Get on the Bus (1996)
82%RT Audience Score: 71%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 5 nominations
Spike Lee’s Get on the Bus is a cinematic masterpiece that seamlessly blends humor, heart, and sociopolitical commentary. Lee’s revitalized talent is on full display as he deftly navigates the story of a group of diverse Black men on a bus journey to the Million Man March. The film’s humanity shines through its didacticism, making it a vital and urgent portrayal of a unique moment in history. Lee’s portrayal of three-dimensional Black gay characters is groundbreaking and a testament to his commitment to authentic representation. From the first frame to the last, Get on the Bus is a stirring and heartfelt entertainment that will leave you both laughing and moved.
Get on the Bus is a funky and heartfelt film that manages to balance its sociopolitical themes with humor and humanity. Spike Lee’s deft expertise keeps the pace fast and the characters three-dimensional, even the black gay characters that no other black feature film has portrayed before. While some critics found the film predictable and preachy, others found it to be a vital regeneration of Lee’s talent and a stirring, heartfelt entertainment. Overall, Get on the Bus is a unique and absorbing tale that’s fitting for today’s issues, and it’s definitely worth the ride.
Production Company(ies)
Apple Original Films, Interscope Films, Lighthouse Management & Media,
Distributor
Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language
Year of Release
1996
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:SDDS Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:2h 0m
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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 16, 1996 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 30, 2001
Genre(s)
Drama/Lgbtq+
Keyword(s)
starring Richard Belzer, De’aundre Bonds, Andre Braugher, Thomas Jefferson Byrd, Gabriel Casseus, Albert Hall, directed by Spike Lee, written by Reggie Rock Bythewood, drama, LGBTQ+, box office performance, budget, reviewed by David Ansen, Lisa Schwarzbaum, Susan Stark, Desson Thomson, Todd McCarthy, Geoff Andrew, Keith Boykin, Andrea Beach, Aaron Neuwirth, Linda Cook, Michael Dequina, MPAA rating R, Million Man March, African-American men, Washington D.C., shared stories, experiences, portrait of black America, Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, produced by Barry Rosenbush, Reuben Cannon, Bill Borden
Worldwide gross: $5,754,249
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $10,983,397
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,942
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,197,753
US/Canada gross: $5,754,249
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $10,983,397
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,589
US/Canada opening weekend: $2,156,409
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $4,116,036
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,126
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $2,400,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $4,580,989
Production budget ranking: 1,925
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $2,466,863
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $3,935,545
ROI to date (est.): 56%
ROI ranking: 1,118
De’aundre Bonds – Junior, aka ‘Smooth’
Andre Braugher – Flip
Thomas Jefferson Byrd – Evan Thomas Sr.
Gabriel Casseus – Jamal
Albert Hall – Craig
Director(s)
Spike Lee
Writer(s)
Reggie Rock Bythewood
Producer(s)
Barry Rosenbush, Reuben Cannon, Bill Borden
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 5 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (45) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (40) | Rotten (5)
The wonder of this funky, heartfelt film is that its humanity easily eclipses its didacticism. Working fast and cheap, Lee seems revitalized by the urgency of the endeavor.
February 26, 2018
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
September 7, 2011 | Rating: B+
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
October 18, 2008 | Rating: 2/4
Susan Stark
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
It’s a simple, appealing premise and filmmaker Spike Lee uses it to full comic advantage.
October 18, 2008
Desson Thomson
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
A vital regeneration of a filmmaker’s talent as well as a bracing and often very funny dramatization of urgent sociopolitical themes…
September 24, 2008
Todd McCarthy
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Though Lee’s deft expertise keeps things pacy and (mostly) plausible, the material can’t avoid a certain predictability and, in the end, a preachy sentimentality.
February 9, 2006
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Lee’s movie should be credited for portraying what no other black feature film (including John Singleton’s Higher Learning, Forest Whitaker’s Exhale, and Lee’s own previous films) has shown before: three-dimensional black gay characters.
April 5, 2022
Keith Boykin
The Advocate
Absorbing tale of unique moment in history; strong language.
July 29, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Andrea Beach
Common Sense Media
The issues presented are the same as they were in years past, as well as fitting for today.
June 18, 2020 | Rating: 9/10
Aaron Neuwirth
We Live Entertainment
September 20, 2005 | Rating: 5/5
Linda Cook
Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)
A stirring, heartfelt entertainment from the first frame to the last.
September 11, 2005 | Rating: 4/4
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com
July 5, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com…
Plot
Get on the Bus follows several Black men on a cross country bus trip to the Million Man March. On the bus are an eclectic set of characters including a laid off aircraft worker, a former Gang Banger, a Hollywood actor, a cop who is of mixed racial background, and a White bus driver, all make the trek discussing issues surrounding the march, manhood, religion, politics, and race.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features an ensemble cast of African-American actors, including Richard Belzer, De’aundre Bonds, Andre Braugher, and Thomas Jefferson Byrd.
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