Milk

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Milk

R

2008

2h 8m

Biography

Drama

LGBTQ+

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Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

241 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

In 1972, Harvey Milk (Sean Penn) and his then-lover Scott Smith leave New York for San Francisco, with Milk determined to accomplish something meaningful in his life. Settling in the Castro District, he opens a camera shop and helps transform the area into a mecca for gays and lesbians. In 1977 he becomes the nation's first openly gay man elected to a notable public office when he wins a seat on the Board of Supervisors. The following year, Dan White (Josh Brolin) kills Milk in cold blood.

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Critics Consensus

Anchored by Sean Penn's powerhouse performance, Milk is a triumphant account of America's first openly gay man elected to public office.

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Namrata Joshi

Outlook

Penn is so well-tuned that not for a minute does his Milk lapse into a caricature.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 31, 2019

Full Review

Nathan Lee

Film Comment Magazine

Milk is fortuitously, if inevitably, a movie of its moment.

Mar 20, 2018

Full Review

David Ansen

Newsweek

Penn may be the main attraction, but this is very much an ensemble piece. Emile Hirsch, as cheeky street kid turned activist Cleve Jones, Diego Luna as Milk's annoyingly needy, unstable second lover and James Franco's Scott, add to the communal spirit.

Feb 6, 2018

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Sean Penn plays Harvey Milk as if overcome by another personality, allowing us to forget there’s an amazing actor at work and simply accept the person as presented.

Rated: 3.5/4

Mar 5, 2024

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

... focuses less on Milk’s triumphs than on his activism: how he shaped a movement and showed gay men and lesbian women all over the country that they could stand up for their rights as a political force.

Apr 8, 2023

Full Review

Michael Cuby

them.

Van Sant places Milk’s queerness front and center, spotlighting the myriad ways his unapologetic homosexuality informed both his political ambitions and the widespread support he worked to earn from his community.

Sep 27, 2022

Full Review

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Oaklee D

I enjoyed it but I wanted to love it and it just didn't click with me as much as I wanted it too.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/02/25

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Gareth v

An impactful, well-acted biopic that honors a pivotal figure in civil rights history.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/10/25

Full Review

Adam Y

Penn burrows inside his character, capturing not only Milk's Long Island Jewish intonations but also the intensity of his beliefs and the particular mix of fear and desire through which he viewed the world.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/09/25

Full Review

Jared M.

Great performance by Penn!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/01/25

Full Review

Jon G

A great movie, great performances by Sean Penn and the ensemble cast.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/13/25

Full Review

Tero H

Great story of Harvey Milk who is a legend. Cast make justice and directing was amazing. Dustin Lance Black also made amazing job.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/20/25

Full Review

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Gus Van Sant

Director

Sean Penn

Harvey Milk

Emile Hirsch

Cleve Jones

Josh Brolin

Dan White

Diego Luna

Jack Lira

James Franco

Scott Smith

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Synopsis

In 1972, Harvey Milk (Sean Penn) and his then-lover Scott Smith leave New York for San Francisco, with Milk determined to accomplish something meaningful in his life. Settling in the Castro District, he opens a camera shop and helps transform the area into a mecca for gays and lesbians. In 1977 he becomes the nation's first openly gay man elected to a notable public office when he wins a seat on the Board of Supervisors. The following year, Dan White (Josh Brolin) kills Milk in cold blood.

Director: Gus Van Sant
Producer: Dan Jinks, Bruce Cohen
Screenwriter: Dustin Lance Black
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Jinks/Cohen Company, Groundswell Productions
Rating: R (Language|Brief Violence|Some Sexual Content)
Genre: Biography, Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 26, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $31.8M
Runtime: 2h 8m

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