Netflix will debut Tomorrow Was Beautiful on May 8, a feature-length documentary that traces the rise of Colombian recording artist Karol G. Directed by Cristina Costantini, the film follows the singer through her 2023 stadium tour and reflects on her path from early ambitions in Medellín to international recognition.
Produced by This Machine, the documentary was made in collaboration with Costantini, R.J. Cutler, Elise Pearlstein, Trevor Smith, Kristofer Ríos, Alex Simmons, and Mariem Pérez. Executive producers include Mark Blatty, Margaret Yen, John Janick, and Nir Seroussi. The film gives audiences behind-the-scenes access to Karol G’s life during the release of her fourth studio album Mañana Será Bonito, and the months that followed as she prepared for and performed her record-breaking tour.
Karol G, born Carolina Giraldo Navarro, began performing at an early age and appeared as a teenager on El Factor X, Colombia’s version of The X Factor. Early efforts to break into reggaeton were met with rejection from an industry that often limited women’s opportunities in the genre. She found a breakthrough in 2017 with her debut album Unstoppable, followed by the 2019 global hit “Tusa,” featuring Nicki Minaj.
Mañana Será Bonito, released in 2023, became the first Spanish-language album by a female artist to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The tour that followed was the highest-grossing by a Latina performer and forms the central arc of the film. Viewers are taken through the planning, rehearsals, and logistics behind the tour, with footage that captures the pressures and expectations Karol faced from both the public and within her own team.
Costantini, known for directing Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado, described her collaboration with Karol as built on transparency. “She didn’t want to sugarcoat it or show all the glamorous parts,” Costantini said. “She wanted to show the hard parts and the struggle that it took to get where she is now.”
The film documents both professional milestones and more personal moments. Karol’s parents and boyfriend, the musician Feid, appear alongside collaborators including Shakira, Becky G, and Ovy on the Drums. The film also features studio sessions from the recording of Mañana Será Bonito, as well as live performances from the tour.
Costantini said the documentary speaks to a wider audience beyond Karol G’s existing fanbase. “Being Latina, there are so many people in the world who tell us ‘no,’ both implicitly and explicitly. There are so many of us who know the feeling of being underestimated, overlooked, and undervalued,” she said. “I want people to see how Karol has pushed through all those doubts and triumphed by really being true to who she is.”
This Machine’s recent projects include Fight for Glory: 2024 World Series for Apple TV+, Martha for Netflix, and Elton John: Never Too Late for Disney+. Their upcoming releases include Lee Soo Man: King of K-Pop for Amazon.