Bacurau (Nighthawk) (2020)
90%RT Audience Score: 84%
Awards & Nominations: 52 wins & 73 nominations
Formally thrilling and narratively daring, Bacurau draws on modern Brazilian sociopolitical concerns to deliver a hard-hitting, genre-blurring drama.
Nighthawk is a wild ride that starts off slow and then takes you on a rollercoaster of blood, chaos, and catharsis. It’s like a mix of a Western, sci-fi, and political outrage all rolled into one. And let’s not forget Sônia Braga’s performance as an alcoholic doctor – she’s all out and it’s glorious. This movie is one of the best of the year and a lightning bolt right into the middle of our anxieties. It’s the sort of movie we’ll look back on and say, “Yup, that got it just right.” So buckle up and get ready for a ride that you’ll want to experience again and again.
Production Company(ies)
Columbia Pictures, Pascal Pictures, Marvel Studios,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Parelhas, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2020
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):Portuguese, English
-
Country of origin:Brazil, France
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): May 12, 2020
Genre(s)
Mystery & Thriller/Drama
Keyword(s)
Nighthawk, Mystery, Thriller, Drama, Fantasy, Portuguese, Kleber Mendonça Filho, Juliano Dornelles, Saïd Ben Saïd, Emilie Lesclaux, Michel Merkt, Juliano Dornelles, Kleber Mendonça Filho, Sonia Braga, Udo Kier, Barbara Colen, Julia Marie Peterson, Karine Teles, Chris Doubek, box office, budget, reviewed by Kambole Campbell, David Sims, Ela Bittencourt, Cody Corrall, Ty Burr, Peter Rainer, Brian Eggert, Dorothy Woodend, Allen Almachar, Witney Seibold, Jason Shawhan, starring Sonia Braga, Udo Kier, Barbara Colen, Julia Marie Peterson, Karine Teles, Chris Doubek, directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, Juliano Dornelles, written by Juliano Dornelles, Kleber Mendonça Filho, MPAA rating, genre-blurring, modern Brazilian sociopolitical concerns, hard-hitting, cathartic bloodletting, western, science fiction influences, structural injustice, rollercoaster ride, anxiety over Brazil’s Bolsonaro regime, burning of the Amazon rainforest, COVID-19 horrors
Worldwide gross: $3,554,178
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $4,055,905
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,230
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 442,302
US/Canada gross: $58,115
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $66,319
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,719
US/Canada opening weekend: $14,691
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $16,765
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,571
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Udo Kier – Michael
Barbara Colen – Teresa
Julia Marie Peterson – Julia
Karine Teles –
Chris Doubek –
Director(s)
Kleber Mendonça Filho, Juliano Dornelles
Writer(s)
Juliano Dornelles, Kleber Mendonça Filho
Producer(s)
Saïd Ben Saïd, Emilie Lesclaux, Michel Merkt
Film Festivals
Berlin, Cannes, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
52 wins & 73 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (168) | Top Critics (42) | Fresh (156) | Rotten (12)
It’s a curious film that defies categorisation, opening quietly before descending into a cacophony of cathartic bloodletting by the chaotic finale.
June 10, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Kambole Campbell
NME
TOP CRITIC
I don’t want to spoil a second of Bacurau, but it’s one of the best filmic distillations of that impending 21st-century sense of doom, a concentrated vision of the apocalypse that somehow manages to strike a hopeful note.
January 27, 2021
David Sims
The Atlantic
TOP CRITIC
Mendonça and Dornelles’s film is… an attempt to grapple with unspeakable, horrifying evil — but an evil that must be understood in social and historical rather than biblical terms.
May 2, 2020
Ela Bittencourt
Harper’s Magazine
TOP CRITIC
It’s a rallying cry against structural injustice told through a satisfying blend of western and science fiction influences.
April 17, 2020
Cody Corrall
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
It resonates. And despite the beauty of the weathered local faces this movie celebrates, it resonates for anyone, anywhere, watching it.
April 5, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4
Ty Burr
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
This movie gets a lot of points for being strange and Sônia Braga is all out as an alcoholic doctor.
April 4, 2020
Peter Rainer
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
The result screams Western, sci-fi paranoia, and political outrage in the same breath.
February 21, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
The Brazilian tale eviscerates injustice while celebrating coming together. Pandemic perfection.
November 8, 2021
Dorothy Woodend
The Tyee (British Columbia)
It’s the cinematic equivalent of a rollercoaster ride – one that you want to experience again as soon as possible.
November 1, 2021 | Rating: A-
Allen Almachar
The MacGuffin
Glorious, odd, and way off the beaten path. One of the best films of the year.
September 13, 2021
Witney Seibold
Critically Acclaimed Podcast
…a lightning bolt right into the middle of the anxiety over Brazil’s Bolsonaro regime, and with the burning of the Amazon rainforest and ensuing COVID-19 horrors, it hasn’t lost a bit of its visceral immediacy.
September 10, 2021
Jason Shawhan
Nashville Scene
It is, quite simply, the sort of movie we’ll look back on from the future — assuming there is a future — and say, “Yup, that got it just right…”
July 2, 2021 | Rating: A
Jason Adams
The Film Experience…
Plot
In the Brazilian film “Nighthawk,” a small village fights back against a group of wealthy outsiders who threaten their way of life.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Sônia Braga is “all out as an alcoholic doctor” in her role in Nighthawk, according to one critic review.
Kleber-Mendonça-Filho.jpg
90%
A Thousand Cuts (2020)
90%RT Audience Score: 80%
Awards & Nominations: NA
A sobering documentary and a stark warning, A Thousand Cuts underscores the importance of the press at a pivotal moment in world history.
