Judas and the Black Messiah

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Judas and the Black Messiah

R

2021

2h 6m

History

Drama

Biography

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Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

358 Reviews

95%

Popcornmeter

500+ Verified Ratings

FBI informant William O'Neal infiltrates the Illinois Black Panther Party and is tasked with keeping tabs on their charismatic leader, Chairman Fred Hampton. A career thief, O'Neal revels in the danger of manipulating both his comrades and his handler, Special Agent Roy Mitchell. Hampton's political prowess grows just as he's falling in love with fellow revolutionary Deborah Johnson. Meanwhile, a battle wages for O'Neal's soul. Will he align with the forces of good? Or subdue Hampton and The Panthers by any means, as FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover commands?

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Critics Consensus

An electrifying dramatization of historical events, Judas and the Black Messiah is a forceful condemnation of racial injustice -- and a major triumph for its director and stars.

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Audience Says

Judas and the Black Messiah is based on a true story that's hard to watch -- but the way it's told here makes it even harder to turn away.

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Christina Newland

iNews.co.uk

09/23/2024

5/5

The facts of the real event are enough, and King deploys small moments, quiet close-ups and tiny details that, in total, amount to a story of unimaginable sorrow.

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Namrata Joshi

National Herald (India)

05/18/2021

Gifted as Hampton was with rare oratorial skills, the film on his life also tries to spin magic with his words...

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Wenlei Ma

News.com.au

03/19/2021

4/5

Impressive, explosive and gut-wrenching.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Nov 25

3/4

A stirring and important work, with issues and attitudes that even today stubbornly refuse to exit the country.

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Brittany Patrice Witherspoon

Pop Culture Reviews

07/15/2024

3.5/5

For every conflicting element in Judas, there certainly were moments and aspects of King’s feature that worked beautifully on screen.

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Paul Klein

FILMHOUNDS Magazine

07/04/2024

4.5/5

The triumph of the film that by the end you understand why O’Neal did what he did, and you feel for him, while at the same time rallying behind Hampton in his chants of “I am a revolutionary”.

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Brandan

07/23/2022

Rest In Power, Chairman Fred!

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Joseph K

06/18/2022

Excellent and riveting.

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Movie Goer 2021

05/06/2021

Actors and actresses did an outstanding job.

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Chima

05/02/2021

loved the historical account and real life reference with footage.

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Lenlee H

04/26/2021

great camera work and script. some pacing issues but overall an easy to recommend film

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damien c

04/25/2021

“I am a revolutionary!” Amazing, powerful, poignant. The performances are off the charts all around.

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Shaka King

Director

Daniel Kaluuya

Fred Hampton

LaKeith Stanfield

William O'Neal

Jesse Plemons

Roy Mitchell

Dominique Fishback

Deborah Johnson

Ashton Sanders

Jimmy Palmer

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How Daniel Kaluuya Became Fred Hampton for 'Judas and the Black Messiah'

9:07

Judas and the Black Messiah: Trailer 2

2:29

Judas and the Black Messiah: Trailer 1

1:47

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Synopsis

FBI informant William O'Neal infiltrates the Illinois Black Panther Party and is tasked with keeping tabs on their charismatic leader, Chairman Fred Hampton. A career thief, O'Neal revels in the danger of manipulating both his comrades and his handler, Special Agent Roy Mitchell. Hampton's political prowess grows just as he's falling in love with fellow revolutionary Deborah Johnson. Meanwhile, a battle wages for O'Neal's soul. Will he align with the forces of good? Or subdue Hampton and The Panthers by any means, as FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover commands?

Director: Shaka King
Producer: Ryan Coogler, Charles D. King, Shaka King
Screenwriter: Will Berson, Shaka King
Distributor: Warner Bros
Production Co: Participant Media, MACRO, BRON Studios
Rating: R (Violence|Pervasive Language)
Genre: History, Drama, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 12, 2021, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2021
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.0M
Runtime: 2h 6m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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