Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution

Play trailer 2:31 Poster for The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution Released Sep 2, 2015 1h 54m Documentary History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
92% Tomatometer 65 Reviews 71% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Filmmaker Stanley Nelson examines the rise of the Black Panther Party in the 1960s and its impact on civil rights and American culture.
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution

The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution

What to Know

Critics Consensus

The Black Panthers: Vanguard Of The Revolution offers a fascinating -- if somewhat rudimentary -- introduction to a movement, and an era, that remains soberingly relevant today.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (65) Critics Reviews
Candice Frederick Reel Talk Online If you're doing general research on the Panthers and a need resource, or interested in learning more about their story (from a male perspective only), THE BLACK PANTHERS: VANGUARD OF THE REVOLUTION is definitely for you. Sep 1, 2017 Full Review Dwight Brown National Newspaper Publishers Association Stick with this movie. It has a lot to say, a lot to reveal and is pertinent to today's testy police/civilian race relations. Mar 15, 2017 Full Review Donald Clarke Irish Times Vanguard of the Revolution is at its strongest when it entertains female voices: Elaine Brown, Kathleen Cleaver, Ericka Huggins. Their fire is vigorously undimmed. Rated: 3/5 Oct 30, 2015 Full Review Angus Batey NME (New Musical Express) An absorbing and timely look at the Black Panther Party and American police violence. Rated: 3/5 May 18, 2021 Full Review David Lamble Bay Area Reporter The fact that the Black Panthers were an Oakland, CA-launched group only adds to the importance of African-American doc-maker Stanley Nelson's new film. Jun 9, 2020 Full Review John Bleasdale CineVue This tragic see-saw, which sees revolutionary enthusiasm digging the grave of revolution, is the subject of Stanley Nelson's angry, sorrowful, yet invigorating and timely history of the movement. Rated: 3/5 Apr 8, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (27) audience reviews
Audience Member The world was robbed when Fred Hampton was murdered. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/24/19 Full Review Audience Member A fantastic documentary about so much of the untold story of the Black Panthers, as well as the targeting of activists by the FBI and others in law enforcement. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/21/18 Full Review Audience Member true heroes of there time! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/12/18 Full Review Audience Member All Power to the People Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Audience Member Review: This is an extremely deep documentary about the rise and fall of the Black Panthers in America, and I must admit, I did find some of it slightly boring. Don't get me wrong, I did find the subject matter very interesting and the various interviews with fellow members and witnesses to the terrible police brutality towards them, was very touching but it does drag a bit and I personally don't find watching Black people getting treated like animals, that entertaining. I was left feeling extremely bitter when this graphic documentary had finished but I still learnt a lot about this powerful movement. The different scenarios which are highlighted throughout the movie, were quite shocking, especially the corruption with the law, but it was still good to see how far a radical group can go, when they pull together to fight for there rights. I will say this though, you really have to be in the right frame of mind to watch it because there are some scenes which are pretty upsetting but it's still worth a watch. Anyway, if your into your black history films, then this is definitely the movie for you, because it's an important part of history which will never be forgotten. Watchable! Round-Up: This documentary was written and directed by Stanley Nelson, 60, who has brought you various documentaries, like The Black Press, Marcus Garvey, Beyond Brown, A Place Of Our Own, Jonestown, Wounded Knee and Freedom Summer, which are all based around important periods in black history. He certainly done well to get interviews with different Black Panther members and officers of the law but it really didn't have to be nearly 2 hours long. Budget: N/A Worldwide Gross: $600,000 I recommend this movie to people who are into their documentaries about the rise and fall of the Black Panthers. 5/10 Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Interesting reminder of the history of recent oppression (in my lifetime) and the significance of the Black Panther party. still on BBC iPlayer Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

The Spirit of '45 67% 65% The Spirit of '45 Watchlist She's Beautiful When She's Angry 90% 86% She's Beautiful When She's Angry Watchlist The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 92% 86% The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 Watchlist Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities 100% % Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities Watchlist Korengal 87% 64% Korengal Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis Filmmaker Stanley Nelson examines the rise of the Black Panther Party in the 1960s and its impact on civil rights and American culture.
Director
Stanley Nelson
Producer
Laurens Grant, Stanley Nelson
Screenwriter
Stanley Nelson
Distributor
PBS
Production Co
Firelight Films
Genre
Documentary, History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 2, 2015, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$482.4K
Runtime
1h 54m
Most Popular at Home Now