Ruby Bridges

TV-PG

1998

1h 36m

Drama

List

86%

7 Reviews

Tomatometer

86%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

This film presents the real-life tale of young Ruby Bridges (Chaz Monet), one of the first African-American children to attend an integrated school in the Deep South. At only age 6, Ruby is selected to attend an all-white school in New Orleans, causing an uproar in the racially divided region. Among the people who try to help Ruby adjust to the tense situation are teacher Barbara Henry (Penelope Ann Miller) and Dr. Robert Coles (Kevin Pollak), a child psychiatrist.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered Mar 01

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Disney+

Watch Ruby Bridges with a subscription on Disney+, rent on Fandango at Home, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

Fred Camper

Chicago Reader

As Ruby, Chaz Monet captures the child's happiness and sadness, fear and fortitude, with genuine subtlety.

Jul 3, 2001

Full Review

Walt Belcher

Tampa Tribune

It's a remarkable story.

Jul 18, 2023

Full Review

Jennifer Green

Common Sense Media

Historical drama lacks subtlety but has positive messages.

Rated: 3/5

May 14, 2019

Full Review

Michael Dequina

TheMovieReport.com

What sets this film apart from its typically treacly ilk is the the strong, subtle work by the cast.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 3, 2009

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Jul 17, 2005

Full Review

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality & Practice

An inspiring film about an exceptional black girl whose Christian faith and spiritual resiliency are a lesson for all of us.

Mar 13, 2002

Full Review

Read all reviews

Jasmine H

I really love this movie because it's based on a real-life story and it's historic.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/06/22

Full Review

Audience Member

Just right in its portrayal of the bad old days; ultimately uplifting in its praise of both the human spirit - and The Holy Spirit.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

s r

The story was interesting, but the delivery was for tv.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Ruby Bridges (1998) A film about a African American girl Ruby Bridges who became the first student and First grader in 1960 that went to a new public white school in the American South after Board vs Board of education. I think that the African Americans did a good job acting. I was really starting to get invested in the mother first but soon the father once he lost his auto mechanics position after his boss was upset that her daughters as going to a white school. I think even though the story was not told the best way and feels modern in many ways rather than of the period I do feel like the story is compelling enough that that stands out more than how cheesy the film story is presented. This is the first Kevin Pollak film I have seen before. I thought his role as a military psychiatrist was okay but the military wife in the story was a much better actress. I felt like the music did not work in this film’s favor. It made this film seem cheesy and the colors in this film seemed overexposed and this film was not as well done as it could be. I felt like the teachers, Police, protesters, parents in the protest were terrible actors in this film. I was not convinced by them at all. I am not sure if it was the actors that were poor in this film, the director, the editor or the music but how this film was portrayed seemed cheesy and I was not convinced. It was interesting hearing from the military psychiatrist portrayed by Kevin Pollak in this film That it was the family and religious morality that kept the first grader Ruby Bridges morality and thinking calm when in normal situations the danger would have disturbed most students but often she kept thinking about the positives rather than the negatives. Because she was by herself in class she had one on one teaching. She was ahead of most of her students in reading and math due to no discipline problems. It was interesting how she refused to eat home made foods because she was afraid that the protesters would poison her food so she would refuse to eat home made foods made by her parents and only wanted packaged foods to prevent from being poisoned.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/17/20

Full Review

Audience Member

Highly recommended! Almost a must see!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/27/19

Full Review

Audience Member

I LOVE THIS DEPICTION

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Euzhan Palcy

Director

Chaz Monet

Ruby Nell Bridges

Penelope Ann Miller

Barbara Henry

Michael Beach

Abon Bridges

Lela Rochon

Lucielle "Lucy" Bridges

Diana Scarwid

Miss Woodmere

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

80%

72%

A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries

83%

89%

Eve's Bayou

88%

71%

One True Thing

78%

74%

Welcome to Sarajevo

76%

71%

Down in the Delta

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

This film presents the real-life tale of young Ruby Bridges (Chaz Monet), one of the first African-American children to attend an integrated school in the Deep South. At only age 6, Ruby is selected to attend an all-white school in New Orleans, causing an uproar in the racially divided region. Among the people who try to help Ruby adjust to the tense situation are teacher Barbara Henry (Penelope Ann Miller) and Dr. Robert Coles (Kevin Pollak), a child psychiatrist.

Director: Euzhan Palcy
Producer: Marian Rees
Production Co: Walt Disney Television
Rating: TV-PG (L)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 13, 2017
Runtime: 1h 36m

Most Popular at Home Now