If you’re looking for a documentary that will make you feel like you’re on the edge of your seat, A Thousand Cuts is the one for you. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions, from suspense to sadness to hope, all while following the heroic journalist Maria Ressa in her fight for freedom of the press and democracy in the Philippines. Ramona S. Diaz does an incredible job of capturing the intensity of the situation, and you’ll be left feeling both inspired and grateful for journalists like Ressa who are willing to risk everything for the truth. Plus, you’ll learn a thing or two about the state of democracy around the world – who said documentaries can’t be both informative and thrilling?
Production Company(ies)
Strong Heart, Demme Production Orion Pictures,
Distributor
PBS Distribution
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2020
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 50m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States, The Philippines
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 7, 2020 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 7, 2020
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, journalism, freedom of the press, Philippines, Maria Ressa, Ramona S Diaz, Chris Clements, Christopher Clements, Julie Goldman, Carolyn Hepburn, Leah Marino, PBS Distribution, critic reviews, Claudia Puig, Peter Rainer, Richard Whittaker, Peter Keough, Ben Kenigsberg, Michael Ordoña, Tom O’Brien, Leslie Combemale, Jennifer Merin, Betsy Bozdech, MaryAnn Johanson, Taylor Baker, box office performance, budget, producer names, MPAA rating, online banking, mobile banking, digital innovation, convenience, security, Kinecta Federal Credit Union
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Ramona S. Diaz – Director, Writer, Producer
Chris Clements – Producer
Christopher Clements – Producer
Julie Goldman – Producer
Carolyn Hepburn – Producer
Leah Marino – Producer
Director(s)
Ramona S. Diaz
Writer(s)
Ramona S. Diaz
Producer(s)
Ramona S. Diaz, Chris Clements, Christopher Clements, Julie Goldman, Carolyn Hepburn, Leah Marino
Film Festivals
Sundance, South by Southwest
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (45) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (45)
If you care about freedom of the press and democracy, it’s a film you have to see.
August 18, 2020
Claudia Puig
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
It’s a fascinating movie on many, many levels.
August 18, 2020
Peter Rainer
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
Diaz stays out of the way of her own lens, instead giving a portrait in context of Ressa’s valiant struggle for truth, and her determination to simply do the job even as she becomes part of the story.
August 13, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Richard Whittaker
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Suspenseful and depressing…
August 12, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4
Peter Keough
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
Exactly how many cuts are left?
August 10, 2020
Ben Kenigsberg
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
As the film focuses more tightly on her, it becomes a more gripping document. And it certainly is gripping, as the cloud of menace threatening her becomes firmer.
August 10, 2020
Michael Ordoña
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
Diaz was granted remarkable access behind the scenes of Ressa’s fight for democracy, creating an insider’s look which allows us to see past the journalist’s formidable game face to reveal her moments of vulnerability, with which anyone can empathize.
June 14, 2022 | Rating: 8/10
Tom O’Brien
Next Best Picture
Ramona S. Diaz has created a compelling profile of a heroic but humble journalist, but might also awaken the inner activist in more than a few viewers, regardless of where they live.
November 2, 2021
Leslie Combemale
AWFJ Women on Film
Ramona S. Diaz’s compelling documentary about heroic journalist Maria Ressa and her ongoing crusade for freedom of the press and truth in media in the Philippines is a revelation.
November 2, 2021
Jennifer Merin
AWFJ Women on Film
The documentary takes place almost entirely in the Philippines, but the situations and conflicts that Diaz captures in A Thousand Cuts will likely feel eerily familiar to viewers in other countries whose democracies are being threatened…
November 2, 2021
Betsy Bozdech
AWFJ Women on Film
A horror story and a cautionary tale, Marie Ressa’s journalistic odyssey against the corrupt, murderous anti-democracy forces in the Philippines is a shocking mirror held up…
November 2, 2021
MaryAnn Johanson
AWFJ Women on Film
It seems fitting that a documentary about the volatility, development, and set backs presented to a democracy feels unfinished.
August 19, 2021 | Rating: 85/100
Taylor Baker
Drink in the Movies…
Plot
A young woman wakes up in a hospital, convinced she is recovering from minor surgery only to find herself in a battle of wits with a psychiatrist who can’t let her leave until she remembers “what happened that night.” Events turn a darker corner as doctor and patient try to unlock not only what traumatic event Anne is suppressing, but also who was there, why it happened, and why Anne’s subconscious is fighting so hard to prevent her from talking about it.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
NA
Ramona-S.-Diaz.jpg
90%
Midnight Family (2019)
90%RT Audience Score: 81%
Awards & Nominations: 24 wins & 26 nominations
As narratively urgent as it is technically well-crafted, Midnight Family offers an enthralling and disquieting glimpse of healthcare in modern Mexico.
Midnight Family is like a wild ride through the streets of Mexico City, but instead of a rollercoaster, you’re in the back of a private ambulance. The documentary sheds light on the healthcare crisis in the city and the dedicated team of the Ochoa family who fill the gap left by the lack of official ambulances. It’s action-packed and intense, but also deeply human and sobering. The film’s editing and cinematography are top-notch, taking you on a journey through the city’s streets and into the lives of the Ochoas. It’s a must-watch for anyone interested in the healthcare system and the people who work tirelessly to keep it running.
