Attica

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1:23

Attica

2021

1h 56m

Documentary

History

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Popcornmeter

100%

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56 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

During the summer of 1971, tensions between inmates and guards at the Attica Correctional Facility are at an all-time high. On the morning of Sept. 9, it all comes to a head as Attica becomes the stage for one of the largest U.S. prison riots ever.

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Critics Consensus

Attica revisits the titular riot with intelligence, compassion, and anger, presenting a version of events that honors history as much as it exemplifies the art of documentary filmmaking.

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Wendy Ide

Screen International

A forthright indictment of the institutional racism and human rights abuses in the American penal system at the time.

Mar 14, 2022

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Dmitry Samarov

Chicago Reader

Traci A. Curry and Stanley Nelson's Attica utterly devastated me.

Nov 24, 2021

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Verne Gay

Newsday

Nelson has made a career of fixing our gaze, however strong the impulse is to avert it.

Rated: 3.5/4

Nov 5, 2021

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Bill Brioux

Brioux.tv

This is an unblinking look at the upstate 1971 New York massacre...

Aug 30, 2022

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Erick Estrada

Cinegarage

Attica opens another door. This documentary is the rifle held by Sonny [Al Pacino, Dog Day Afternoon, 1975]. [Full review in Spanish]

Jul 11, 2022

Full Review

Cody Dericks

Next Best Picture

It may not break new ground in terms of documentary filmmaking style, but "Attica" successfully brings an under-discussed historical event to modern audiences in a way that subtly highlights its parallels with the current day.

Rated: 7/10

Jul 11, 2022

Full Review

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Stephen C

Real footage in 1 hour and 56 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/02/25

Full Review

Michael L

Some of the most diabolical and evil things I’ve ever seen. An extremely power but important documentary that everyone needs to know about. If we ever want to become better humans, we need to learn from past atrocities like this.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/04/25

Full Review

Leaburn O

One of the best documentaries I've seen in awhile. I didn't know the story beyond it being a prison uprising and Pacino's famous Dog's Day Afternoon scene. How this unravelled is astonishing and nowadays would be deemed an era defining moment. It's wonderfully evoked in this documentary. Watched on BBC iPlayer.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/09/23

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Gabrielle A

A must see yes, but be aware, it's even violent to watch

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/24/23

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jona i

Refreshing and tragic to hear the story from those who lived and survived the event and its sickening conclusion!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

"Attica" is easily the most shocking documentary I've ever seen but is also one of the most impactful. It centers on the 1971 prison uprising in New York and includes first-hand accounts from survivors. The footage is graphic and extremely disturbing but is essential to the story being told. Essential viewing.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

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Stanley Nelson

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Traci Curry

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Stanley Nelson

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Attica: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

During the summer of 1971, tensions between inmates and guards at the Attica Correctional Facility are at an all-time high. On the morning of Sept. 9, it all comes to a head as Attica becomes the stage for one of the largest U.S. prison riots ever.

Director: Stanley Nelson, Traci Curry
Producer: Stanley Nelson, Traci Curry
Screenwriter: Stanley Nelson
Distributor: Showtime Documentary Films
Production Co: Firelight Films, Topic Studios, Showtime Documentary Films
Genre: Documentary, History
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 29, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 6, 2021
Runtime: 1h 56m

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