Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

Romero

PG-13 Released Aug 25, 1989 1h 45m Biography List
82% Tomatometer 11 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Archbishop Óscar Romero (Raul Julia) is reluctant to get involved in a war that rages on between the military elite and guerrilla Marxists in his country of El Salvador. As conditions worsen and more churches are desecrated, however, he finds he cannot remain an observer. So Romero resorts to what he knows best: making speeches. The tenets he preaches are simply freedom and justice, but even so, he is seen as dangerous by the government and they are ready to retaliate.

Where to Watch

Romero

Critics Reviews

View All (11) Critics Reviews
Steven D. Greydanus Decent Films Where Romero excels as a film is in its depiction of its subject’s gradual transformation. Rated: A- May 8, 2002 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times The film's weakness is a certain implacable predictability: We can feel at every moment what must happen next, and the over-all trajectory of the film seems ordained even in the first few shots. As a result, the film doesn't stir many passions. Rated: 2.5/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Michael Bronski Gay Community News (Boston) Ultimately effective and moving. Aug 17, 2022 Full Review Matthew Pejkovic Matt's Movie Reviews A glaring depiction of how often holy men and women are martyred for standing up to evil men who willingly commit evil deeds. Rated: 4/5 Nov 14, 2021 Full Review Antonio Sison National Catholic Reporter As the story arc unfolds, Romero, in a state of inertia, is drawn into a gradual conversion experience, not just in a general sense, but in the specific trajectory of a "conversion to justice." May 1, 2019 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 2/5 Jul 3, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (94) audience reviews
Audience Member Es una muy buena representación de lo que sucedio en El Salvador y es impresionante ver como era este país a finales de los 70s Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member A poignant and riveting overlook of Salvadorian corruption and Romero's life. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member It is a cheap TV movie but the acting, the story, the settings in particular, are all incredibly realistic. We feel the tensions very well. Romero was killed in 1980, the DVD and film mentioned 1989, but the civil war continued unti 1992. The film may have contributed to end the hostilities. It is depicting how harsh the conditions were and how violence begat more violence. Wikipedia says the issue now is gang wars. I wish them to find peace some day. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Audience Member Not so much a meditation on liberation theology as an attempted inspirational biopic, pitting poverty against politics. Its technical quality limits its effectiveness. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Audience Member A great bio-pic about a man who found his calling and became a martyr for the love of his people. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Audience Member A heart-wrenching film with Raul Julia able to convey the right amount of raw emotion to educate viewers of the horrors that went on in El Salvador. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Romero

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Christopher Columbus: The Discovery 7% 17% Christopher Columbus: The Discovery Vincent and Theo 90% 71% Vincent and Theo Sweet Dreams 90% 81% Sweet Dreams Tom & Viv 36% 60% Tom & Viv Wyatt Earp 31% 61% Wyatt Earp Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis Archbishop Óscar Romero (Raul Julia) is reluctant to get involved in a war that rages on between the military elite and guerrilla Marxists in his country of El Salvador. As conditions worsen and more churches are desecrated, however, he finds he cannot remain an observer. So Romero resorts to what he knows best: making speeches. The tenets he preaches are simply freedom and justice, but even so, he is seen as dangerous by the government and they are ready to retaliate.
Director
John Duigan
Producer
Ellwood Kieser
Screenwriter
John Sacret Young
Production Co
Paulist Pictures, Paulist Productions
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Biography
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 25, 1989, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 27, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$167.0K
Runtime
1h 45m
Sound Mix
Surround
Most Popular at Home Now