Selma

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2:25

Selma

PG-13

Released Jan 9, 2015

2h 8m

History

Drama

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Popcornmeter

99%

Tomatometer

312 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 legally desegregated the South, discrimination was still rampant in certain areas, making it very difficult for Blacks to register to vote. In 1965, an Alabama city became the battleground in the fight for suffrage. Despite violent opposition, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his followers pressed forward on an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, and their efforts culminated with President Lyndon Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

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Critics Consensus

Fueled by a gripping performance from David Oyelowo, Selma draws inspiration and dramatic power from the life and death of Martin Luther King, Jr. -- but doesn't ignore how far we remain from the ideals his work embodied.

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Nijla Mu'min

Bitch Media

One of the most effective, well-crafted historical biopics that I've ever seen... giving us a moment in history that feels immediately familiar to the moment we are currently living in.

Jan 22, 2021

Full Review

Chris Stuckmann

ChrisStuckmann.com

Excellent acting, very good directing, a good tight script -- a little bit of pacing issues and... other characters are nowhere near as investing as Martin Luther King is.

Rated: B+

Oct 5, 2018

Full Review

Simon Weaving

Sydney Morning Herald

If you don't mind the technical confusion it's a gripping story, and a great credit to DuVernay and co-writer Paul Webb who were unable to use King's original speeches for copyright reasons.

Rated: 3.5/5

Oct 4, 2018

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Brendan Cassidy

InSession Film

David Oyelowo gives a star-making performance, and the supporting cast also helps create a multi-dimensional character film.

Jun 17, 2024

Full Review

Savina Petkova

A Good Movie To Watch

With her uncompromising directorial approach, DuVernay crafts a thrilling period film that has all the markers of a well-done genre feature, but uses its mechanisms to tell an emotionally potent story.

Rated: 80/100

Nov 24, 2023

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

It’s the kind of film that can get lost in hagiography and simplification. Duvernay sidesteps with a nuanced, complicated portrait of [Dr. Martin Luther] King...

Apr 8, 2023

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Helene T

It is a very powerful movie but

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/15/22

Full Review

Gnr E

Its just very good historical i dont know how to say i just loved it so much

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/11/24

Full Review

Godfrey D

Its feels so good for me!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/07/24

Full Review

Bulgantamir B

The plot was instructive

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/06/24

Full Review

Bahad j

This idea of the film shooting technique director made the film more attractive to people.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/05/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Too much of this movie was a bit slow and on the boring side. The film looks nice and was shot/directed with quality, however I found myself wishing that it would drag less and get to the more significant scenes when too much talking was taking place. If you're into history and this time-period like myself, then you will likely enjoy it though and the ending felt very significant with how it showed old footage intermingled with the movie. While this other movie is a bit more on the fictional side, I prefer the Disney production Selma, Lord Selma from 1999. It holds your attention much better and is even more emotionally impactful throughout the movie, and is something that even children can follow and watch. This film is fine and important for its subject matter but I still wish it had just a little more heart.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

07/07/24

Full Review

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Ava DuVernay

Director

David Oyelowo

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Tom Wilkinson

President Lyndon Baines Johnson

Carmen Ejogo

Coretta Scott King

Giovanni Ribisi

Lee White

Alessandro Nivola

John Doar

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Selma: Official Clip - Dr. King and President Johnson

2:13

Selma: Official Clip - Our Lives Are Not Fully Lived

2:02

Selma: Official Clip - The Fog of Death

2:04

Selma: Official Clip - The Wrongs Are Enormous

2:15

Selma: Official Clip - Soon and Very Soon

2:16

Selma: Official Clip - Arguing With the President

1:50

Selma: Official Clip - The Edmund Pettus Bridge Attack

2:12

Selma: Official Clip - We Shall Overcome

2:01

Selma: Official Clip - The March Begins

2:13

Selma: Official Clip - The Second March

2:13

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Synopsis

Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 legally desegregated the South, discrimination was still rampant in certain areas, making it very difficult for Blacks to register to vote. In 1965, an Alabama city became the battleground in the fight for suffrage. Despite violent opposition, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his followers pressed forward on an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, and their efforts culminated with President Lyndon Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Director: Ava DuVernay
Producer: Christian Colson, Oprah Winfrey, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner
Screenwriter: Paul Webb
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Plan B Entertainment, Harpo Films, Cloud Eight
Rating: PG-13 (Brief Strong Language|A Suggestive Moment|Disturbing Thematic Material|Violence)
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 9, 2015, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Mar 20, 2015
Release Date (Streaming): May 24, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $52.1M
Runtime: 2h 8m

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