'

Hotel Rwanda

Play trailer

Hotel Rwanda

PG-13

Released Dec 22, 2004

2h 1m

Biography

History

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

189 Reviews

94%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Hutu Paul Rusesabagina manages the Hôtel des Mille Collines and lives a happy life with his Tutsi wife and their three children, but when Hutu military forces initiate a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Tutsi minority, Paul is compelled to allow refugees to take shelter in his hotel. As the U.N. pulls out, Paul must struggle alone to protect the Tutsi refugees in the face of the escalating violence later known as the Rwandan genocide.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

A sobering and heartfelt tale about massacre that took place in Rwanda while most of the world looked away.

Read Critics Reviews

David Ansen

Newsweek

Cheadle, in his richest role since Devil in a Blue Dress, burrows deep inside this complex man, who discovers in himself a strength he never knew he possessed as he faces the disillusion of all the "civilized" notions he believes in.

Jul 6, 2010

Full Review

Time Out

There's a tidiness and sense of convenience in the film's stock characterisations and button-pushing plotting that detracts from its impact. The film doesn't just contrive to contain the slaughter, but also its own anger.

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Dan Jolin

Empire Magazine

Who cares about overdone orchestral blasts or signpost-waving lines of dialogue when such raw, naked, painful humanity is displayed by Don Cheadle in the central role?

Rated: 4/5

Apr 1, 2006

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Despite the galvanizing events taking place onscreen (highlighted by staggering shots of corpse-littered roads and other aftermaths of mass executions), what really sells the premise is Cheadle’s performance.

Rated: 7/10

Mar 17, 2025

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Don Cheadle absolutely, 100% deserves the Oscar for Best Actor.

Rated: 4.0/4.0

Sep 11, 2020

Full Review

Mark Steyn

The Spectator

Remarkably, the director Terry George and his co-writer Keir Pearson have pulled it off, rooting the big picture of anonymous murder in one small precise close-up.

Feb 3, 2018

Full Review

Read all reviews

Faiz D

Very few films have made me cry. This one did. The selflessness of Paul Rusesabagina is extremely moving! Hotel Rwanda is definitely one of the most inspiring, and powerful films I've ever seen.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/13/25

Full Review

Mate P

Hotel Rwanda is a tear-jerker. It has amazing acting performances, a great score and a cautionary tale. The protagonists are extremely likeable including the ones that have small amount of screen time. We all need a Dube in our lives, he is always there to help and is very kind. The story is the cautionary tale of two allies start to fight each other while a third party gains more strength than either of them. The dialogues are well-written, but the acting performances make them powerful. The directing is great, the cinematography too. The score is outstanding, especially near the end. The song right before the credits made me emotional. The sound effects had impact on me. For example when the Hutus were shooting or hitting people, that was terrifying. The acting performances are outstanding. Don Cheadle and Sophie Okonedo make this movie work on an other level. Hotel Rwanda is an emotional roller coaster, with mesmerizing acting performances and great music.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/25

Full Review

‎ ‎

Woah, this movie is something memorable - a dramatic portrayal of the terrible genocide that occurred in Rwanda in the 90s, and a hotel manager's attempt to save those most in danger.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/20/24

Full Review

Daniel C. M

Extremely powerful acting, script and direction. Works on it's suspense and emotional scenes very nice wherever it needs to respectively. The whole movie feels really raw, with graphic violence and you feel like you are watching a live documentary on this unfortunate tragedy.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/14/25

Full Review

Rory W

One of the most sorrowful and eye opening movies I’ve ever seen.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/02/24

Full Review

Aender S

A film taking place during a historical event not talked about enough.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/14/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Terry George

Director

Don Cheadle

Paul Rusesabagina

Sophie Okonedo

Tatiana Rusesabagina

Joaquin Phoenix

Jack

Nick Nolte

Colonel Oliver

Desmond Dube

Dube

The Aviator

86%

79%

The Aviator

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Aviator

The Queen

97%

76%

The Queen

Watchlist

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

61%

68%

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Watchlist

The Zookeeper's Wife

64%

76%

The Zookeeper's Wife

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Zookeeper's Wife

The Iron Lady

51%

51%

The Iron Lady

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Now Streaming: Boogie Nights, American Horror Story, The Back to the Future Trilogy, And A Lot More

View more photos

Synopsis

Hutu Paul Rusesabagina manages the Hôtel des Mille Collines and lives a happy life with his Tutsi wife and their three children, but when Hutu military forces initiate a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Tutsi minority, Paul is compelled to allow refugees to take shelter in his hotel. As the U.N. pulls out, Paul must struggle alone to protect the Tutsi refugees in the face of the escalating violence later known as the Rwandan genocide.

Director: Terry George
Producer: A. Kitman Ho, Terry George
Screenwriter: Terry George, Keir Pearson
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: United Artists
Rating: PG-13 (Disturbing Images|Brief Sexuality|Violence)
Genre: Biography, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 22, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $23.5M
Runtime: 2h 1m
Sound Mix: Surround

Most Popular at Home Now