- Higher Ground delivers intentional and impactful entertainment that fosters empathy, understanding, and social change.
- The company spans various genres and themes, showcasing a commitment to a broad and inclusive range of stories.
- Higher Ground's productions, including documentaries and children's shows, are accessible on Netflix and offer diverse and informative content for all audiences.
Over the past few years, Barack and Michelle Obama have made a seamless transition from political powerhouses to influential figures in the entertainment industry through their production company, Higher Ground, which has already released 17 projects. Founded in 2018, Higher Ground was created with the mission of entertaining, informing, and inspiring audiences of all ages. It also has a central focus on elevating new and diverse voices within the entertainment space, which is evident through each of its projects. Each movie and television show to come out of the studio feels intentional with its characters and storylines, as they all demonstrate a profound dedication to fostering empathy, understanding, and social change.
What further sets Higher Ground apart is how its filmography spans numerous genres and themes, which is a clear reflection of the Obamas' stated commitment to a broad and inclusive range of stories. The company's lineup includes everything from powerful documentaries that shed light on the most pressing societal issues to children's shows designed to inspire a new generation of audiences. As the company continues to produce powerful pieces of entertainment, it becomes more and more clear that Higher Ground is not just a post-presidential pastime, but rather a deliberate and impactful endeavor.
All of Higher Ground's productions are available to stream on Netflix.
American Symphony
Released in November 2023, American Symphony is a beautiful documentary about a musician in the process of composing a symphony. His life is sent in an unexpected direction, though, when he discovers that his life partner, who is an author, has been rediagnosed with cancer. The film masterfully weaves the two artists' stories together and portrays a breathtaking example of true love. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Michelle Obama described the project as a testament to the "power and inevitability" of music but is also so much more than the story of one man's triumph. Instead, at its core, it is the story of two souls on parallel paths.
Leave The World Behind
A thrilling drama, Leave the World Behind is one of Higher Ground's most successful projects thus far. It came out in November 2023 and debuted as Number 1 on Netflix's global charts. The film is based on Rumaan Alam's 2020 novel of the same name and follows two families whose lives become connected after a blackout becomes catastrophic. Barack Obama played an important role in Leave the World Behind, as he provided key notes on the script and character and utilized his presidential experience to correct the more unrealistic aspects. He is a self-proclaimed lover of the original text, and his passion for the work shines through the final product.
Leave The World Behind Ending Explained
The Sandfords reserve a house for a quick getaway, but their plans change after there's a massive cyber attack and the homeowners return unexpectedly.Rustin
Rustin was released on Netflix in November 2023 and is an informative biopic about Bayard Rustin, who was the advisor to Martin Luther King Jr.. He was extremely important and influential in the quest for racial equality and human rights, but his contributions were unfairly erased from the civil rights movement because he was an openly gay black man. In 2013, President Obama posthumously awarded Rustin with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He shared with CBS Sunday Morning that the reason the studio was interested in the story was because it serves as a reminder that the fight for justice typically is not just about one individual group of people, but instead is often in tandem.
Working: What We Do All Day
Working: What We Do All Day is an interesting docuseries that explores what working looks like for modern Americans, particularly in a time of rapid change. It was released in May 2023 and follows Barack Obama visiting people in their homes and their workplaces to learn more about their lives. What really makes the series riveting is that not only does it star the former President, but it explores people from all walks of life. He speaks with people of all levels, from service jobs all the way to the executive suite. It's also based on a book by Studs Terkel, which happens to be one of Barack Obama's favorite pieces of work.
The Light We Carry: Michelle Obama And Oprah Winfrey
Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey are two of the most influential women in modern history, and The Light We Carry gives audiences the rare opportunity to see them connect in a meaningful conversation. The 90-minute special, which came out in April 2023, has Michelle Obama detailing the challenges and life lessons that ultimately shaped her bestselling second novel. The main message of the special is that the light one carries within oneself isn't dependent on anyone else, and it is expertly woven throughout each and every story Obama vulnerably shares.
Descendant
A documentary released on Netflix in 2022, Descendant, details the lives of the descendants of the survivors of enslaved Africans who were transported on the last known slave ship that arrived in Alabama in 1860. It follows the descendants' quest to find the ship, seek justice, and heal from the generational trauma of the atrocities their ancestors faced. The documentary is one of Higher Ground's most impactful and meaningful projects so far and it has been critically acclaimed. It first premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2021 and won a Special Jury Award for Creative Vision, and also won Best Documentary Feature at the Sidewalk Film Festival.
Waffles + Mochi's Restaurant
Those who are familiar with Michelle Obama know that she is extremely passionate about healthy eating habits for children. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that one of Higher Ground's shows is one directed toward children and focuses on cooking. Waffles + Mochi's Restaurant debuted on Netflix in 2022 and follows two puppets named Waffles and Mochi who open up their own restaurant. They serve up yummy dishes inspired by the ingredients they've learned about in their travels. Michelle Obama makes appearances throughout the adorable and educational show which is great for young audiences.
The G Word With Adam Conover
The G Word with Adam Conover is a unique hybrid comedy documentary that is designed to pull back the curtain on how the US government impacts its residents' daily lives. The limited series premiered in May 2022 and provides an honest look at the government's triumphs, failures, and future opportunities which is made more interesting by the fact that it comes from the studio run by the former First Family. Episodes explore everything from money to disease to the weather.
