City of Ali

2021

1h 21m

Documentary

List

89%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

City of Ali is a feature-length documentary that tells the story of how the death of Muhammad Ali brought the people of his Kentucky hometown – and the world – together for one unforgettable week. Ali’s passing on June 3, 2016, came in the context of a bitter U.S. presidential election, a proposed Muslim ban and the global expansion of the Black Lives Matter movement. Yet on the day of Ali’s funeral procession, more than 100,000 people lined the streets of Louisville to celebrate his life, and an estimated one billion people worldwide watched events like Ali’s memorial, held in the packed KFC YUM! Center as stories of the Louisville Lip’s wit, generosity, swagger and commitment to justice were retold by President Bill Clinton, Billy Crystal, Lonnie Ali, and many others. City of Ali explores Ali’s lifelong relationship with his hometown through candid interviews with friends and relatives whose history with The Champ dates back to his childhood at 3302 Grand Avenue, and who share stories even devoted Ali fans have never heard. We also get behind-the scenes accounts of this unprecedented celebration of one man’s life from those who planned the events. We also hear thoughtful reflections from visitors such as NBC’s Craig Melvin, TV legend Dick Cavett, historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, 4-time Heavyweight Champion Evander Holyfield, ESPN’s Hannah Storm and many others who gathered in Louisville to answer the question, “How do you say good-bye to The Greatest?”

Read More

Read Less

Prime Video

Apple TV

Rent City of Ali on Prime Video, or buy it on Prime Video, Apple TV.

Peter Rainer

Christian Science Monitor

The film is decidedly hagiographic but, in a time of heightened racial unrest, it's worth being reminded of the fighter Ali's origins.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 21, 2021

Full Review

Odie Henderson

RogerEbert.com

Like many of the onscreen interviewees, I found myself tearing up several times, even when I knew the film was taking quick jabs at my tear ducts.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jun 4, 2021

Full Review

Ben Kenigsberg

New York Times

Muhammad Ali is probably already the most dramatized and documentarized athlete in film history, and "City of Ali" makes for an extremely lightweight addition to the former heavyweight champion's cinematic universe.

Jun 3, 2021

Full Review

Charles Solomon

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

It really is quite moving. It's a little too long... but an interesting film altogether.

Jun 8, 2021

Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

City of Ali could be longer but the documentary is a solid addition to the Muhammad Ali film canon--one that comes with a Louisville-based lens.

Jun 4, 2021

Full Review

Roger Moore

Movie Nation

The death of Breonna Taylor...dampens, in ways the filmmakers could not have foreseen, an upbeat film

Rated: 3/4

Jun 4, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Graham Shelby

Director

Muhammad Ali

Actor

Rahman Ali

Actor

Rasheda Ali Walsh

Actor

Bill Clinton

Actor

Evander Holyfield

Actor

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Whirlybird

83%

83%

Whirlybird

TRAILER

for Whirlybird

Boys State

95%

91%

Boys State

TRAILER

for Boys State

The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts The Tonight Show

75%

%

The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts The Tonight Show

TRAILER

for The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts The Tonight Show

Fire of Love

98%

84%

Fire of Love

TRAILER

for Fire of Love

The Donut King

97%

89%

The Donut King

TRAILER

for The Donut King

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

City of Ali is a feature-length documentary that tells the story of how the death of Muhammad Ali brought the people of his Kentucky hometown – and the world – together for one unforgettable week. Ali’s passing on June 3, 2016, came in the context of a bitter U.S. presidential election, a proposed Muslim ban and the global expansion of the Black Lives Matter movement. Yet on the day of Ali’s funeral procession, more than 100,000 people lined the streets of Louisville to celebrate his life, and an estimated one billion people worldwide watched events like Ali’s memorial, held in the packed KFC YUM! Center as stories of the Louisville Lip’s wit, generosity, swagger and commitment to justice were retold by President Bill Clinton, Billy Crystal, Lonnie Ali, and many others. City of Ali explores Ali’s lifelong relationship with his hometown through candid interviews with friends and relatives whose history with The Champ dates back to his childhood at 3302 Grand Avenue, and who share stories even devoted Ali fans have never heard. We also get behind-the scenes accounts of this unprecedented celebration of one man’s life from those who planned the events. We also hear thoughtful reflections from visitors such as NBC’s Craig Melvin, TV legend Dick Cavett, historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, 4-time Heavyweight Champion Evander Holyfield, ESPN’s Hannah Storm and many others who gathered in Louisville to answer the question, “How do you say good-bye to The Greatest?”

Director: Graham Shelby
Producer: Jonathan McHugh
Production Co: Song Stew Entertainment
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 4, 2021
Runtime: 1h 21m

Most Popular at Home Now