Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple

Released Oct 20, 2006

1h 25m

Documentary

List

94%

Tomatometer

48 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Filmmaker Stanley Nelson charts the rise and fall of Peoples Temple founder Jim Jones, whose followers drank poisoned punch at their South American commune in 1978. Using archival film footage and interviews with the few survivors, Nelson recounts the origins of the church's formation and its charismatic leader, and the events that led up to their doomsday in Guyana.

Critics Consensus

Director Stanley Nelson avoids editorializing and sensationalizing in Jonestown, letting the CIA photos and film speak for themselves, and giving a voice to the surviving victims.

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Terry Lawson

Detroit Free Press

Jonestown is a somber and non-exploitive reconstruction of the events that led the members of the Peoples Temple.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 1, 2007

Full Review

J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

Stanley Nelson revisits the 1978 mass suicide of Jim Jones and his flock in Guyana, savoring the horror but offering no new insights.

Apr 1, 2007

Full Review

Moira MacDonald

Seattle Times

Ultimately, the film doesn't entirely answer the massive 'why' at the center of this story -- that answer died on that day in 1978 -- but it's a haunting exploration of an event of unspeakable sadness, which still resonates decades later.

Rated: 3.5/4

Feb 2, 2007

Full Review

Kelly Vance

East Bay Express

Nelson's thought-provoking documentary investigation into the life and times of preacher Jim Jones raises a fistful of public policy questions that are still knocking around today.

May 5, 2010

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Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

Frightening, grueling, and needed in an age where religious fanaticism of all kind reigns...

Jul 11, 2007

Full Review

Eric Monder

Film Journal International

The combination of these materials and the new interviews reconstruct a story few really know.

Mar 1, 2007

Full Review

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Thomas S

By far the most moving documentary I saw in my entire life.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/21/24

Full Review

Joel C

Good doco. I'll never understand how large groups of sheeple put so much energy towards one man. It's happened time and time again. It's an interesting study to see how much praise a human can take before he/she begins believing the BS that everyone's feeding him. If people kissed my arse constantly and told me I'm their father/God I'd end up doing crazy s**t too. Most of these crazy leaders enjoy leaving clues around that hint at exactly what their plan is, and followers turn a blind eye to it. The sign in the camp says it all "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/16/21

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Audience Member

This is a crazy story and the fact that it is true is even more nuts. The movie is good as Nelson did a great job of documenting the entire story.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great documentary, it's still hard for me to grasp how one man has the ability to talk 900+ to commit mass suicide. Total fanatism and it's power over the weak and powerless. This documentary makes you rethink everything you think is right and wrong about any religion.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Fascinating documentary about a truly tragic event.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Quite an informative documentary, that interviews former People's Temple Members and their surviving family members. It tries to explain how the final tragedy occurred, yet really just does a better job explaining what happened.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

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Stanley Nelson

Director

Marcia Smith

Writer

Mark Samuels

Executive Producer

Michael Chin

Cinematographer

Lewis Erskine

Film Editing

Aljernon Tunsil

Film Editing

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Synopsis

Filmmaker Stanley Nelson charts the rise and fall of Peoples Temple founder Jim Jones, whose followers drank poisoned punch at their South American commune in 1978. Using archival film footage and interviews with the few survivors, Nelson recounts the origins of the church's formation and its charismatic leader, and the events that led up to their doomsday in Guyana.

Director: Stanley Nelson
Screenwriter: Marcia Smith
Distributor: Seventh Art Releasing
Production Co: Firelight Media
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 20, 2006, Limited
Runtime: 1h 25m