American Fiction

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American Fiction

R

Released Jan 12, 2024

1h 57m

Comedy

Drama

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Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

289 Reviews

95%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Verified Ratings

AMERICAN FICTION is Cord Jefferson's hilarious directorial debut, which confronts our culture's obsession with reducing people to outrageous stereotypes. Jeffrey Wright stars as Monk, a frustrated novelist who's fed up with the establishment profiting from "Black" entertainment that relies on tired and offensive tropes. To prove his point, Monk uses a pen name to write an outlandish "Black" book of his own, a book that propels him to the heart of hypocrisy and the madness he claims to disdain.

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Critics Consensus

Jeffrey Wright and American Fiction will forever be inextricable thanks to the actor's committed approach to the pointedly humorous and insightful material.

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Audience Says

Smart, funny, and poignant, American Fiction will make you laugh as often as it makes you think.

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Wenlei Ma

The Nightly (AU)

Anchored by a tour de force performance from Jeffrey Wright, writer and first-time director Cord Jefferson’s film is a confident work that delights in exploring thorny concepts through humour and clear-minded irreverence.

Rated: 5/5

Feb 27, 2024

Full Review

Tara Brady

Irish Times

Cord Jefferson, who previously made episodes of Watchmen and The Good Life, marries a light touch and broad humour with affecting familial dysfunction and biting observations on race. Cultural crises are seldom so entertaining.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 24, 2024

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Stephen Romei

The Australian

This satire shouldn't be laugh-out-loud funny ... but it is.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 24, 2024

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Maxance Vincent

Film Speak

Jefferson doesn’t push buttons for the sake of pushing buttons. Every scene has a purpose and informs Monk’s view of the world.

Rated: A

Jul 14, 2025

Full Review

Leonardo Garcia Tsao

La Jornada

Jefferson has achieved that rarity: a social satire with heart, combining social criticism with family melodrama...[Full review in Spanish]

Feb 10, 2025

Full Review

Francesca Steele

iNews.co.uk

As a struggling author who is rightfully angry at the world but also consumed by self-hatred, Jeffrey Wright has never been better.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 11, 2024

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Quinton H

Overall, a good choice for a date night movie. The story & acting talent were great. In fact, I liked the movie enough to add Percival Everett to my reading list - a decision which I’ve not regretted.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/27/24

Full Review

Brian J

👍🏿 very entertaining definitely would recommend

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/19/24

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jac

very fun Jeffrey Wright is amazing, aa always

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/11/24

Full Review

Kent

Fun story. Very good acting. Not my favorite ending.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/09/24

Full Review

Barbara C

one viewing is enough. no real message that would inspire for change

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/23/24

Full Review

TLC

Deserves all the praise its received!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/17/24

Full Review

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Cord Jefferson

Director

Jeffrey Wright

Thelonious "Monk" Ellison

Tracee Ellis Ross

Lisa

John Ortiz

Arthur

Erika Alexander

Coraline

Leslie Uggams

Agnes

American Fiction: Movie Clip - Bookstore

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American Fiction: Exclusive Featurette - American Artist

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Sterling K. Brown Breaks Down His Career and Talks ‘American Fiction’

23:22

American Fiction: Trailer 2

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American Fiction: Featurette - Page to Screen

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American Fiction: Featurette - First Look

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American Fiction: Featurette - Jeffrey Wright Is “Monk"

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American Fiction: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

AMERICAN FICTION is Cord Jefferson's hilarious directorial debut, which confronts our culture's obsession with reducing people to outrageous stereotypes. Jeffrey Wright stars as Monk, a frustrated novelist who's fed up with the establishment profiting from "Black" entertainment that relies on tired and offensive tropes. To prove his point, Monk uses a pen name to write an outlandish "Black" book of his own, a book that propels him to the heart of hypocrisy and the madness he claims to disdain.

Director: Cord Jefferson
Producer: Ben LeClair, Nikos Karamigios, Cord Jefferson, Jermaine Johnson
Screenwriter: Cord Jefferson
Distributor: MGM
Production Co: Orion Pictures, T-Street, MRC, 3Arts
Rating: R (Sexual References|Language Throughout|Brief Violence|Some Drug Use)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 12, 2024, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 6, 2024
Box Office (Gross USA): $21.0M
Runtime: 1h 57m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Digital 2.39:1

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