Only the Strong Survive

PG-13

Released May 2, 2003

1h 41m

Documentary

List

61%

44 Reviews

Tomatometer

56%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Filmmakers Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennebaker showcase performers of R & B and soul from the 1950s to the 1970s.

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Critics Consensus

Though this documentary could be more informative, the performances themselves are wonderful.

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Audience Member

Soul is not my prefered type of music,so i didn't think the docummentary has a lot to offer me. Still, the language works really well.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A sweet, although lacking in depth, memorable portrait of a group of soul singers who shine even if the general public dont take notice. Some great performances.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Ok, so get together a bunch of washed up has-been soul singers that never had any real hits, let them play concerts in front of 100 people thinking they're the cream of the crop reminiscing about the good ol' days and that's what you have here. The craziest, funniest, more torturous 95 mins of my life.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

this is nice. it's not as stinging as 'wattstax', nor does it encapsulate a history making event like 'woodstock' but the concert footage is great and the performances are wonderful!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Only good memories come from reliving this music, I sometimes feel bad for the younguns, I know they can listen to it now, but you had to have been in that era, to know what I mean.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

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Chris Hegedus

Director

D.A. Pennebaker

Director

William Bell

Self

Jerry Butler

Self

The Chi-Lites

Themselves

Isaac Hayes

Self

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Randy Cordova

Arizona Republic

There's no problem with a little bias, but Friedman's fan-boy perspective puts the subjects of Only the Strong Survive on too high a pedestal.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 26, 2003

Full Review

Gene Seymour

Newsday

Content to merely serve as a cluttered, heart-shaped scrapbook, missing many more stories than it bothers to include.

Rated: 2/4

May 28, 2003

Full Review

Richard Roeper

Ebert & Roeper

... the music is great, but as a film thumbs down.

May 12, 2003

Full Review

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

...fails to give audiences as much frame of reference for the unifying economic, political and atmospheric elements that made the Stax brand of R&B soul music so powerful.

Rated: C

Jun 13, 2009

Full Review

Film Threat

Rated: 1.5/5

Dec 6, 2005

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Oct 1, 2005

Full Review

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Synopsis

Filmmakers Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennebaker showcase performers of R & B and soul from the 1950s to the 1970s.

Director: Chris Hegedus, D.A. Pennebaker
Producer: Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Pennebaker-Hegedus Films
Rating: PG-13 (Brief Language|Drug Reference)
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 2, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 30, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $57.3K
Runtime: 1h 41m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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