Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Moonlight

Play trailer 1:55 Poster for Moonlight R 2016 1h 51m Drama LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
98% Tomatometer 402 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.
Watch on Fandango at Home Stream Now

Where to Watch

Moonlight

Moonlight

What to Know

Critics Consensus

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

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Andrea Thompson Chicago Reader 06/21/2023
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. Go to Full Review Nijla Mu'min Bitch Media 02/17/2021
Moonlight displays the kind of empathy and humanity that we desperately need right now. Go to Full Review Elena Lazic Little White Lies 03/21/2018
Jenkins' authorial voice is resounding and strong and his determination admirable. Go to Full Review Joe Lipsett The Queer Gaze (Podcast) Jul 24
5/5
Jenkins' gorgeous adaptation presents a triptych dedicated to a specific queer, Black experience that is undeniably universal. Go to Full Review Don Shanahan Every Movie Has a Lesson Jul 20
5/5
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. Go to Full Review JD Duran InSession Film 08/08/2024
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. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Lucas H 06/19/2021 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 See more Dee S Dec 14 End of 2025 and I just rewatched Moonlight as I'm struggling for good movie content produced and released this year. Nearly 10 years later, I have a different perspective and I understand and have a greater appreciation of the value for this film. It has a run time of 1 hour and 51 minutes but IMO it could definitely be longer to include more character development and relationship development of the central characters. It has an "open" ending and short of my own imagination, I would have liked a more conclusive ending of Kevin and Chiron's relationship and Chiron as an individual. As an example, did the meeting with Kevin, alter Chiron's path and if so how. With that being said, I can see why it won Best Picture (even though I did not see all of the nominees). I will rewatch in the future and would definitely recommend! See more Jack F @MovieFan111 Dec 8 Is it an extremely well made movie? Yes. Did I like it as a whole? No. Bottom line: not my cup of tea. I do recommend it though. See more Jens O. @jenso16 Dec 3 Extremely overrated. See more Chris F. @Chris.fussL Nov 27 Incredible well done. Use of mise-en-scene is beautiful and the narrative structure offers a unique insight into the true meaning of this film. The protagonist is relatable to anyone. Can’t recommend this film enough See more EE D Oct 26 Super well done movie! Jenkins manages to let us live through the struggles of a young black boy who's growing up and the myriad of struggles he has to go through See more Read all reviews
Moonlight

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

View All

Barry Jenkins

Director

Mahershala Ali

Juan

Alex R. Hibbert

Little

Ashton Sanders

Chiron

Trevante Rhodes

Black

Janelle Monáe

Teresa

More Like This

View All
Joe Bell 39% 73% Joe Bell Watchlist TRAILER for Joe Bell The Inspection 88% 91% The Inspection Watchlist TRAILER for The Inspection We the Animals 92% 76% We the Animals Watchlist TRAILER for We the Animals Beach Rats 84% 57% Beach Rats Watchlist TRAILER for Beach Rats Dallas Buyers Club 92% 91% Dallas Buyers Club Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Related Movie News

View All
10 Films and TV Shows to Watch on Juneteenth Tracee Ellis Ross’s Five Favorite Films Our Favorite Movies of the 2010s: Rotten Tomatoes’ Staff Picks!
View All

Moonlight

The Swimming Lesson Scene in ‘Moonlight’ | Rotten Tomatoes’ 21 Most Memorable Moments The Swimming Lesson Scene in ‘Moonlight’ | Rotten Tomatoes’ 21 Most Memorable Moments 3:06 Moonlight: Trailer 1 Moonlight: Trailer 1 1:55 View more videos
View All

Moonlight

Credit: Photo by David Bornfriend, courtesy of A24 Credit: Photo by David Bornfriend, courtesy of A24 Credit: Photo by David Bornfriend, courtesy of A24 Credit: Photo by David Bornfriend, courtesy of A24 Credit: Photo by David Bornfriend, courtesy of A24 Photo Credit: Courtesy of A24 Films Photo Credit: Courtesy of A24 Films Photo Credit: Courtesy of A24 Films Photo Credit: Courtesy of A24 Films Photo Credit: Courtesy of A24 Films View more photos

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)
Most Popular at Home Now