According to Tudum, Higher Ground optioned the book, The Fifth Risk by Michael Lewis, and wanted Conover to pitch a take on it in the form of a comedy show about the U.S. government. Conover shared that they didn't give him any more direction, but after the studio bought onto the project, Barack Obama gave his thoughts on the scripts. He also explained that from the get-go, he wanted to make it clear that the show was not the former president's perspective, but instead was just his own. This led him to not take all of his notes and be willing to push back on certain aspects of them with his own team's research.
Our Great National Parks
It's clear that Higher Ground does not restrict itself to just one genre of content. The production company put out a natural history docuseries in 2022 called Our Great National Parks that takes viewers to some of the most spectacular wild spaces on Earth and highlights the awe-inspiring species that live there. The central message of the show is about protecting the world's wilderness and making it accessible to everyone. The former president narrates the show, making it one of the projects that the Obama family was most involved in.
Ada Twist, Scientist
While Higher Ground has certainly created a number of projects aimed towards adults, a main focus of their content is aimed at educating children. Ada Twist, Scientist, for example, was released in 2021 and is about a young scientist named Ada Twist. Twist and her two best friends set out on adventures to find the answers to big questions they have about the world around them. The show is based on a children's book series of the same name that is designed to provide representation for young Black girls and inspire curiosity in its audience.
Worth
The 2021 film, Worth, is an eye-opening film about a lawyer named Kenneth Feinberg in Washington, D.C. In the face of 9/11, he is faced with the unimaginable task of trying to put a dollar value on the lives lost in order to help the victims. Worth is based on a true story, as well as a book called What is Life Worth?. The movie is a somber one but is definitely worth the watch, as it provides a lesser-known perspective and story from the time of the horrific events.
We The People
2021's We the People is one of Higher Ground's most unique projects, as it teaches its audience about the basics of rights and citizenship through upbeat songs. A number of popular artists, including Janelle Monáe, H.E.R., Adam Lambert, and Brandi Carlile, participated in the project and helped to bring the informative songs to life. It was executive produced by both Barack and Michelle Obama, along with Kenya Barris. Barris is best known for creating hit shows like Black-ish, Grown-ish, and Mixed-ish, and he brings his signature creative skill to the show which makes it a fun and educational watch for the whole family.
Fatherhood
Released in 2021, Fatherhood boasts an impressive cast led by Kevin Hart and is a heartbreaking, yet uplifting, story of a father whose wife dies the day after she gives birth. He must now navigate new fatherhood and all of the doubt and fear that comes with it by himself while trying to mend his own broken heart. Although heavy in subject, the movie finds ways to weave in classic Kevin Hart humor throughout.
According to Business Insider, Barack Obama got involved in the project because he saw an opportunity to feature positive messaging attached to a black man. The film is based on Matthew Logelin's 2011 memoir, Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss and Love, and was actually in development for years prior. It was originally set to star Channing Tatum until Hart was able to get his hands on the script in 2019.
Waffles + Mochi
Waffles + Mochi is the 2021 prequel to the adorable Waffles + Mochi's Restaurant and follows the two titular characters traveling the world. They explore all the foods in the places they visit and teach their young viewers about the cultures associated. Michelle Obama guides these cute puppets through conversations about healthy eating, as the show is associated with the Partnership for a Healthier America. The show's creators shared in an interview with Bon Appétit that Michelle Obama talked about her and her husband's very different palates and pushed for the show to have a physical embodiment of taste buds. The device used throughout the show, Mochi's taste buds, ended up coming out of the initial meeting with Michelle.
Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution
Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution is a 2020 movie about a groundbreaking summer camp for teens with disabilities. It becomes so inspiring for the attendees that a group of its alumni end up joining a radical disability movement that advocates for historic legislation changes towards greater equity. It is based on a true story of a camp called Camp Janed that was open from the early 1950s through the late 1970s. In a press release for the film, former President Obama shared that this fits into the production line-up that will not only entertain, but "educate, connect, and inspire us all".
Becoming
Given her prominent status as the former first lady, Michelle Obama is known by most. 2020's Becoming provides a more in-depth picture, though, of who she really is and how she came to be so influential. The documentary follows her providing an intimate look into her life, hopes, and relationships with others. It is partially based on her best-selling memoir of the same name but also provides fresh stories and perspectives. Most of Higher Ground's projects don't actually feature the Obama family on-screen, so this is a rarer occurrence for the production company. It was well-received by audiences, even earning a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special.
American Factory
Higher Ground's first-released project, a documentary called American Factory, came out in 2019. Given that the project was Higher Ground's debut, it was essential that it set the tone for where the company wanted to go and the stories it was looking to tell. It is set in post-industrial Ohio, where a Chinese billionaire opens a new factory in an abandoned General Motors plant. This initially causes hope and optimism for the residents in the area but quickly turns into a culture clash between high-tech China and working-class America. In a Tweet, Barack Obama shared that he was proud of the film for achieving an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary, and he and Michelle were aiming to create a story that's not seen often enough.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, CBS Sunday Morning, Tudum, Business Insider, Bon Appétit