Production Company(ies)
Norma Productions, Curtleigh Productions, Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions,
Distributor
1,091.00
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Mexico City, Mexico
MPAA / Certificate
Unrated
Year of Release
2020
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 21m
-
Language(s):Spanish
-
Country of origin:Mexico
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 6, 2019 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 3, 2020
Genre(s)
Documentary/Action
Keyword(s)
Midnight Family, documentary, action, Spanish, Luke Lorentzen, Kellen Quinn, Daniela Alatorre, ambulance, healthcare, Mexico City, private ambulance, financial needs, cutthroat industry, box office, $40.5K, 1h 21m, 97% Tomatometer, 81% audience score, reviewed by Ed Potton, Donald Clarke, Wendy Ide, Matt Turner, Danny Leigh, Peter Bradshaw, Johnny Loftus, Joanne Laurier, Vicky Roach, Fausto Ponce, Luis Fernando Galván, directed by Luke Lorentzen, written by Luke Lorentzen, produced by Kellen Quinn, Daniela Alatorre, starring Ochoa family, cinematographer Luke Lorentzen, film editing by Luke Lorentzen
Worldwide gross: $51,712
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $59,012
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,074
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 6,435
US/Canada gross: $42,310
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $48,283
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,756
US/Canada opening weekend: $3,030
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $3,458
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,829
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Luke Lorentzen – Writer
Kellen Quinn – Producer
Daniela Alatorre – Producer
Luke Lorentzen – Cinematographer
Luke Lorentzen – Film Editing
Director(s)
Luke Lorentzen
Writer(s)
Luke Lorentzen
Producer(s)
Kellen Quinn, Daniela Alatorre
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
24 wins & 26 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (72) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (70) | Rotten (2)
Mexico City has fewer than 45 official ambulances serving nine million people… Luke Lorentzen’s adrenalised documentary focuses on one of the private teams that fill the gap.
February 24, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Ed Potton
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Packed with tense moments and disturbing shots that, without compromising the clients’ privacy, hint at the unhappiness just offscreen.
February 23, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Donald Clarke
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
[A] superb observational documentary…
February 22, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Wendy Ide
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Fast paced, action packed. An intimate portrait of the human costs of Mexico’s healthcare crisis.
February 20, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Matt Turner
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
Much of the film plays like a madly adrenal action movie.
February 19, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Danny Leigh
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
Were it not for the real tragedy and horror involved, this documentary could almost be filed under the bleakest and often hilarious kind of black comedy.
February 19, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Midnight Family is a fascinating portrait of dedicated people at work.
December 22, 2020
Johnny Loftus
Decider
Midnight Family suffers from a certain passivity, and it lacks any social or historical context, the products apparently of what the director calls “observational” filmmaking.
August 6, 2020
Joanne Laurier
World Socialist Web Site
Compelling, sobering and deeply humane.
May 4, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Vicky Roach
Daily Telegraph (Australia)
With a great work of editing and cinematography, the documentary takes us by the hand of the Ochoas for several nights. [Full Review in Spanish]
March 24, 2020
Fausto Ponce
Proceso
Lorentzen’s eye is very subtle and elegant that shows the serious healthcare issues in Mexico City. [Full Review in Spanish]
March 9, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Luis Fernando Galván
En Filme
Lorentzen communicates his ideas well enough. [Full Review in Spanish]
March 6, 2020
Alonso Díaz de la Vega
El Universal…
Plot
In Mexico City, the Ochoa family runs a private ambulance service, struggling to make a living while trying to keep their financial needs from compromising the people in their care, in the documentary Midnight Family.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Midnight Family is a documentary film directed by Luke Lorentzen, who also served as the writer, cinematographer, and film editor.
Luke-Lorentzen.jpg
90%
The Half of It (2020)
90%RT Audience Score: 81%
Awards & Nominations: 3 wins & 10 nominations
For viewers in search of an uncommonly smart, tender, and funny coming-of-age story, The Half of It has everything.
The Half of It is like a warm hug on a rainy day – it’s comforting, sweet, and just what you need to lift your spirits. Sure, it’s not reinventing the wheel with its Cyrano de Bergerac retelling, but it’s the characters that make this movie shine. Ellie is a refreshing protagonist who isn’t afraid to be herself, and her friendship with Paul is heartwarming and genuine. Plus, the movie has some great insights on love and self-acceptance that will leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. So grab some popcorn, snuggle up on the couch, and get ready for a delightful coming-of-age rom-com.
Production Company(ies)
Les Films, du Cru Film4 Orange Studio
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Netflix)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for brief language and teen drinking
Year of Release
2020
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): May 2, 2020
Genre(s)
Lgbtq+
Keyword(s)
starring Leah Lewis, Daniel Diemer, Alexxis Lemire, Enrique Murciano, Becky Ann Baker, Catherine Curtin, directed by Alice Wu, written by Alice Wu, LGBTQ+, coming-of-age, romance, Cyrano de Bergerac, high school, outsider, self-acceptance, Netflix, PG-13, box office, budget, reviewed by Drew Gregory, Christina Newland, Karen Han, Moira MacDonald, Becca James, Perri Nemiroff, Ben Turner, Robin Holabird, Emily Wheeler, Sean Price, Alex Bentley, Nicole Ackman, Blair Breard, Anthony Bregman, produced by Alice Wu
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Daniel Diemer – Paul Munsky
Alexxis Lemire – Aster Flores
Enrique Murciano – Deacon Flores
Becky Ann Baker – Mrs. Geselschap
Catherine Curtin – Colleen Munsky
Director(s)
Alice Wu
Writer(s)
Alice Wu
Producer(s)
Blair Breard, Anthony Bregman, Alice Wu
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 10 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (102) | Top Critics (33) | Fresh (99) | Rotten (3)
Funny and charming and lovely and real.
