Thelonious “Monk” Ellison's writing career has stalled because his work isn’t deemed “Black enough.” Monk (Jeffrey Wright), a writer and English professor, writes a satirical novel under a pseudonym, aiming to expose the publishing world's hypocrisies. The book’s immediate success forces him to get deeper enmeshed in his assumed identity and challenges his closely-held worldviews.

Nominated for 5 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Actor in a Leading Role (Jeffrey Wright), Actor in a Supporting Role (Sterling K. Brown), Original Score (Laura Karpman), and Adapted Screenplay (Cord Jefferson).