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Moonlight

Play trailer 1:55 Poster for Moonlight R Released Nov 18, 2016 1h 51m Drama LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
98% Tomatometer 403 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
A look at three defining chapters in the life of Chiron, a young black man growing up in Miami. His epic journey to manhood is guided by the kindness, support and love of the community that helps raise him.
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Moonlight

Moonlight

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Critics Consensus

Moonlight uses one man's story to offer a remarkable and brilliantly crafted look at lives too rarely seen in cinema.

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Critics Reviews

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Andrea Thompson Chicago Reader Jenkins portrays a world so often fetishized and reduced to its most violent outcomes from the inside, with tenderness and Wong Kar-wai’s influence on his cinematic sleeve. Jun 21, 2023 Full Review Nijla Mu'min Bitch Media Moonlight displays the kind of empathy and humanity that we desperately need right now. Feb 17, 2021 Full Review Elena Lazic Little White Lies Jenkins' authorial voice is resounding and strong and his determination admirable. Mar 21, 2018 Full Review Joe Lipsett The Queer Gaze (Podcast) Jenkins' gorgeous adaptation presents a triptych dedicated to a specific queer, Black experience that is undeniably universal. Rated: 5/5 Jul 24, 2025 Full Review Don Shanahan Every Movie Has a Lesson The film uncannily rises above the wrongful stereotypes associated with sexual orientation and urban settings to assuage its dangers with an uncommon and persistent pulse towards messages of acceptance, healing, and heart. Rated: 5/5 Jul 20, 2025 Full Review JD Duran InSession Film Jenkins doesn’t rely on pity to make Moonlight dramatically engaging. Instead, he pours out an aura of compassion that naturally renders this film poignant. On top of that, the cinematography and lighting is exhilarating in this film. Aug 8, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Lucas H this was an interesting experience, the movie was good and very sad sometimes, I expected something different but it was good never the less, the ending is very abrupt tho Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/19/21 Full Review Jeremi B Moonlight est un film touchant et visuellement soigné qui aborde avec sensibilité un sujet encore trop rarement exploré dans le cinéma : l’homosexualité chez les hommes noirs issus de milieux défavorisés. Le film met en lumière cette réalité avec pudeur et humanité, en s’éloignant des clichés habituels. J’ai particulièrement apprécié la structure du récit, divisé en trois chapitres bien distincts, chacun représentant une étape cruciale de la vie du personnage principal. Cette construction narrative permet de suivre son évolution de manière profonde et nuancée, tout en montrant comment son passé façonne son identité. La mise en scène est sobre mais efficace. Les couleurs sont volontairement atténuées, et la bande-son minimaliste crée une atmosphère intimiste, en parfaite harmonie avec le ton du film. Cela renforce le sentiment d’isolement et de vulnérabilité du personnage principal. Cependant, malgré la beauté formelle du film, j’ai parfois eu du mal à rester engagé. Certaines scènes, notamment celles où les personnages échangent de longs regards silencieux, m’ont semblé inutilement étirées. L’intention de créer de la tension est compréhensible, mais le rythme en souffre, rendant l’expérience parfois monotone. Sur le plan émotionnel, je n’ai pas été aussi touché que je l’aurais souhaité. Là où d’autres films m’ont bouleversé, Moonlight m’a laissé relativement indifférent. De plus, la fin m’a paru abrupte et un peu décevante, même si elle suggère une forme de paix intérieure pour le personnage. En résumé, Moonlight est un film important, audacieux dans son propos, et artistiquement maîtrisé. J’en retiens une expérience cinématographique intéressante, mais ce n’est pas un film vers lequel je reviendrai. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 07/24/25 Full Review Vixo S "At some point, you gotta decide for yourself who you gonna be. Can't let nobody make that decision for you." A masterpiece for many, but not for me. Moonlight is undoubtedly a film with countless virtues. The performances are simply outstanding; the three actors playing the protagonist manage to convey such seamless continuity that it’s hard to believe they’re different people, maintaining the character’s essence perfectly through their gestures and expressions. The cinematography, music, and script are equally flawless, crafted with admirable care and subtlety. However, despite noticing all of this and acknowledging its near-perfect technical execution, I couldn’t connect emotionally with the story the way so many others did. I felt sadness at times, but not the devastation others describe. Maybe I need to watch it again to fully appreciate it, but personally, I wouldn’t place it in the century’s top 5 as The New York Times did. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/19/25 Full Review Stephen C Pride in 1 hour and 51 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $27,900,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/12/25 Full Review Noah W. Moonlight captures silence like no other film. Every pause, glance, and breath carries weight beyond dialogue. It's perfect in every way it trusts emotion to carry the story. A story that's necessary for those who see their struggles and truths reflected in its characters. But even with all its complexities, it's about being seen in a world that teaches you to hide. I keep coming back to Moonlight because I want to believe in a society where someone like Chiron gets to live safety without needing to explain why he deserves to. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/30/25 Full Review Cory C A beautiful coming of age tale of a man dealing with his own sexuality while living in the toughest of conditions as a young black man. Mahershala Ali is a standout and loved ever second he was on screen. Need more films like this to tackle such interesting topics Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/26/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Moonlight

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Movie Info

Synopsis A look at three defining chapters in the life of Chiron, a young black man growing up in Miami. His epic journey to manhood is guided by the kindness, support and love of the community that helps raise him.
Director
Barry Jenkins
Producer
Adele Romanski, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner
Screenwriter
Barry Jenkins
Distributor
A24
Production Co
Plan B Entertainment, Pastel, Upload Films
Rating
R (Drug Use|Brief Violence|Language Throughout|Some Sexuality)
Genre
Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 18, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 21, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$27.9M
Runtime
1h 51m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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