The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson

2017

1h 45m

Documentary

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The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson: Trailer 1

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Audience Score

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Filmmakers re-examine the 1992 death of transgender legend Marsha P. Johnson, who was found floating in the Hudson River. Originally ruled a suicide, many in the community believe she was murdered.

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Critics Consensus

The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson uses its belated investigation into an activist's murder as the framework for a sobering look at the ongoing battle for equal rights.

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Leah Greenblatt

Entertainment Weekly

Death is what leads the title and drives the movie. But it's her life - vibrant, pioneering, and much too short - that gives Marsha its flamboyant, beautiful heart.

Rated: A-

Oct 6, 2017

Full Review

Glenn Kenny

RogerEbert.com

The movie reminds the viewer how far we've come, but also how far we have yet to go.

Rated: 3.5/4

Oct 6, 2017

Full Review

Claudia Puig

TheWrap

Works powerfully as a rallying cry for tolerance, love and understanding.

Oct 5, 2017

Full Review

Ben Turner

The Pink Lens

This is a very effective piece about transphobia that adeptly weaves the story of a truly legendary icon with the problems still facing her community today.

Rated: 5/5

Sep 2, 2021

Full Review

Patrick McDonald

HollywoodChicago.com

Almost like a Forrest Gump in the pre-and-post Stonewall (yep, she was there) gay pride movement in NYC, David France's overview provides mystery in her life and death. PRIDE!

Rated: 4/5

Jun 24, 2021

Full Review

Alexander Ryll

Gay Essential

The Death And Life Of Marsha P. Johnson offers a unique perspective on liberation for gender nonconforming individuals and is an imperative documentary for anyone looking to fully understand the origins and evolution of the LGBT movement.

Rated: 9

Nov 3, 2018

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PridePosterStudios

Happy to see the highest reviews are calling out the stolen idea and recommend Happy Birthday Marsha instead. Great work!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

05/12/24

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georgan g

High rates of murders of transwomen is a statistic fact. It is sad both for the individuals and a society that allows it. This gay rights documentary reminds us of both the history and current day struggles.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

dave d

This 2017 documentary chronicles Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, prominent figures in gay liberation and transgender rights movement in New York City from the 1960s to the 1990s and co-founders of Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR). The film centers on activist Victoria Cruz's investigation into Johnson's death in 1992, which was initially ruled a suicide by police despite suspicious circumstances. It's part investigative and part biographical and really illuminating and as usual with movies about this subject VERY hard to watch. There are a lot of people that are just evil and don't believe in equal rights for all and this is another in a long line of films that present facts about this narrative. Be nice to each other. Final Score: 9/10

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Rich S

There was a lot going on in Marsha P. Johnson's life and it was important, especially to the LGBT community. Solving the mystery surrounding her tragic death seems almost impossible now, more than 25 years later. It's worth the try, but the results may not be so satisfying.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/07/20

Full Review

johann m

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧ An important documentary which re-examines the 1992 death of black gay rights activist and Stonewall transgender legend Marsha P. Johnson, who was found floating in the Hudson River. Originally ruled a suicide, many in the community believe she was murdered, but here Victoria Cruz stops at nothing to find out what truly happened. The archival interviews with Johnson and other important figures such as Sylvia Rivera and Randy Wicker, and her family, friends and fellow activists comprise a documentary that reminds people that the continuing fight for justice by the LGBTQ+ community is relentless.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I felt this would have been better had it been a history of the trans community in New York (which it kind of was, in a tangential way) or a proper biography of Martha, since the investigation didn't really go anywhere. In any case, it makes you realise just how far we've come when it comes to LGBT rights, and is a reminder of those pioneers who fought so hard for their rights and those of future generations.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

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David France

Director

James Abreu

Voice

Victoria Cruz

Voice

Karla Jay

Voice

Agosto Machado

Voice

Mark Segal

Voice

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The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson: Clip - My Gay Rights

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The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Filmmakers re-examine the 1992 death of transgender legend Marsha P. Johnson, who was found floating in the Hudson River. Originally ruled a suicide, many in the community believe she was murdered.

Director: David France
Producer: Kimberly Reed, L.A. Teodosio
Screenwriter: David France, Mark Blane
Production Co: Public Square Films, Netflix
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 6, 2017
Runtime: 1h 45m

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