September 10, 2021
Drew Gregory
Autostraddle
TOP CRITIC
The Half Of It is a likeable if not especially memorable entry into the teen romantic-comedy genre – but it gains most of its merit through its sensitive depiction of outsiderdom and self-acceptance.
February 20, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Christina Newland
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
The idea of a teenage version of Cyrano de Bergerac seems to lend itself to pure romantic fluff, but Wu imbues it with incredible depth and consideration.
February 20, 2021
Karen Han
Polygon
TOP CRITIC
It’s a wistful charmer.
February 20, 2021
Moira MacDonald
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
The Half of It might feel tame in comparison, but it is just as genuine.
December 30, 2020
Becca James
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
What does finding “the one” even mean? It’s a big question with a multitude of answers and Alice Wu’s examination of just that is powerful enough to encourage one to make a bold step for the better, no matter their definition of “the one.”
May 14, 2020 | Rating: B+
Perri Nemiroff
Collider
TOP CRITIC
Narratively this doesn’t reinvent the wheel with this umpteenth retelling of the Cyrano de Bergerac story, but this is also absolutely one of the strongest teen movies released in recent years.
September 1, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Ben Turner
The Pink Lens
The update gains substance when attraction comes from the duo’s shared fascination with arts, culture, and expression. These new dynamics work cleverly, making for bright and insightful entertainment.
July 19, 2021
Robin Holabird
KUNR (Reno, NV)
The Half of It clips along beautifully, giving you all the sweet charm of your favorite rom-coms while also giving you some thoughtful meditation on what love is.
February 21, 2021
Emily Wheeler
Emily Wheeler Movie Ops
Netflix has slowly built up a nice library of coming of age rom-coms. The Half of It is mostly in the middle-tier of those, but Ellie is the kind of protagonist we don’t see often enough.
February 20, 2021
Sean Price
The Spool
The Half of It has a lot going on, but it manages to keep all of it flowing in a coherent and fun manner. With a fantastic concept, it features more than a few surprises along the way, easily elevating it way above your typical high school movie.
February 17, 2021
Alex Bentley
CultureMap
[It’s] a fairly down-to-earth portrayal of high school, from the fashion to the clever inclusion of social media which defines the modern-day teenage experience.
February 1, 2021 | Rating: 7/10
Nicole Ackman
Next Best Picture…
Plot
A shy, introverted, Chinese-American, straight-A student finds herself helping the school jock woo the girl they both secretly love. In the process, each teaches the other about the nature of love as they find connection in the most unlikely of places.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Leah Lewis, who plays the lead character Ellie Chu, is also a singer and has released her own music.
Alice-Wu.jpg
90%
Tigers Are Not Afraid (Vuelven) (2019)
90%RT Audience Score: 82%
Awards & Nominations: 31 wins & 31 nominations
Tigers Are Not Afraid draws on childhood trauma for a story that deftly blends magical fantasy and hard-hitting realism – and leaves a lingering impact.
Tigers Are Not Afraid” is a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and scream all at the same time. It’s like a twisted fairy tale that takes place in the real world, where drug cartels and ghosts roam the streets. The young actors give incredible performances that will leave you in awe, and the story is both heartbreaking and eye-opening. It’s a must-watch for anyone who loves horror movies, but also wants to be moved by a powerful story. Just make sure you have some tissues and a nightlight handy.
Production Company(ies)
Apple Original Films, Interscope Films, Lighthouse Management & Media,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2019
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:2.39:1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):Spanish
-
Country of origin:Mexico
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 23, 2019 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 3, 2019
Genre(s)
Fantasy/Horror
Keyword(s)
Tigers Are Not Afraid, starring Paola Lara, Ianis Guerrero, Rodrigo Cortés, Hanssel Casillas, Juan Ramón López, Nery Arredondo, directed by Issa López, written by Issa López, fantasy, horror, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Roxana Hadadi, Michael O’Sullivan, Caroline Siede, Richard Whittaker, G Allen Johnson, Cary Darling, Rosa Parra, Jason Adams, Jeffrey Zhang, Charles Koplinski, Matthew St Clair, Shea Vassar, produced by Marco Polo Constandse, MPAA rating, missing women, drug cartels, childhood trauma, magical fantasy, hard-hitting realism, tragic chain of events, Spanish, limited release, streaming, rent/buy from $2.99, rent/buy from $4.99, 97% Tomatometer, 82% audience score
Worldwide gross: $576,598
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $666,233
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,677
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 72,654
US/Canada gross: $175,559
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $202,850
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,545
US/Canada opening weekend: $30,710
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $35,484
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,315
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): MX$26,040,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Ianis Guerrero – Caco
Rodrigo Cortés – Pop
Hanssel Casillas – Tucsi
Juan Ramón López – El Shine
Nery Arredondo – Morro
Director(s)
Issa López
Writer(s)
Issa López
Producer(s)
Marco Polo Constandse
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
31 wins & 31 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (115) | Top Critics (25) | Fresh (112) | Rotten (3)
Tigers Are Not Afraid is unrelenting in the darkness of its material, but Issa López merges the genre conventions of fairy tales and ghost stories with the genuinely dizzying emotions of childhood.
October 31, 2019
Roxana Hadadi
Pajiba
TOP CRITIC
López elicits solid performances from the young actors, and her vision is clear and uncompromising.
September 10, 2019 | Rating: 2.5/4
Michael O’Sullivan
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
[Writer-Director Issa] López gets remarkable performances from her ensemble of young actors.
September 6, 2019
Caroline Siede
The Verge
TOP CRITIC
A sublime mixture of dark social realism and magical fantasy.
September 5, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Richard Whittaker
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Call it Buñuel meets Blumhouse, a film that is flawed but so full of ideas that it doesn’t matter.
