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The Birth of a Nation

Play trailer Poster for The Birth of a Nation Released Mar 3, 1915 3h 10m History Drama War Play Trailer Watchlist
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91% Tomatometer 45 Reviews 41% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Two families, abolitionist Northerners the Stonemans and Southern landowners the Camerons, intertwine in director D.W. Griffith's controversial Civil War epic. When Confederate colonel Ben Cameron (Henry B. Walthall) is captured in battle, nurse Elsie Stoneman (Lillian Gish) petitions for his pardon. In Reconstruction-era South Carolina, Cameron founds the Ku Klux Klan, battling Elsie's congressman father (Ralph Lewis) and his African-American protégé, Silas Lynch (George Siegmann).

Critics Reviews

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Richard Brody The New Yorker Problematically, Birth of a Nation wasn't just a seminal commercial spectacle but also a decisively original work of art -- in effect, the founding work of cinematic realism, albeit a work that was developed to pass lies off as reality. Aug 19, 2013 Full Review Derek Malcolm Guardian The quasi-Victorian Griffith was in so many respects way ahead of his time even if his philosophy and mind-set could often be said to be behind it. Aug 19, 2013 Full Review David Parkinson Empire Magazine The Birth of a Nation has become a staple of any film studies course, for its excellent performances, thrilling action sequences and epic landscapes. However it's subject matter is much more controversial now. Rated: 3/5 Aug 19, 2013 Full Review Zita Short InSession Film You can make all the arguments in the world, but it is still impossible to look past the racial politics. Rated: B- Feb 3, 2023 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy As a work of art, it is unforgettable; as a social document, it is unforgivable. Quality of Movie: 4 stars. Content of Movie: 1 star. Rated: 4/4 Aug 10, 2021 Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins More prominent than the adventuresome Civil War reenactments or the educational historical retellings (the ones based on actual records) are the fictional love stories. Rated: 8/10 Jul 24, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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David H This is a historical drama. It is well produced, directed and all the stars and supporting actors did a fantastic job. Maybe better appreciated by military history buffs like me. People like us really enjoyed this picture. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/03/25 Full Review John B The type of movie which will likely take 100 years to determine if it got a fair shake. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 07/21/25 Full Review Corey L If you voted for Trump you may enjoy this movie. If you have a soul you most likely will not Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 07/11/25 Full Review Stephen C 3 hours and 10 minutes of a failed silent movie!!!!!!!!!! Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 05/29/25 Full Review Joe P Though historical in its visual effects, I cannot, in good faith, give this despicable movie anything but the lowest score. I would rate it lower if I could. This movie glorifies the terrorist group, the KKK, and caused a surge in membership for them. The negative effects that this movie had on the black community is immense. 0/10. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 04/29/25 Full Review Sai M The birth of a nation was a fantastic movie that I happened to watch last night for the first time ever. A poignant depiction into the Nat Turner legacy and what occurred in Virginia right before the start of the Civil War as it pertains to human rights violations In the deep South. I highly recommend it to fans of django unchained and 12 years of slave. It is a very emotionally electric film and the realities of it being based on truth make it more harrowing as it reveals the heinous truth that birthed America and how the truth is the country was born from violence and abuse that any person living at the time could easily see how Nat led a rebellion that was absolutely needed in order to bring justice to a time period riddled by oppressive abuse. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/22/25 Full Review Read all reviews
The Birth of a Nation

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Cast & Crew

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D.W. Griffith

Director

Lillian Gish

Elsie Stoneman

Mae Marsh

Flora Cameron

Henry B. Walthall

Col. Ben Cameron

Miriam Cooper

Margaret Cameron

Mary Alden

Lydia Brown

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The Birth of a Nation

The Birth of a Nation (1915) The Birth of a Nation (1915) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Two families, abolitionist Northerners the Stonemans and Southern landowners the Camerons, intertwine in director D.W. Griffith's controversial Civil War epic. When Confederate colonel Ben Cameron (Henry B. Walthall) is captured in battle, nurse Elsie Stoneman (Lillian Gish) petitions for his pardon. In Reconstruction-era South Carolina, Cameron founds the Ku Klux Klan, battling Elsie's congressman father (Ralph Lewis) and his African-American protégé, Silas Lynch (George Siegmann).
Director
D.W. Griffith
Producer
D.W. Griffith
Screenwriter
Thomas F. Dixon Jr., Thomas F. Dixon Jr., D.W. Griffith, Frank E. Woods, Thomas F. Dixon Jr.
Distributor
Reel Media International [us], Continental Home Vídeo [br], Allied Artists Pictures, Hollywood Classics, Kino Video, Lumivision, Joseph Brenner Associates Inc. [us], Image Entertainment Inc., Republic Pictures
Production Co
David W. Griffith Corp., Epoch Producing Corporation
Genre
History, Drama, War
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 3, 1915, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 8, 2016
Runtime
3h 10m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)