Jane Fonda in Five Acts

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Jane Fonda in Five Acts

2018

2h 13m

Documentary

Biography

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Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

31 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

A look at the life, work, activism and controversies of actress and fitness tycoon Jane Fonda.

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Critics Consensus

Raw and rich in decade-spanning detail, Jane Fonda in Five Acts paints a living portrait of one popular culture's most compelling figures.

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David Fear

Rolling Stone

She's a legend, sure. But now she's not Henry's daughter, or Roger/Tom/Ted's wife, or Bree Daniels. She's just Jane, the doc suggests, plain old Jane. It only took decades to get there.

Dec 20, 2018

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Gwen Ihnat

AV Club

Fonda is so solid throughout the documentary that an enthusiastic reference to a prophetic psychic reading sticks out as a flighty departure.

Rated: A

Dec 14, 2018

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Julia Raeside

Guardian

Modern documentaries have led us to expect more rigour in their storytelling but this, despite its willingness to touch on family discord and so on, keeps a respectful distance that ultimately frustrates.

Rated: 2/5

Nov 6, 2018

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Marya E. Gates

Moviefone

A stunning profile of a complex person, ‘Jane Fonda In Five Acts’ excels at capturing all the intricacies that make us who we are and inspires us to keep working on our own unfinished self-portraits.

Feb 13, 2024

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Cate Marquis

AWFJ.org

For Jane Fonda fans, this documentary is an in-depth look inside her life, although like any autobiography, it lacks outside perspective. It is the life of Jane Fonda as Jane Fonda would tell it.

Oct 12, 2021

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Betsy Bozdech

AWFJ.org

Lacy's camera captures one of America's most well-known women at both her proudest and her most vulnerable, and the end result is sympathetic and satisfying.

Oct 12, 2021

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alan g

She does not deserve any respect nor forgiveness. She aided the enemy during vietnam and was directly involved in shooting down an american plane. She was responsible for the deaths of american soldiers. She should have been tried and shot as a traitor. No amount of fake contrition can wipe those stains from her. She should rot in hell forever.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/29/25

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Mike P

Long but very compelling and comprehensive Jane Fonda documentary...I mean, this definitely tells THE WHOLE STORY; if you want to discover the TRUE Jane Fonda story; beginning, middle and end...This is IT!! And she's never less than utterly fascinating; in her devastatingly honest Jane Fonda way...And it's mostly just her talking extemporaneously about this that and everything...Plus film clips...And with her that's definitely enough! A must for Jane fanatics. (And count me among that group!)

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/17/24

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David H

Incredible! Informative and insightful, revealing and rewarding, it does true justice to Jane Fonda as a performer, an activist, and much more -- but most importantly, as a marvelous human being.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/13/23

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Lee C

Jane Fonda, you will NEVER "be authentic"! Poor little rich kid who married billionaires and plays a victim! Harry and Megan are waiting for you in the lobby!

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

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Audience Member

The greatest 02 hours: and 13 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! With real footage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

georgan g

One of my heroes, Jane Fonda, is candid & in-depth about her personal life. She is 10 years older than me, and her growth as a person in the 60s really resonate.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Susan Lacy

Director

Jane Fonda

Self

Tom Hayden

Self

Robert Redford

Self

Lily Tomlin

Self

Paula Weinstein

Self

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Synopsis

A look at the life, work, activism and controversies of actress and fitness tycoon Jane Fonda.

Director: Susan Lacy
Producer: Susan Lacy, Jessica Levin, Emma Pildes
Production Co: HBO Documentary Films
Genre: Documentary, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 27, 2018
Runtime: 2h 13m

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