September 5, 2019 | Rating: 3/4
G. Allen Johnson
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Blending the often frightening surrealism of a child’s wild imagination with the blood-splattered realism of the drug cartels, “Tigers Are Not Afraid” is a highly original horror story made for these times.
September 4, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Cary Darling
Houston Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
One of the best horrors movies of the past few years. This cast of children is incredible and the story is heartbreaking and sadly eye-opening.
November 20, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Rosa Parra
Latinx Lens
A low-key marvel, surprising and rough and emotional, at times darkly beautiful to behold
July 14, 2021
Jason Adams
My New Plaid Pants
A fantasy and horror-tinted tribute to the lost voices of Mexico.
January 29, 2021 | Rating: A-
Jeffrey Zhang
Strange Harbors
A vicious indictment of modern drug cartels as well as a genuinely eerie ghost story.
November 21, 2020 | Rating: 3.0/4.0
Charles Koplinski
Reel Talk with Chuck and Pam
It’s a devastating portrayal that encapsulates the tone of the movie itself.
September 24, 2020
Matthew St. Clair
Cinema Sentries
Tigers Are Not Afraid will touch the lives of many as the shared understanding of missing women and family members is not only seen in drug-torn Mexico but across the globe.
July 29, 2020 | Rating: 4.5/5
Shea Vassar
Film Daze…
Plot
When a girl’s mother disappears, she joins a gang of street children, leading to a tragic chain of events in the fantasy/horror film Tigers Are Not Afraid.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
“Tigers Are Not Afraid” features a talented ensemble of young actors, including Paola Lara, Ianis Guerrero, and Rodrigo Cortés.
Issa-López.jpg
90%
Monos (2019)
90%RT Audience Score: 85%
Awards & Nominations: 36 wins & 67 nominations
As visually splendid as it is thought-provoking, Monos takes an unsettling look at human nature whose grim insights leave a lingering impact.
Monos is like Lord of the Flies meets Apocalypse Now, but with a twist of Gummi Bear fun facts thrown in. It’s a visually stunning and intense ride through the Colombian mountains, following a group of teenagers who have lost their innocence to the wickedness of political movements. The performances from the young cast are impressive, but the metaphorical nature of the film can become wearisome. Overall, Monos is a surreal and captivating journey that will leave you breathless.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Neon
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Chingaza National Park, Cundinamarca, Colombia
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for violence, language, some sexual content and drug use.
Year of Release
2019
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 42m
-
Language(s):Spanish, English
-
Country of origin:Argentina, Colombia, Germany, Sweden, Uruguay
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 13, 2019 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 13, 2019
Genre(s)
Adventure
Keyword(s)
starring Julianne Nicholson, Moises Arias, Sofia Buenaventura, Julián Giraldo, Karen Quintero, Laura Castrillón, directed by Alejandro Landes, written by Alejandro Landes, Alexis Dos Santos, Adventure, R, box office gross $405.1K, produced by Fernando Epstein, Alejandro Landes, Cristina Landes, Santiago A Zapata, reviewed by Sandra Hall, David Stratton, Tara Brady, Roxana Hadadi, Kevin Maher, David Sexton, Taylor Baker, Andrew Gaudion, Yasser Medina, Luke Goodsell, Brent McKnight, Federico Furzan, William Golding, Lord of the Flies, Peter Brook, Apocalypse Now, Werner Herzog, Aguirre, Wrath of God, Colombian mountains, child soldiers, Latin American history, Mica Levi, minimalist score, global migrant crisis, Dolby Digital, Scope (2.35:1), Doctora Sara Watson, Patagrande — Bigfoot, Rambo, Lobo — Wolf, Leidi — Lady, Sueca — Swede
Worldwide gross: $1,929,915
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,229,929
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,386
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 243,177
US/Canada gross: $406,473
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $469,661
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,342
US/Canada opening weekend: $49,843
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $57,591
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,148
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Moises Arias – Patagrande — Bigfoot
Sofia Buenaventura – Rambo
Julián Giraldo – Lobo — Wolf
Karen Quintero – Leidi — Lady
Laura Castrillón – Sueca — Swede
Director(s)
Alejandro Landes
Writer(s)
Alejandro Landes, Alexis Dos Santos
Producer(s)
Fernando Epstein, Alejandro Landes, Cristina Landes, Santiago A. Zapata
Film Festivals
Sundance, Berlin
Awards & Nominations
36 wins & 67 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (151) | Top Critics (37) | Fresh (139) | Rotten (12)
It’s clear from the start that Landes is out to make a tragedy about innocence lost and the wickedness of political movements that rule by remote control with the capriciousness of Greek gods. He’s succeeded brilliantly.
June 25, 2020
Sandra Hall
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
There are allusions to William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, but that fine novel, and Peter Brook’s 1962 screen adaptation, though also elliptical, provided far more satisfying drama than Landes somewhat frustrating epic…
March 26, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
David Stratton
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
There’s something … of Werner Herzog’s Aguirre, Wrath of God in Colombian director Alejandro Landes’s surreal, wildly beautiful third feature.
November 8, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
Tara Brady
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
Narrative details of Monos are opaque; instead, the film focuses on the shifting power dynamics of this adolescent group, playing out like a fusion of Lord of the Flies and Apocalypse Now.
October 31, 2019
Roxana Hadadi
Pajiba
TOP CRITIC
The performances from the young cast are vivid and utterly credible, yet the conspicuously metaphorical nature of the context eventually becomes wearisome.
October 28, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Kevin Maher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Monos is gorgeous, but it is also lucid as hell. And it all happens at lightning speed.
