Invictus (2009)
76%RT Audience Score: 75%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 2 Oscars
12 wins & 38 nominations total
Delivered with typically stately precision by director Clint Eastwood, Invictus may not be rousing enough for some viewers, but Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman inhabit their real-life characters with admirable conviction
Invictus is a film that will make you want to stand up and cheer, even if you have no idea what’s going on. Morgan Freeman is a national treasure and his portrayal of Nelson Mandela is nothing short of amazing. Sure, the movie can be a bit cheesy at times, but who doesn’t love a good underdog sports story? Plus, it’s directed by Clint Eastwood, so you know it’s going to be good. Overall, Invictus is a must-watch for anyone who loves a good inspirational movie.
Production Company(ies)
Therapy Content Roswell Films,
Distributor
Warner Bros.
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language
Year of Release
2009
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital DTSS DDS
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Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
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Runtime:2h 14m
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Language(s):English, Afrikaans, Maori, Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 11, 2009 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 18, 2010
Genre(s)
Drama/Biography
Keyword(s)
starring Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon, Tony Kgoroge, Patrick Mofokeng, Matt Stern, Julian Lewis Jones, directed by Clint Eastwood, written by Anthony Peckham, drama, biography, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Shubhra Gupta, Deborah Ross, Michael Atkinson, Ed Koch, Nell Minow, Joshua Rothkopf, Mike Massie, Jason Best, Richard Propes, Jeff Mitchell, Kate Rodger, PG-13, apartheid, Nelson Mandela, Francois Pienaar, rugby, South Africa, 1995 World Cup Championship, Clint Eastwood, Lori McCreary, Robert Lorenz, Mace Neufeld, SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS
Worldwide gross: $122,426,792
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $169,207,382
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 786
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 18,452,277
US/Canada gross: $37,491,364
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $51,817,216
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,054
US/Canada opening weekend: $8,611,147
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $11,901,559
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 897
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $60,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $82,926,643
Production budget ranking: 506
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $44,655,997
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $41,624,741
ROI to date (est.): 33%
ROI ranking: 1,233
Matt Damon – Francois Pienaar
Tony Kgoroge – Jason Tshabalala
Patrick Mofokeng – Linga Moonsamy
Matt Stern – Hendrick Booyens
Julian Lewis Jones – Etienne Feyder
Clint Eastwood – Director/Producer
Lori McCreary – Producer
Robert Lorenz – Producer
Mace Neufeld – Producer
Anthony Peckham – Writer
Director(s)
Clint Eastwood
Writer(s)
Anthony Peckham
Producer(s)
Clint Eastwood, Lori McCreary, Robert Lorenz, Mace Neufeld
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 2 Oscars
12 wins & 38 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (244) | Top Critics (72) | Fresh (185) | Rotten (59)
What strikes you most about this film is just how much pleasure a sure-footed, confident director can deliver by keeping everything simple.
April 16, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Shubhra Gupta
The Indian Express
TOP CRITIC
It is probably enjoyable and rousing enough, and does feature a lovely performance by Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela.
August 30, 2018
Deborah Ross
The Spectator
TOP CRITIC
Invictus is Eastwood in full Stanley Kramer/Richard Attenborough mode, playing down to the Americans who love cheesy triumphant-sports movies but who generally know little about South Africa and care even less.
July 10, 2018
Michael Atkinson
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
Morgan Freeman’s portrayal of Nelson Mandela creates a superb moment in time on the movie screen.
January 16, 2018
Ed Koch
The Atlantic
TOP CRITIC
February 18, 2012 | Rating: B-
Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
November 17, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Joshua Rothkopf
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
It’s all quite draining, with one enthusiastic hurrah after another, until there couldn’t possibly be any more motivational orations.
November 28, 2020 | Rating: 3/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Invictus sometimes plods just when it should be fleet of foot.
November 27, 2020
Jason Best
Movie Talk
It is a film that will likely entertain both history buffs and fans of sports films.
September 12, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Freeman was born to play his friend Mandela in Eastwood’s inspiring movie.
July 18, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4
Jeff Mitchell
Phoenix Film Festival
There’s plenty here to keep the interest for most, and the performances, particularly Freeman’s, are excellent.
September 5, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Kate Rodger
Newshub (NZ)
Invictus is a powerful and moving story.
November 13, 2018 | Rating: 8/10
Debbie Baldwin
Ladue News…
Plot
This movie tells the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) joined forces with the Captain of South Africa’s rugby team, Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon) to help unite their country. Newly-elected President Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided in the wake of Apartheid. Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa’s rugby team as they make their run to the 1995 Rugby World Cup Championship match.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Morgan Freeman’s portrayal of Nelson Mandela creates a superb moment in time on the movie screen.
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