
Michael Imperioli, from left, Mustafa Shakir, Craig Brewer, Kate Hudson, Hugh Jackman, Ella Anderson, Hudson Hensley and Jim Belushi attend the premiere of "Song Sung Blue" at AMC Lincoln Square on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
It’s hard to imagine many Memphians will have a better Christmas than Craig Brewer.
Brewer has seen a lot since he launched his filmmaking career out of Midtown Memphis — where he still lives and works — more than 25 years ago.
He’s won an award at a major festival, taking home the Audience Award at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival for “Hustle & Flow.” He’s made movies with major stars, including two features (2019’s “Dolemite is My Name” and 2021’s “Coming 2 America”) with Eddie Murphy.
But this month, Brewer adds something to his moviemaking resume that may be even more rare.
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Chris Herrington
Chris Herrington has covered the Memphis Grizzlies, in one way or another, since the franchise’s second season in Memphis, while also writing about music, movies, food and civic life. As far as he knows, he’s the only member of the Professional Basketball Writers Association who is also a member of a film critics group and has also voted in national music critic polls for Rolling Stone and the Village Voice (RIP). He and his wife have two kids and, for reasons that sometimes elude him, three dogs.
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