Fruitvale Station

Play trailer

Fruitvale Station

R

2013

1h 25m

Biography

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

212 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Though he once spent time in San Quentin, 22-year-old black man Oscar Grant (Michael B. Jordan) is now trying hard to live a clean life and support his girlfriend (Melonie Diaz) and young daughter (Ariana Neal). Flashbacks reveal the last day in Oscar's life, in which he accompanied his family and friends to San Francisco to watch fireworks on New Year's Eve, and, on the way back home, became swept up in an altercation with police that ended in tragedy. Based on a true story.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Passionate and powerfully acted, Fruitvale Station serves as a celebration of life, a condemnation of death, and a triumph for star Michael B. Jordan.

Read Critics Reviews

Fikri

Autostraddle

First-time director Ryan Coogler chose to tell Grant's story as a narrative instead of a documentary to centre his voice and his life, in the process raising important questions about police brutality and the value of black lives.

Jul 13, 2021

Full Review

Jenna Marotta

IndieWire

Fruitvale Station offers no social remedies, but by recreating Grant's final hours, it actualizes him as a man, not just a rally cry.

Mar 31, 2020

Full Review

Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

While Fruitvale Station is elevated by Jordan's portrayal, the supporting cast, whose characters surround Oscar even during his most internal struggles, is also magnetic to watch.

Rated: A-

Sep 7, 2017

Full Review

Jeffrey Peterson

Indie Film Minute

Coogler’s Fruitvale Station is less about American violence and more about American vulnerability. Specifically, the lack thereof.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 1, 2023

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

Minus a few small stumbles, which can be expected from a first time filmmaker, “Fruitvale Station” is still an emotionally powerful film that puts a spotlight on an unfortunate tragedy.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 21, 2022

Full Review

Jason Adams

My New Plaid Pants

For something attempting to be intimate, it's instead kind of smothering

Jan 14, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

Irene G

If you have not yet watched this movie you are missing out entirely. This is an absolute must see. It has the most gut wrenching, heart breaking, reality check. You walk along with Oscar (Michael B Jordan) through his life and his struggles and weirdly grow closer to him. Seeing him grow closer with his daughter and family and try to change himself around only to be met with the sadness called discrimination and injustice. If you're not ready for the heartbreak this movie will bring you, take a minute before pressing play. Take a minute to remind yourself as well that this movie is based off true events. Great movie if you want to send a message or a punch in the GUT. Absolutely phenomenal performance from Michael B Jordan.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/29/25

Full Review

Benyam E

Amazing a man with so much dimension is no longer with us.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/24/25

Full Review

Krystala A

The fact that this is a true story is heart-breaking. This movie will leave you feeling heartbroken. This movie immerses you in the situation, evoking a sense of desperation and anger. The scene where Oscar's family receives the devastating news of his death is particularly poignant. This powerful film effectively sheds light on the issue of police brutality and is a must-watch for all. This is my current favorite Michael B. Jordan movie to date. This being Ryan's directorial debut, is astounding. He did an amazing job. I hope this movie pays respect to Oscar and his family.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/07/25

Full Review

Audience Member

While watching this, I couldn’t help but think it could’ve been a slightly better production, even though it still felt simple and in a good way. No score or real music, felt a little bland at times, and the acting wasn’t that good until the end (with the exception of Michael B. Jordan a few times and Octavia Spencer both when the film ended and throughout the movie). Nevertheless, the subject matter of this film is important and I didn’t know about this real-life event before watching it. Really sad story that should’ve never been true. There should be other movies about these kind of stories (i.e. Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, Freddie Gray, Michael Brown, Philando Castile, Eric Garner, etc.). May they all rest in peace and be remembered for justice.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/04/25

Full Review

Amber M

Ryan and Michael the dynamic duo! This movie was well done! RIP Oscar Grant 😣🥺❤️🙏🏾

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/30/25

Full Review

Nick R

Very well-acted and very emotional.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/21/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Ryan Coogler

Director

Michael B. Jordan

Oscar

Octavia Spencer

Wanda

Melonie Diaz

Sophina

Ahna O'Reilly

Katie

Kevin Durand

Officer Caruso

Fruitvale Station: Official Clip - Helping Katie

2:29

Fruitvale Station: Official Clip - Stray Dog

2:04

Fruitvale Station: Official Clip - Day Care Center

1:55

Fruitvale Station: Official Clip - The Last Time I Visit You

2:25

Fruitvale Station: Official Clip - Baby, I'm Gonna Be Fine

2:05

Fruitvale Station: Official Clip - I Need This Job

1:42

Fruitvale Station: Official Clip - Just Trying to Not Screw Up

2:28

Fruitvale Station: Official Clip - You Got a Bathroom?

1:30

Fruitvale Station: Official Clip - We Had Nothing

2:07

Fruitvale Station: Official Clip - Fight on the Subway

1:57

View more videos

Beautiful Boy

71%

56%

Beautiful Boy

Watchlist

Manchester by the Sea

96%

78%

Manchester by the Sea

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Manchester by the Sea

Ain't Them Bodies Saints

78%

61%

Ain't Them Bodies Saints

Watchlist

Smashed

83%

68%

Smashed

Watchlist

Rust and Bone

81%

80%

Rust and Bone

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Though he once spent time in San Quentin, 22-year-old black man Oscar Grant (Michael B. Jordan) is now trying hard to live a clean life and support his girlfriend (Melonie Diaz) and young daughter (Ariana Neal). Flashbacks reveal the last day in Oscar's life, in which he accompanied his family and friends to San Francisco to watch fireworks on New Year's Eve, and, on the way back home, became swept up in an altercation with police that ended in tragedy. Based on a true story.

Director: Ryan Coogler
Producer: Forest Whitaker, Nina Yang Bongiovi
Screenwriter: Ryan Coogler
Distributor: Weinstein Co.
Production Co: Signature Productions
Rating: R (Some Drug Use|Language Throughout|Some Violence)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 26, 2013, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 16, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $16.1M
Runtime: 1h 25m

Most Popular at Home Now