October 28, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
David Sexton
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
Overly vague and distant, though it leaves memorable impressions with a handful of moments.
January 14, 2022 | Rating: 50/100
Taylor Baker
Drink in the Movies
Nerve-shredding in its intensity, but utterly captivating, Monos is an exhilarating climb to the top of the Colombian mountains, and a breathless tumble back down to the jungles below.
August 28, 2020 | Rating: 5/5
Andrew Gaudion
VultureHound
The visual style constantly reminds me of the aesthetic similarities it shares with Coppola’s ‘Apocalypse Now’, portraying the darkness of the human being in the heart of a Colombian jungle. [Full review in Spanish]
June 27, 2020 | Rating: 7/10
Yasser Medina
Cinemaficionados
The fresh thrill of chaos — of teenage abandon bearing down on a broken system — courses through this dreamy, violent third feature from Colombian-Ecuadorian writer-director Alejandro Landes.
June 26, 2020
Luke Goodsell
The Monthly (Australia)
An engrossing, immersive, unsettling world of isolation, life-or-death struggles, and raging youth. Apocalyptic and oblique, nightmarish and surreal, it’s a dark allegory, one that contains weirdly more Gummi Bear fun facts than expected.
June 26, 2020 | Rating: B+
Brent McKnight
The Last Thing I See
A wild and provocative ride into the magic realism of guerrilla adoctrination. [Full review in Spanish].
June 24, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4
Federico Furzan
Cinelipsis…
Plot
Teenage commandos perform military training exercises by day and indulge in youthful hedonism by night, an unconventional family bound together under a shadowy force know only as The Organization. After an ambush drives the squadron into the jungle, both the mission and the intricate bonds between the group begin to disintegrate.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Monos features a young cast of mostly unknown actors, including Moises Arias, who is best known for his role as Rico in the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana.
Alejandro-Landes.jpg
90%
Midnight Traveler (2019)
90%RT Audience Score: 79%
Awards & Nominations: 23 wins & 18 nominations
Midnight Traveler puts a harrowing personal face on the modern refugee crisis, driving home the heartbreakingly relatable odysseys of the displaced.
Midnight Traveler” is a film that will make you laugh, cry, and feel all the emotions in between. Shot entirely on iPhones, this documentary follows an Afghan family’s three-year journey from Tajikistan to Europe as they flee from the ongoing refugee crisis. It’s a suspenseful adventure story, a psychological profile of a family on the run, and an intimate portrait of two young children adapting to adult behaviors as a matter of survival. But most importantly, it’s a reminder that behind every refugee statistic, there is a human story that deserves to be heard. So grab some tissues and get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions.
Production Company(ies)
Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment,
Distributor
Oscilloscope Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Afghanistan
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2019
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 27m
-
Language(s):Persian, English, Turkish, Bulgarian
-
Country of origin:United States, Canada, Qatar, United Kingdom
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 18, 2019 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 12, 2019
Genre(s)
Documentary/War
Keyword(s)
documentary, war, Afghanistan, refugee crisis, family, personal, suspenseful, adventure, psychological, survival, iPhone, director, Hassan Fazili, producer, Su Kim, Emelie Mahdavian, writer, Emelie Mahdavian, box office, gross USA, limited release, Oscilloscope Pictures, MPAA rating, critic reviews, Tara Brady, Simran Hans, Ed Potton, Sophie Monks Kaufman, Danny Leigh, Peter Bradshaw, Panos Kotzathanasis, Joanne Laurier, Dan Schindel, Eddie Harrison, Jonathan W Hickman, genre, actor, Nargis Fazili, Zahra Fazili, Fatima Hossaini, reviewed by, budget, producer, box office performance, writer, directed by, reviewed by
Worldwide gross: $50,336
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $58,161
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,076
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 6,343
US/Canada gross: $41,265
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $47,680
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,758
US/Canada opening weekend: $3,549
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $4,101
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,815
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Nargis Fazili – Self
Zahra Fazili – Self
Fatima Hossaini – Self
Emelie Mahdavian – Writer, Producer
Director(s)
Hassan Fazili
Writer(s)
Emelie Mahdavian
Producer(s)
Su Kim, Emelie Mahdavian
Film Festivals
Sundance, Berlin
Awards & Nominations
23 wins & 18 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (47) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (47)
A film that finds poignant family moments even in the darkest depths of the ongoing refugee crisis.
February 23, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Tara Brady
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
The combination of perspectives paints a vivid and hopeful portrait of a family, as well as an indictment of the refugee crisis.
January 20, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Simran Hans
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Shot entirely on iPhones, the Afghan director’s charming and moving documentary charts his three-year flight with his young family from Tajikistan, where they had failed to find asylum, 3,500 miles to the west.
January 17, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Ed Potton
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
It is a suspenseful adventure story, a psychological profile of a family on the run and, most poignantly, an intimate portrait of two young children adopting adult behaviours as a matter of survival.
January 17, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Sophie Monks Kaufman
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
A film that should be required viewing for anyone seeking to enter the debate on the refugee crisis, not as polemic but as a digital box of surprises.
January 16, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Danny Leigh
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
A powerful, personal piece of work.
January 15, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
If one wants to realize the situation and the overall circumstances the refugees who flee to Europe face, one has to look no further, “Midnight Traveler” offers the best look in the subject, that of the “insider”.
April 11, 2021
Panos Kotzathanasis
Asian Movie Pulse
Washington and its European accomplices have largely destroyed Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria and Yemen. Millions have died, tens of millions are on the run. Midnight Traveler records one case.
August 6, 2020
Joanne Laurier
World Socialist Web Site
This is a first-person account of statelessness made with an eye for striking scenes — not something that could have been put together by anyone who cribbed material from publicly available news sources.
