Fences

Play trailer

2:26

Fences

PG-13

Released Dec 25, 2016

2h 13m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

272 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Troy Maxson (Denzel Washington) makes his living as a sanitation worker in 1950s Pittsburgh. Maxson once dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player, but was deemed too old when the major leagues began admitting black athletes. Bitter over his missed opportunity, Troy creates further tension in his family when he squashes his son's (Jovan Adepo) chance to meet a college football recruiter.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

From its reunited Broadway stars to its screenplay, the solidly crafted Fences finds its Pulitzer-winning source material fundamentally unchanged -- and still just as powerful.

Read Critics Reviews

Anne Thompson

IndieWire

Davis went big...debuting film actor Jovan Adepo shines...

Mar 31, 2020

Full Review

Kristen Lopez

Culturess

Fences is one of the most prescient movies out now.

Nov 20, 2017

Full Review

Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

The performances by each of its six main characters... combined with Washington's gripping direction (inciting a mix of terror, madness, and pity), FENCES is simply extraordinary. It is not to be missed.

Rated: A+

Mar 22, 2017

Full Review

Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

“Fences,” directed by Denzel Washington, is one of the finest and most seamless examples of the power of performance being translated from the stage to the screen.

Rated: 5/5

Oct 13, 2024

Full Review

Cory Woodroof

For the Win (USA Today)

It’s a heck of an adaptation, and Washington gives the performance his all.

Sep 6, 2023

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

“Fences” is lively and vibrant yet aching and tragic. The cast’s rapport carries over beautifully from stage to screen, and their handling of August Wilson’s characters comes from an understanding far deeper that simple familiarity.

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 20, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Member

This movie is a masterpiece of theatre's and cinema. Denzel Washington's commitment and Viola Davis' acting make this movie an absolute must see.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/01/25

Full Review

E4123

Fences does an excellent job depicting an accurate picture of how life might have been like then for a low class family with a father too serious about roles and responsibility.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/25

Full Review

Darragh W

Probably one of the best acted movies I have ever seen. Denzel is fantastic as he always is, but Viola managed to steal every scene she was in.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/30/25

Full Review

Alexis C

Como siempre las actuaciones de Davis son monumentales, y en este caso por supuesto no es la excepción, un drama familiar que no deja a nadie indiferente, creo que al menos uno de los rasgos de los personajes, lo podemos encontrar en cada familia del mundo, pero cuando vemos el núcleo que da la historia, que es la relación de este matrimonio, sin duda alguna te puedes reflejar en mas de algún modo, y es la naturalidad con la que representan sus papeles Davis y Washington lo que toca tus fibras y te hace conmoverte con uno u otro personaje. La expresión del compromiso, la permanencia, la inevitable transformación del amor en una relación de años, donde vamos naturalizando la decadencia del compartir o prestar atención al asimilar que todo va bien y es "normal" hasta que nos dan el golpe de la importancia de expresarse a tiempo sobre nuestros miedos, necesidades, carencias y plenitudes.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/29/25

Full Review

Leprechaun K

Well directed by Denzel, with exceptional performances by Denzel and Davis. A movie about relationships and life struggles. Relatable and inspiring. What a treat.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/02/25

Full Review

Aleksandar D

A rollercoaster of emotions. Definitely worth a re-watch.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/17/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Denzel Washington

Director

Denzel Washington

Troy Maxson

Viola Davis

Rose Maxson

Stephen Henderson

Jim Bono

Jovan Adepo

Cory

Russell Hornsby

Lyons

Fences: Official Clip - Alberta Had the Baby

2:09

Fences: Official Clip - The Best of What's In Me

2:13

Fences: Official Clip - Becoming a Man

2:08

Fences: Official Clip - Somebody's Daddy

2:12

Fences: Official Clip - Death Knocks Again

1:51

Fences: Official Clip - Sins of the Father

2:11

Fences: Official Clip - Wrestling Death

2:12

Fences: Official Clip - I Ain't Got to Like You

2:09

Fences: Official Clip - Troy's Victory

2:15

Fences: Official Clip - The Same Spot As You

2:14

View more videos

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

44%

61%

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Watchlist

Moneyball

94%

86%

Moneyball

Watchlist

Doubt

79%

78%

Doubt

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Doubt

Trouble With the Curve

51%

66%

Trouble With the Curve

Watchlist

Coming Through the Rye

68%

65%

Coming Through the Rye

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Coming Through the Rye

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Denzel Washington Coolest Lines Mashup

2:00

Fences: Trailer 2

2:26

Fences: Trailer 1

1:50

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Troy Maxson (Denzel Washington) makes his living as a sanitation worker in 1950s Pittsburgh. Maxson once dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player, but was deemed too old when the major leagues began admitting black athletes. Bitter over his missed opportunity, Troy creates further tension in his family when he squashes his son's (Jovan Adepo) chance to meet a college football recruiter.

Director: Denzel Washington
Producer: Scott Rudin, Denzel Washington, Todd Black
Screenwriter: August Wilson
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Sony Classical, Scott Rudin Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Some Suggestive References|Language|Thematic Elements)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 24, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $57.6M
Runtime: 2h 13m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

Most Popular at Home Now