Today, December 22 is the 25th anniversary of the U.S. release of the film Waiting To Exhale starring Whitney, along with an all-star cast (Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, Gregory Hines and others). Directed by Academy Award-winner Forest Whitaker with a screenplay by Terry McMillan and Ronald Bass, the film was notable at the time for having an all-African American cast. The film was a financial success as was the soundtrack album, produced by Babyface.