Amistad

Play trailer

2:32

Amistad

R

1997

2h 32m

History

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

78%

Tomatometer

68 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

In 1839, the slave ship Amistad set sail from Cuba to America. During the long trip, Cinque (Djimon Hounsou) leads the slaves in an unprecedented uprising. They are then held prisoner in Connecticut, and their release becomes the subject of heated debate. Freed slave Theodore Joadson (Morgan Freeman) wants Cinque and the others exonerated and recruits property lawyer Roger Baldwin (Matthew McConaughey) to help his case. Eventually, John Quincy Adams (Anthony Hopkins) also becomes an ally.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Heartfelt without resorting to preachiness, Amistad tells an important story with engaging sensitivity and absorbing skill.

Read Critics Reviews

Mike Clark

USA Today

The narrative perils are daunting in this little-known true tale of a bloody slave-ship rebellion in 1839 and its jumbled aftermath in the U.S. judicial system.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jan 9, 2018

Full Review

Jason Bailey

Vice

'Amistad' may not be the first, or fifth, or tenth film people talk about when Spielberg's name comes up. But it has more moments that will put your hair on end than other filmmakers' best works, and that says something.

Dec 15, 2017

Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Powerful story for mid-teens and up.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 21, 2010

Full Review

Alan Jones

Radio Times

Although flawed, this chilling movie further reveals Spielberg's skill as an expert film-maker unafraid of tackling heavy political

Rated: 3/5

Apr 12, 2024

Full Review

Dan DiNicola

The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)

A much finer movie than Spielberg's sophomoric The Color Purple, it has power and dignity and it leads us into new places.

Rated: B+

Jan 10, 2023

Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Whether or not Steven Spielberg is the right filmmaker for the job, Amistad tells an important story in not just American but world history.

Rated: 3.5/5

Dec 25, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Member

Hounson is an excellent actor and did a superb job in this movie. Anthony Hopkins was clever as usual. Gotta see this movie. The story will give you a dose of humility.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/30/24

Full Review

Tim M

More stagey than your average Spielberg drama, Amistad nevertheless has emotional vigor in the right place held aloft by a powerful ensemble.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/30/24

Full Review

Aidan M

Really well done, although the acting is suspect (mainly because of how young some of the stars are) but the film is well done, and tells an important story in history.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/27/24

Full Review

Kyle E

Another great film from Spielberg

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/24

Full Review

C

This was an ambitious historical movie by Spielberg that got to the heart of slavery in America prior to the Civil War. I thought the movie would have been better had it concentrated more on the actual court cases. I did like that historical figures were portrayed in the movie. Sir Anthony Hopkins was top notch in the movie. At times the movie was slow and meandering. But over all this was a classic Spielberg film.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/10/23

Full Review

Dom

The idea is quite unique but the movie is quite long and boring at stretches.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/11/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Steven Spielberg

Director

Morgan Freeman

Joadson

Anthony Hopkins

John Quincy Adams

Matthew McConaughey

Baldwin

Nigel Hawthorne

Martin Van Buren

Djimon Hounsou

Cinque

Rosewood

87%

83%

Rosewood

Watchlist

Ride With the Devil

65%

66%

Ride With the Devil

Watchlist

Beloved

71%

70%

Beloved

Watchlist

Cradle Will Rock

65%

71%

Cradle Will Rock

Watchlist

My Family/Mi Familia

79%

88%

My Family/Mi Familia

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Matthew McConaughey’s 10 Best Movies

Now Streaming: The Big Lebowski, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, E.T., and More

Critical Consensus: "Dead Man’s Chest" Is Overstuffed; "Scanner" Shines Darkly

Amistad: Trailer 1

2:32

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

In 1839, the slave ship Amistad set sail from Cuba to America. During the long trip, Cinque (Djimon Hounsou) leads the slaves in an unprecedented uprising. They are then held prisoner in Connecticut, and their release becomes the subject of heated debate. Freed slave Theodore Joadson (Morgan Freeman) wants Cinque and the others exonerated and recruits property lawyer Roger Baldwin (Matthew McConaughey) to help his case. Eventually, John Quincy Adams (Anthony Hopkins) also becomes an ally.

Director: Steven Spielberg
Producer: Debbie Allen, Steven Spielberg, Colin Wilson
Screenwriter: David Franzoni
Distributor: DreamWorks SKG, United International Pictures
Production Co: DreamWorks SKG, Home Box Office (HBO)
Rating: R
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 10, 1997, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2011
Runtime: 2h 32m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: 35mm

Most Popular at Home Now