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Race

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2:28

Race

PG-13

Released Feb 19, 2016

2h 14m

Biography

History

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

63%

Tomatometer

160 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Young Jesse Owens (Stephan James) becomes a track and field sensation while attending the Ohio State University in the early 1930s. With guidance from coach Larry Snyder (Jason Sudeikis), Owens gains national recognition for breaking numerous records. After heated debates, the United States decides not to boycott the Olympics in Nazi Germany. Overcoming racism at home and abroad, Owens seizes the opportunity to show Berlin and the the world that he's the fastest man alive.

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Critics Consensus

Race is nowhere near as thrillingly fleet or agile as its subject, but the story -- and a winning central performance from Stephan James -- are enough to carry it over the finish line.

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Candice Frederick

AWFJ.org

Just when I was beginning to lose hope when it comes to Hollywood's disturbing penchant for seeing black characters as victims, Race comes along.

Sep 29, 2021

Full Review

Nell Minow

AWFJ.org

Race is a long overdue film about Jesse Owens with excellent performances and a thoughtful portrayal of documentarian/propagandist Leni Riefenstahl.

Sep 29, 2021

Full Review

Aramide Tinubu

Shadow and Act

Race isn't a bad film or biopic for that matter. It's beautifully shot, informative, and has some fantastic actors helming it. However, that's exactly what you'd expect.

Apr 12, 2017

Full Review

JD Duran

InSession Film

While the real-life story of Jesse Owens is spectacular and absolutely film worthy, Race doesn’t quite have enough working in it’s favor to finish on a strong note. It starts off the starting line fast, stumbles early on and isn’t ever able to recover.

Rated: C-

Aug 2, 2024

Full Review

Anne Brodie

AWFJ.org

Race concerns Jesse Owens the barrier-breaking Olympian. An incredible story, well told.

Sep 29, 2021

Full Review

Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

A quality sports biopic centred on the life, times and legacy of one of the greatest sprinters of all time, the legitimately legendary Jesse Owens.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 10, 2021

Full Review

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Sharang L

A straightforward, no-frills telling of an amazing tale.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/10/25

Full Review

william s

A well done, but somewhat predictable sports movie. If you like sports movies, as I do, you are probably going to have a good time with this. It hits all the major beats and moments you look for in the genre, but doesn't really give you much of anything new. The closest it comes to having something really stand out is probably the relationship between Owens and the German Olympian - Carl "Luz" Long. While being a true story, there was something in the execution of their moments that felt a bit more inspired.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/10/25

Full Review

Scott W

Great, great story , not a great movie but glad I watched it .

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/13/24

Full Review

Chris K

Not bad, it's pretty good. I think this is pretty close to the best they could do with what they had to work with. I don't know that you could do much more to show how meaningful it was, track and field just doesn't matter anymore, and you'd have to make it a 4 hour ordeal to really get people now to understand.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/06/24

Full Review

Deontae D

Great movie, good acting too, The actor that played Jesse Owens did a great job, I like the Olympics🇺🇲

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/13/24

Full Review

Cindy G

Love this movie. Recommended by a friend and did not disappoint. Excellent acting and something our whole family could watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/20/24

Full Review

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Stephen Hopkins

Director

Stephan James

Jesse Owens

Jason Sudeikis

Larry Snyder

Eli Goree

Dave Albritton

Shanice Banton

Ruth Solomon

Carice van Houten

Leni Riefenstahl

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Race: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Young Jesse Owens (Stephan James) becomes a track and field sensation while attending the Ohio State University in the early 1930s. With guidance from coach Larry Snyder (Jason Sudeikis), Owens gains national recognition for breaking numerous records. After heated debates, the United States decides not to boycott the Olympics in Nazi Germany. Overcoming racism at home and abroad, Owens seizes the opportunity to show Berlin and the the world that he's the fastest man alive.

Director: Stephen Hopkins
Producer: Jean-Charles Levy, Luc Dayan, Louis-Philippe Rochon, Dominique Séguin, Stephen Hopkins, Kate Garwood, Karsten Brünig, Nicolas Manuel
Screenwriter: Joe Shrapnel, Anna Waterhouse
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Forecast Pictures, Trinity Race, Solofilms
Rating: PG-13 (Thematic Elements|Language)
Genre: Biography, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 19, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 4, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $19.1M
Runtime: 2h 14m

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