The Power of One

Play trailer

The Power of One

PG-13

1992

1h 51m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

35%

Tomatometer

17 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

It's the 1930s, and as the people he cares for die or leave his village, young South African P.K. bonds with much older Doc (Armin Mueller-Stahl). A foreigner, Doc is detained when World War II starts, but from his prison cell he encourages P.K. to learn boxing. As he travels to different bouts, the adult P.K. (Stephen Dorff) forges relationships that anger the state's apartheid government -- but his reunion with his onetime schoolyard nemesis (Daniel Craig) may offer his biggest challenge yet.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Variety Staff

Variety

05/20/2008

Beautifully produced and gorgeously shot on location in Zimbabwe by lenser Dean Semler, picture has depth, dimension and first-rate casting.

Go to Full Review

Derek Adams

Time Out

02/09/2006

Avildsen draws good performances from the three actors who play PK, as well as from the ever-reliable Freeman and Mller-Stahl, but subtlety is abandoned when he focuses on the ring and teen romance.

Go to Full Review

Janet Maslin

New York Times

08/30/2004

1.5/5

The film's facile treatment of racial issues may be enough to bring back the practice of throwing tomatoes at the screen.

Go to Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

06/30/2005

2/5

Daniel M. Kimmel

Worcester Telegram & Gazette

07/08/2004

3/5

Randy Shulman

Metro Weekly (Washington, DC)

01/29/2004

4/5

Read all reviews

thiago s

@Thiagostone Jul 12

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

See more

Scott W

Jul 9

Butchery of a Great novel, and Courtenay was apparently involved.

See more

J N

Jun 10

For an early 90s film, it has its flaws here and there, but overall its quality storytelling with decent acting.

See more

Dylan C

11/04/2024

great movie, would highly recommend

See more

Jelisije J

@jjosifovic 07/10/2024

A movie with a strong inspirational message with a genuine story of the history of south Africa. The rewatch ability and entertainment value of this film however is extremely low in my book. A one and done deal.

See more

Annee M

06/21/2024

I saw this film 32 years ago and I still remember the powerful message that one person can make a difference and Ive lived my life believing this

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

John G. Avildsen

Director

Stephen Dorff

P.K. Age 18

Armin Mueller-Stahl

Doc

Morgan Freeman

Geel Piet

John Gielgud

St. John

Maria Marais

Actor

Of Mice and Men

97%

82%

Of Mice and Men

Watchlist

Bopha!

80%

67%

Bopha!

Watchlist

Barcelona

83%

80%

Barcelona

Watchlist

A Perfect World

77%

84%

A Perfect World

Watchlist

The Man Without a Face

68%

64%

The Man Without a Face

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

It's the 1930s, and as the people he cares for die or leave his village, young South African P.K. bonds with much older Doc (Armin Mueller-Stahl). A foreigner, Doc is detained when World War II starts, but from his prison cell he encourages P.K. to learn boxing. As he travels to different bouts, the adult P.K. (Stephen Dorff) forges relationships that anger the state's apartheid government -- but his reunion with his onetime schoolyard nemesis (Daniel Craig) may offer his biggest challenge yet.

Director: John G. Avildsen
Producer: Arnon Milchan
Screenwriter: Robert Mark Kamen
Production Co: New Regency Productions, Canal+, Village Roadshow Pictures, Alcor Films
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 27, 1992, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.7M
Runtime: 1h 51m
Sound Mix: Surround

Most Popular at Home Now