February 21, 2020
Dan Schindel
Hyperallergic
Viewers of Fazili’s rewarding film may be comparatively few, but Midnight Traveller offers an indelible record of how inhumanity continues to flourish in the early 21st century.
January 14, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Eddie Harrison
The List
…an unsettling sign of the times
November 7, 2019 | Rating: 7/10
Jonathan W. Hickman
Daily Film Fix
Like Ad Astra, the film concentrates on relationships and emotional states as much as on outward action. Unlike Ad Astra, Midnight Traveler tells a story that actually happened.
October 17, 2019
Stuart Klawans
The Nation…
Plot
Afghan director Hassan Fazili and his family are forced to flee their country when the Taliban puts a bounty on his head, and their harrowing journey is documented in the film Midnight Traveler.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film’s director, Hassan Fazili, shot the entire documentary on iPhones.
Hassan-Fazili.jpg
90%
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019)
90%RT Audience Score: 86%
Awards & Nominations: 18 wins & 28 nominations
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum reloads for another hard-hitting round of the brilliantly choreographed, over-the-top action that fans of the franchise demand.
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum is the kind of movie that makes you want to grab a popcorn and a soda, sit back, and enjoy the ride. With hundreds of deaths and non-stop action, it’s amazing how the film manages to keep things fresh and exciting. Keanu Reeves is a total badass as John Wick, and the fight scenes are some of the best in the business. Plus, the returning characters like Anjelica Huston’s Ruska Roma boss and Laurence Fishburne’s Bowery King add some much-needed depth to the story. If you’re looking for a fun, action-packed movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum is definitely worth checking out.
Production Company(ies)
Excelsa Film
Distributor
Lionsgate Films, Summit Entertainment
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Morocco
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for pervasive strong violence, and some language
Year of Release
2019
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Surround 7.1 Dolby Atmos Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 11m
-
Language(s):English, Russian, Japanese, Indonesian, Mandarin, Italian, Arabic, Latin
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): May 17, 2019 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 23, 2019
Genre(s)
Action
Keyword(s)
starring Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne, Mark Dacascos, Asia Kate Dillon, directed
Worldwide gross: $327,777,335
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $378,159,217
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 402
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 41,238,737
US/Canada gross: $171,015,687
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $197,600,852
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 356
US/Canada opening weekend: $56,818,067
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $65,650,693
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 150
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $75,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $86,659,090
Production budget ranking: 478
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $46,665,920
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $244,834,207
ROI to date (est.): 184%
ROI ranking: 669
Halle Berry – Sofia
Ian McShane – Winston
Laurence Fishburne – Bowery King
Mark Dacascos – Zero
Asia Kate Dillon – The Adjudicator
Director(s)
Chad Stahelski
Writer(s)
Derek Kolstad, Shay Hatten, Chris Collins, Marc Abrams
Producer(s)
Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
18 wins & 28 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (355) | Top Critics (64) | Fresh (315) | Rotten (40)
Parabellum marks the most diverse entry into the John Wick franchise yet.
April 2, 2021 | Rating: B+
Robert Daniels
Mediaversity Reviews
TOP CRITIC
When there are hundreds of deaths, it’s pretty incredible that John Wick 3 sustains its inventiveness and sheer bonkers-ness.
June 21, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/5
Wenlei Ma
News.com.au
TOP CRITIC
The script (series creator Derek Kolstad leads the writing team) is excellent, especially when regular characters such Anjelica Huston’s Ruska Roma boss and Laurence Fishburne’s Bowery King return to beef up the dialogue.
June 14, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Stephen Romei
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
Buying a ticket to a John Wick movie is like signing control of your lizard brain away to the director, Chad Stahelski, for 130 minutes. Luckily, he knows what to do with it.
June 5, 2019
Michael Sragow
Film Comment Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Reeves and Dacascos’s brutal, climactic sparring session definitely leaves us wanting more, not to mention wondering about a potential Oscars sound editing category for shattering glass.
May 24, 2019 | Rating: 2.5/4
Tom Russo
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
Reeves is committed to this role. He excels in this genre because of his willingness to push his body to the limit in the name of authenticity.
May 24, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/5
Valerie Complex
io9.com
TOP CRITIC
The action scenes in this series keep the viewer invested, whereas our interest in the ever-expanding mythology and personal motivations of Wick have thinned over two sequels.
March 3, 2022 | Rating: 2.5/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
“The film moves the franchise and genre forward and manages to find new ways to kill bad guys.”
February 12, 2022
Catherine Gonzales
Shuffle Online
This might be the defining action movie of the year.
September 4, 2021 | Rating: 8.5/10
Nicholas Oon
Maximum Hype (YouTube)
Awe-inspiring.
August 15, 2021 | Rating: A-
Kip Mooney
College Movie Review
These films are an amazing example of how attention to detail that other franchise would overlook creates a more richly realized fictional world.
July 30, 2021
Carolyn Hinds
Atom Insider
Fans want to see top-flight, hand-to-hand combat mixing marshal arts skills with impressive and inventive weaponry. Wick delivers.
July 23, 2021
Robin Holabird
KUNR (Reno, NV)…
Plot
In this third installment of the adrenaline-fueled action franchise, skilled assassin John Wick (Keanu Reeves) returns with a $14 million price tag on his head and an army of bounty-hunting killers on his trail. After killing a member of the shadowy international assassin’s guild, the High Table, John Wick is excommunicado, but the world’s most ruthless hit men and women await his every turn.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The cast of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum includes Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne, and Mark Dacascos.
