American History X (1998)
93%RT Audience Score: 96%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
4 wins & 15 nominations total
American History X doesn’t contend with its subject matter as fully as it could, but Edward Norton’s performance gives this hard-hitting drama crucial weight.
American History X is a movie that will make you think twice about your beliefs and the impact they have on others. Edward Norton’s performance is nothing short of amazing, and the film’s message is powerful and thought-provoking. Sure, some critics may say it’s preachy or unconvincing, but let’s be real, they probably just don’t like hot dogs. Overall, this movie is a must-watch for anyone who wants to understand the dangers of white supremacy and the importance of unlearning systemic beliefs. Plus, it’s a great excuse to order some hot dogs for your next movie night.
Production Company(ies)
Igor Film Casbah Film
Distributor
New Line Cinema
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Venice High School – 13000 Venice Boulevard, Venice, Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for graphic brutal violence including rape, pervasive language, strong sexuality and nudity
Year of Release
1998
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Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 58m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 30, 1998 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 5, 2005
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Fairuza Balk, Beverly D’Angelo, Avery Brooks, Stacy Keach, directed by Tony Kaye, written by David McKenna, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by David Edelstein, Geoff Andrew, Manohla Dargis, Liam Lacey, Andrew O’Hehir, Kenneth Turan, Nicholas Oon, Mike Massie, Tom Meek, Wallace Baine, C.H Newell, Blake Howard, MPAA rating R, neo-Nazi, racism, violence, prison, black youths, hate, prejudices, family, transformation, male reality, reactionary working class environments, preachy, career-high performance, intergenerational racism, white supremacy, social document, flashbacks, black and white, masterpiece, storytelling, graphic, influences of society, explicit, destructive, challenging, direction, horror movies, MCU movies, Netflix series, TV shows, streaming
Worldwide gross: $23,875,127
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $43,814,225
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,396
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 4,777,996
US/Canada gross: $6,719,864
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $12,331,898
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,556
US/Canada opening weekend: $156,076
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $286,421
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,555
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $20,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $36,702,820
Production budget ranking: 1,020
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $19,764,469
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$12,653,064
ROI to date (est.): -22%
ROI ranking: 1,520
Edward Furlong – Daniel “Danny” Vinyard
Fairuza Balk – Stacey
Beverly D’Angelo – Doris Vinyard
Avery Brooks – Bob Sweeney
Stacy Keach – Cameron Alexander
Director(s)
Tony Kaye
Writer(s)
David McKenna
Producer(s)
John Morrissey
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
4 wins & 15 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (86) | Top Critics (27) | Fresh (71) | Rotten (15)
Norton is an amazing actor, a hot-dog whose delight in transformation is infectious.
August 19, 2011
David Edelstein
Slate
TOP CRITIC
Two things hold the interest: Norton’s astounding performance, and a feeling for the male reality of reactionary working class environments.
June 24, 2006
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
The problem is that Kaye, who’s used to selling cars on TV, shoots Derek the Hater as lovingly as he would a new Volkswagen.
October 7, 2002
Manohla Dargis
L.A. Weekly
TOP CRITIC
What partly redeems American History X from its most preachy excesses — and makes it worth seeing — is a brilliant, career-high performance by actor Edward Norton.
April 12, 2002 | Rating: 2.5/4
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
A work of impressive scale and craft and not a movie that’s easy to dismiss in the end.
March 3, 2002
Andrew O’Hehir
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
Though well-intentioned, turns out to be a simplistic and unconvincing look at a serious problem.
February 14, 2001 | Rating: 2.5/5
Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
Some movies are considered a product of their time, but this is on another level. It’s more like a product of the entire history of mankind. A history of war, of imperialism, and of superiority.
September 5, 2021
Nicholas Oon
Maximum Hype (YouTube)
The entire project is largely amateurish and incompetent on a technical level.
September 9, 2020 | Rating: 4/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
It’s a gripping drama and a useful take on learning how to unlearn systemic beliefs.
July 8, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
Tom Meek
Cambridge Day
One of the year’s more absorbing films.
March 25, 2020 | Rating: A-
Wallace Baine
Santa Cruz Sentinel
A tale of intergenerational racism and all it brings upon those who fall in line with a hideous ideology. Powerful, brutal, and takes proper aim at white supremacy.
May 5, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
C.H. Newell
Father Son Holy Gore
American History X advocates that “those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it”? It’s a powerful social document and should be part of your film watching curriculum.
May 16, 2012 | Rating: 4.5/5
Blake Howard
2UE That Movie Show…
Plot
Derek Vineyard is paroled after serving 3 years in prison for brutally killing two black men who tried to break into/steal his truck. Through his brother’s, Danny Vineyard, narration, we learn that before going to prison, Derek was a skinhead and the leader of a violent white supremacist gang that committed acts of racial crime throughout L.A. and his actions greatly influenced Danny. Reformed and fresh out of prison, Derek severs contact with the gang and becomes determined to keep Danny from going down the same violent path as he did.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Edward Norton’s performance in American History X is considered one of the highlights of the film by critics.
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