Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

Fences

Play trailer 2:26 Poster for 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

Where to Watch

Fences

Fences

What to Know

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

Critics Reviews

View All (272) 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 Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews
Niklas L What I learned: I know nothing about African American subculture. Overall, I could still enjoy the play very much. Clearly, Troy terribly messes up all of his relations and opportunities - likely due to the fact that he grew up without love. However, his family realizes this later in the play, and approaches his behavior with forgiveness. Great. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/05/24 Full Review Aeric A It's great writing, directed by someone who is more familiar with plays. The film doesn't take enough advantage of the medium it is in. It has the best actors. The performances are good. My only gripe is the direction. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/16/24 Full Review T Floyd L "Fences" offers viewers a powerful and introspective look at family dynamics, relationships, and personal struggles. The film is centered on its characters and their interactions, which draw the audience into their world. Denzel Washington's performance as Troy Maxson stands out for its depth, capturing a man grappling with his past and the choices he has made. Viewers might find his portrayal compelling, as it reveals layers of complexity in his character without resorting to sentimentality. Viola Davis as Rose Maxson delivers a performance that resonates with emotional honesty. Her character's journey is portrayed with care, and the way she interacts with Troy creates moments of real tension and understanding. The dialogue between them and the supporting characters is rich and drives the narrative forward, giving the audience a sense of the underlying conflicts and unresolved issues within the family. The film’s pacing allows viewers to reflect on the unfolding events, offering a gradual buildup of emotion and tension. The setting and cinematography serve to highlight the personal nature of the story without becoming a distraction. "Fences" is a film that prompts viewers to think about the complexities of life and relationships, leaving a lasting impact long after it ends. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/14/24 Full Review tom h amazing performance by denzil washington as actor and as well as director. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/14/24 Full Review Dinos K Great performances, very good directorial try by Washington but the story is made for a theatrical play and doesn't fit so well in cinema Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/10/24 Full Review jimmy b Powerhouse acting from leads Washington and Davis, yet this film adaptation of the Broadway play is boring...very boring. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/08/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Fences

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Fences

Fences: Official Clip - Alberta Had the Baby Fences: Official Clip - Alberta Had the Baby 2:09 Fences: Official Clip - The Best of What's In Me Fences: Official Clip - The Best of What's In Me 2:13 Fences: Official Clip - Becoming a Man Fences: Official Clip - Becoming a Man 2:08 Fences: Official Clip - Somebody's Daddy Fences: Official Clip - Somebody's Daddy 2:12 Fences: Official Clip - Death Knocks Again Fences: Official Clip - Death Knocks Again 1:51 Fences: Official Clip - Sins of the Father Fences: Official Clip - Sins of the Father 2:11 Fences: Official Clip - Wrestling Death Fences: Official Clip - Wrestling Death 2:12 Fences: Official Clip - I Ain't Got to Like You Fences: Official Clip - I Ain't Got to Like You 2:09 Fences: Official Clip - Troy's Victory Fences: Official Clip - Troy's Victory 2:15 Fences: Official Clip - The Same Spot As You 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

Movie Info

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