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Barry

Play trailer 0:29 Poster for Barry 2016 1h 44m Drama Biography Play Trailer Watchlist
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80% Tomatometer 46 Reviews 50% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Barack Obama arrives in New York in the fall of 1981 for his junior year at Columbia University. He struggles to stay connected to his mother, his estranged father and his classmates.
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Barry

Barry

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Critics Consensus

Barry opens a speculative window into a future president's formative college years, offering a flawed yet compelling glimpse of American history in the making.

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Critics Reviews

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Karl Quinn The Age (Australia) 08/03/2018
Barry pays off in the end. It takes its time, but it gets there. Go to Full Review Tim Cogshell Alt Film Guide 03/08/2017
3.0
...thinking about Barry, the 1981-set film about a young Barack Obama as he arrived in New York City to attend Columbia University, I found myself thinking about a young Me in 1981, as I arrived in New York City to attend Columbia University... Go to Full Review Alan Scherstuhl Village Voice 12/29/2016
These moments proceed like comic-book panels, each communicating a single point, with little nuance for us to discover. Go to Full Review Don Shanahan Every Movie Has a Lesson 02/14/2019
4/5
Biased and showy hero worship is rightfully absent for a solid biography slice. Go to Full Review Charles Mudede The Stranger (Seattle, WA) 08/03/2018
There is nothing presidential in Devon Terrell's very entertaining portrayal of Barry (and he is only called Barry in this film -- Barack Obama is too grand and complicated a name for this easygoing fellow). Go to Full Review José Teodoro Cinema Scope 10/12/2017
With its emphasis on a sense of place and all the ways a young person can feel out of place, Barry isn't a biopic but, rather, a film about race, class, gender, and general tribalism in America. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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meredith w 01/29/2023 This look into the early life of U.S. President Barack Obama focuses on his time as one of the few black students at Columbia University NY in the early 80's. Devon Terrell does a decent job showing him as trying to find his place in the world, but the sometimes painstakingly slow, meaning that not a whole lot happens. See more 02/01/2021 This look into the early life of U.S. President Barack Obama focuses on his time as one of the few black students at Columbia University NY in the early 80's. Devon Terrell does a decent job showing him as trying to find his place in the world, but the sometimes painstakingly slow, meaning that not a whole lot happens. See more 11/03/2020 The movie is a lost and wandering as the main character, Barry. Could have been so much more, but it just felt unfinished or at least, not fully developed. Definitely a Netflix type of movie. See more steve d 07/17/2020 Interesting, powerful and well acted, I just wish it wasn't so speculative. See more 02/07/2020 A decent biopic that is part of American history. See more 09/03/2019 Better than I thought. Main actor looked and sounded very similar to Barack. See more Read all reviews
Barry

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Cast & Crew

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Vikram Gandhi

Director

Devon Terrell

Barack Obama

Anya Taylor-Joy

Charlotte

Ashley Judd

Ann Dunham

Jenna Elfman

Kathy Baughman

Annabelle Attanasio

Sylvia

Movie Clips

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Barry

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Barry

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Barry (2016) Barry (2016) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Barack Obama arrives in New York in the fall of 1981 for his junior year at Columbia University. He struggles to stay connected to his mother, his estranged father and his classmates.
Director
Vikram Gandhi
Producer
Vikram Gandhi, Dana O'Keefe, Teddy Schwarzman, Ben Stillman
Screenwriter
Adam Mansbach
Production Co
Black Bear Pictures, Cinetic Media
Genre
Drama, Biography
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
May 23, 2017
Runtime
1h 44m
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