Rotten Tomatoes

Movies / TV

    Celebrity

      No Results Found

       View All       Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

      Pariah

      R Released Dec 28, 2011 1 hr. 26 min. Drama LGBTQ+ List
      95% 124 Reviews Tomatometer 82% 5,000+ Ratings Audience Score Teenage Alike (Adepero Oduye) lives in Brooklyn's Fort Greene neighborhood with her parents (Charles Parnell, Kim Wayans) and younger sister (Sahra Mellesse). A lesbian, Alike quietly embraces her identity and is looking for her first lover, but she wonders how much she can truly confide in her family, especially with her parents' marriage already strained. When Alike's mother presses her to befriend a colleague's daughter (Aasha Davis), Alike finds the gal to be a pleasant companion. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Mar 14 Buy Now

      Where to Watch

      Pariah

      Fandango at Home Prime Video Apple TV

      Rent Pariah on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

      Pariah

      What to Know

      Critics Consensus

      Pulsing with authenticity and led by a stirring lead performance from Adepero Oduye, Pariah is a powerful coming out/coming-of-age film that signals the arrival of a fresh new talent in writer/director Dee Rees.

      Read Critics Reviews

      Audience Reviews

      View All (306) audience reviews
      Fong Kok Hoong F Singled out as one of her favorite performances by Meryl Streep in her acceptance speech at the Golden Globes for THE IRON LADY, Adepero Oduye definitely deserves the shout-out for her nuanced portrayal of a Black female teenager coming of age brazening parental disappointment and betrayal in Dee Rees' perceptive directorial debut. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/09/23 Full Review BeautyCosmetic O 2 Ep in.. so far so good, I wish they could be a little longer but ... the are good. so good, I want more! Rated 1 out of 5 stars 10/06/23 Full Review PridePosterStudios “I’m not running. I’m choosing…I am not broken. I am free” Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/24/24 Full Review creative u Beautifully shot and acted film about a Black teenage girl exploring her sexuality and her gender expression in spite of those around her. Amazing performances from Adepero Oduye and Kim Wayans. This is one of those films that should get more love from the LGBTQ community, but much like other films that center the Black queer experience, like Moonlight and The Watermelon Woman, it's often times ignored, which is a shame. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/25/22 Full Review Audience Member Every once in a while, you come across a film that feels less like a movie and more like someone's story; Pariah is a great example of that. It is an amazing film that shines a spotlight on many of the struggles that LGBTQ+ teens and LGBTQ+ people in general face. This entire cast does an incredible job delivering exceptionally authentic performances. Speaking of authenticity, the camerawork gives the film a very real feel. On top of that, the dialogue feels organic and the top-notch performances contribute to that. It is clear that writer/director Dee Rees is a talent. As I mentioned, Pariah feels less like a movie and more like someone's story. What I mean by that is it doesn't feel like an artificial narrative that someone created; instead it feels like an experience that many teens have had to endure and, sadly, that is true. Pariah isn't just a great film, it is an important film. It's a film that highlights just how horrible and destructive homophobia is. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Pariah is the story of a young black lesbian. I really enjoyed the movie. Ms. Oduye gave a very nuanced and subtle performance in her role. Also, it was interesting to contrast the story of Alike to that of her friend. This is a story that needed to be told. Recommended! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

      Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

      More Like This

      View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
      87% 72% Quinceañera 86% 77% Beginners 50% 67% A Home at the End of the World 86% 81% A Single Man 88% 83% Notes on a Scandal Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

      Movie News & Guides

      View All Movie News & Guides

      This movie is featured in the following articles.

      8 More LGBTQIA+ Outlets from Regional Archives in Atlanta, Birmingham, Houston, and Beyond Know Your Critic: Nguyên Lê, Freelance Film Critic 30 Incredible 2010s Directing Debuts That Left Us Begging For More

      Photos

      View All Pariah photos

      Pariah

      View more photos

      Critics Reviews

      View All (124) Critics Reviews
      Spectra Speaks Autostraddle The acting and directing create a winning combination for unlocking the most powerful tool in social change: empathy. Jun 11, 2021 Full Review tt stern-enzi WXIX-TV (Cincinnati, OH) It has the depth and warmth that you'd expect to see from larger-budget productions... May 24, 2021 Full Review Natalie Autostraddle Pariah was honed over seven years...and the film that results is a stunning achievement. Jan 29, 2021 Full Review Steve Cruz OUT FRONT Magazine (Denver) It is emotionally genuine, populated by believable characters, and driven by dialogue and music that is honest to its characters and their issues. May 9, 2023 Full Review Brian Susbielles InSession Film Rees, using her own background as a template, constructs the story of discovery and embracement while aware of the social constructs that prevent it from being a more open, accepting experience. Feb 28, 2023 Full Review Michael Cuby them. A sensitive coming-of-age tale guided by a career-making lead performance, Pariah is essential viewing. Sep 26, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Teenage Alike (Adepero Oduye) lives in Brooklyn's Fort Greene neighborhood with her parents (Charles Parnell, Kim Wayans) and younger sister (Sahra Mellesse). A lesbian, Alike quietly embraces her identity and is looking for her first lover, but she wonders how much she can truly confide in her family, especially with her parents' marriage already strained. When Alike's mother presses her to befriend a colleague's daughter (Aasha Davis), Alike finds the gal to be a pleasant companion.
      Director
      Dee Rees
      Executive Producer
      Spike Lee, Jeff Robinson, Sam Martin, Mary Jane Skalski, Susan Lewis, Ann Bradley, Stefan Nowicki, Benjamin Weber, Joey Carey
      Screenwriter
      Dee Rees
      Distributor
      Focus Features
      Production Co
      Northstar, Pariah Films
      Rating
      R (Sexual Content|Language)
      Genre
      Drama, LGBTQ+
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Dec 28, 2011, Limited
      Release Date (Streaming)
      May 7, 2015
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $758.1K
      Most Popular at Home Now