Selma (2014)
Kernel Score: 82% · 2,299 ratings · Rated PG-13
Genres: History, Drama
Released: 2014-12-25
Runtime: 128 minutes
Is Selma worth watching?
Worth watching. Selma focuses on the 1965 voting rights campaign rather than a full King biography, and it is well acted and serious about the cost of the fight. It plays closer to a solid history lesson than a surprise.
Watch it if you
- want a focused look at the Selma marches
- like serious, well-acted historical dramas
- care about civil rights history
Skip it if you
- dislike films that mostly talk through political strategy
- can't take scenes of racist violence
Best for: Thoughtful night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Selma
- Stream: Netflix, Starz
- Free with ads: Kanopy, Hoopla
- Rent: JustWatch TV Free, Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
"Selma," as in Alabama, the place where segregation in the South was at its worst, leading to a march that ended in violence, forcing a famous statement by President Lyndon B. Johnson that ultimately led to the signing of the Voting Rights Act.
Selma parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that Selma dramatizes the 1965 civil rights march and depicts real historical violence against protesters.
- Violence & scariness: Moderate — Depicts a protest march that 'ended in violence,' reflecting real historical police brutality against civil rights marchers.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Selma
If you liked Selma, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Hidden Figures (2016) — 90%: Another civil-rights-era true story that balances inspiration with substance
- Malcolm X (1992) — 84%: Biopic of another major figure from the same struggle
- To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) — 88%: Classic about racial injustice in the American South
- Judas and the Black Messiah (2021) — 81%: Intense true story from the later Black freedom movement
- 13th (2016) — 90%: Documentary tracing the deeper history behind the fight
- The Butler (2013) — 83%: Decades of civil rights history seen through one man's life
Director
Cast
- David Oyelowo as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Carmen Ejogo as Coretta Scott King
- Tom Wilkinson as President Lyndon B. Johnson
- Giovanni Ribisi as Lee White
- Tim Roth as Gov. George Wallace
- André Holland as Andrew Young
- Colman Domingo as Ralph Abernathy
- Common as James Bevel
- Stephan James as John Lewis
- Omar J. Dorsey as James Orange
Selma FAQ
Is Selma worth watching?
Worth watching. Selma focuses on the 1965 voting rights campaign rather than a full King biography, and it is well acted and serious about the cost of the fight. It plays closer to a solid history lesson than a surprise.
Where can I watch Selma?
In the US you can stream Selma on Netflix and Starz, watch it free with ads on Kanopy and Hoopla and rent it from JustWatch TV Free, Prime Video, Apple TV and Google Play.
Is Selma OK for kids?
Selma is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that Selma dramatizes the 1965 civil rights march and depicts real historical violence against protesters.
What movies are like Selma?
If you liked Selma, try Hidden Figures, Malcolm X, To Kill a Mockingbird and Judas and the Black Messiah.