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To Sleep With Anger

Play trailer Poster for To Sleep With Anger PG 1990 1h 42m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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93% Tomatometer 105 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Vagabond Harry (Danny Glover) pays an unexpected visit to his old chum Gideon (Paul Butler), who accepts the aimless man into his home, despite the fact that the household is already overcrowded. Hard-drinking yet charismatic, Harry both entertains and enrages Gideon and his wife, Suzie (Mary Alice). However, after Gideon falls gravely ill, Harry decides to step in and take his friend's place in the household. Unfortunately, his intentions are far from pure, and the consequences are tragic.
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To Sleep With Anger

To Sleep With Anger

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Critics Consensus

To Sleep with Anger examines cultural tensions with a deft hand and a potent blend of comedy and drama, stirred skillfully to life by a strong cast led by Danny Glover.

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Critics Reviews

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Richard Corliss TIME Magazine Like Harry at his eloquent best, To Sleep with Anger is a spellbinder. Sep 25, 2025 Full Review Nigel Andrews Financial Times A sophisticated and sweetly shivery ghost story. Sep 25, 2025 Full Review Carrie Rickey Philadelphia Inquirer Despite its subject matter and title, To Sleep With Anger has a sardonic, comic edge. Rated: 3/4 Sep 25, 2025 Full Review Peter Keough Boston Phoenix Subtly structured, metaphorically elegant, shrewdly balanced, and richly performed, To Sleep with Anger is [Charles Burnett's] masterpiece. Sep 25, 2025 Full Review Karl Bruce Knapper Bay Area Reporter Burnett has created a brilliant tapestry of a movie, intricately woven of multiple layers of truth and dishonesty, love and mistrust, folklore and history. Sep 25, 2025 Full Review Marylynn Uricchio Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Burnett skillfully weaves his various story lines and characters together until the cumulative effect is an absolutely microscopic look at the nature of family life. Rated: B Sep 25, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Andrew A. Lesson of this movie: don't let Danny Glover into your house... or maybe do Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/02/25 Full Review Alec B What's ingenious here is how Glover is both a demonic and messianic figure, bringing long simmering family tensions to a boil . . . not to destroy the family but to save them. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/10/24 Full Review Audience Member What's ingenious here is how Glover is both a demonic and messianic figure, bringing long simmering family tensions to a boil. This doesn't destroy the family, it saves them. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Danny Glover is Harry. He pays an unexpected visit to his old chum Gideon (Paul Butler), who accepts the aimless man into his home, despite the fact that the household is already overcrowded. Hard-drinking yet charismatic, Harry both entertains and enrages Gideon and his wife, Suzie. Gideon then falls gravely ill, Harry decides to step in and take his friend's place in the household. Unfortunately, his intentions are far from pure, and the consequences are tragic. There's a lot of talk in here and I was quite bored. But I admire the movie having many relatable elements when it comes to this kind of family drama. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member I first watched the movie when released in 1990, and watched again. This movie is very layered and many references for African Americans - especially those of us that grew up in the south. See it. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review scott s One of Danny Glover's best films as a drifter whose presence seems to expose the hearts of the people in the household as tensions arise between brothers, siblings, and parents, and culture change. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews
To Sleep With Anger

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Cast & Crew

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Charles Burnett

Director

Danny Glover

Harry

Paul Butler

Gideon

Mary Alice

Suzie

Richard Brooks

Babe Brother

Carl Lumbly

Junior

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To Sleep With Anger

To Sleep With Anger (1990) To Sleep With Anger (1990) To Sleep With Anger (1990) To Sleep With Anger (1990) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Vagabond Harry (Danny Glover) pays an unexpected visit to his old chum Gideon (Paul Butler), who accepts the aimless man into his home, despite the fact that the household is already overcrowded. Hard-drinking yet charismatic, Harry both entertains and enrages Gideon and his wife, Suzie (Mary Alice). However, after Gideon falls gravely ill, Harry decides to step in and take his friend's place in the household. Unfortunately, his intentions are far from pure, and the consequences are tragic.
Director
Charles Burnett
Distributor
Samuel Goldwyn Company
Production Co
SVS Films
Rating
PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 12, 1990, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.2M
Runtime
1h 42m
Sound Mix
Surround
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