Chad-Stahelski.jpg
90%
The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019)
90%RT Audience Score: 84%
Awards & Nominations: 18 wins & 59 nominations
An affecting story powerfully told, The Last Black Man in San Francisco immediately establishes director Joe Talbot as a filmmaker to watch.
The Last Black Man in San Francisco is a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and question the meaning of home. It’s a beautiful and heart-wrenching story about a man trying to hold onto his family’s legacy in a city that’s changing faster than he can keep up with. The cinematography is stunning, and the acting is top-notch. You’ll find yourself rooting for Jimmie Fails every step of the way, and the final shot will leave you breathless. This movie is a must-see for anyone who’s ever felt like they don’t belong.
Production Company(ies)
Charles Chaplin Productions,
Distributor
A24
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
South Van Ness Avenue, The Mission, San Francisco, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language, brief nudity and drug use
Year of Release
2019
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.66 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 1m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 7, 2019 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 13, 2019
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
Worldwide gross: $4,637,830
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,358,802
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,154
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 584,384
US/Canada gross: $4,515,719
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,217,708
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,794
US/Canada opening weekend: $235,272
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $271,846
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,567
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Jimmie Fails – Jimmie Fails
Jonathan Majors – Montgomery Allen
Rob Morgan – James Sr.
Tichina Arnold – Wanda
Danny Glover – Grandpa
Mike Epps – Bobby
Director(s)
Joe Talbot
Writer(s)
Joe Talbot, Rob Richert
Producer(s)
Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Christina Oh, Joe Talbot
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
18 wins & 59 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (208) | Top Critics (61) | Fresh (192) | Rotten (16)
It’s an independent film with a difference, but not as emotionally engaging as you’d really like it to be.
October 8, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
David Stratton
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
Fails and Talbot’s writing follows no script doctor’s convention. The direction reveals no obvious influences.
November 8, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Donald Clarke
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
It’s less of a rallying cry against gentrification than a rumination on the kind of pained acceptance those who suffer its effects must face.
October 30, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Clarisse Loughrey
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
It’s beautifully filmed and perfectly played. The final shot is as epic as it is heartbreaking.
October 28, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Kevin Maher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
The men behind The Last Black Man in San Francisco aren’t trying to be cool or sleek. That’s the last thing on their minds and probably explains why they do such a fine job of standing out from the crowd.
October 28, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Charlotte O’Sullivan
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
While Talbot and Fails avoid turning their homespun homesick story into an unwieldy and self-important metaphor for Black American Experience in total, creeping bloat makes itself felt elsewhere.
October 25, 2019
Nick Pinkerton
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
A young man searches for a home in a city that has forgotten him. San Francisco hasn’t felt nor looked like this since Hitchcock. A vibrant city in a movie that blurs the line between reality and fiction. Impressive storytelling. [Full review in Spanish]
July 7, 2022 | Rating: 8/10
Victor Pineyro
Seventh Art Studio
Episode 42: Crawl / The Last Black Man in San Francisco / Chernobyl / Midsommar
October 4, 2021 | Rating: 95/100
Taylor Baker
Drink in the Movies
Wonders aloud if Thomas Wolfe was right when he wrote, “You can’t go home again.”
January 31, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Richard Crouse
Richard Crouse
An odd exchange will be followed-up by something truly emotionally resonating, perhaps suggesting that whatever eccentricities are applied are only to make each profound moment that much more so.
October 2, 2020
Peter Gray
This is Film
Gentrification is poetically rendered in this thought-provoking indie starring Jimmie Fails as a man holding onto the home his grandfather built in a changing city.
September 3, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
Jason Fraley
WTOP (Washington, D.C.)
As one of the best films of the festival, The Last Black Man in San Francisco reminds you why cinema was invented. With sincere, heartfelt moments that run the spectrum, Talbot’s direction is a stellar debut that leaves you breathless.
September 3, 2020 | Rating: 4.5/5
Kelechi Ehenulo
Confessions From A Geek Mind…
Plot
Jimmie Fails IV, a black man, is a third generation San Franciscan. Having been pushed out by circumstances like many others, Jimmie, who works a low paying job as a nurse in a seniors’ care facility, returned to San Francisco three years ago and has been living in his best friend Montgomery Allen’s house that he shares with his blind grandfather, Jimmie who sleeps on the floor in Mont’s already cramped bedroom. Despite the house, Mont’s situation is not much better than Jimmie’s, Mont who works at a supermarket fish counter while he sketches and writes a play on the side. Other black people around him who are showing their anger in also being disenfranchised from San Francisco life are the soapbox preacher who Jimmie and Mont often watch as they wait for the bus, and a group of young black men who hang outside of Mont’s house. All of Jimmie’s family, who he rarely sees, are also disenfranchised from that San Francisco life in one way or another: his estranged father lives in an SRO; his mother and her new husband long moved to Los Angeles; and his paternal Auntie Wanda has been pushed out to the suburbs. Jimmie has long wanted to reclaim what he sees as his place in San Francisco, which to him means the house he grew up in and which his same named paternal grandfather built in the post-war era in a style indicative to the area a century earlier. The problems are that his father lost the house long ago, the neighborhood has since been gentrified from the immigrant neighborhood it once was, increasing the value of the house to the several millions, and a white couple currently lives there, there being no indication that they are either planning on leaving or selling even if Jimmie could afford it. Regardless, Jimmie, with Mont by his side, has and continues to take steps to reclaim the house as his to his standards.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
NA
Joe-Talbot.jpg
90%
I Lost My Body (2019)
90%RT Audience Score: 83%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
31 wins & 56 nominations total
Beautifully animated and utterly unique, I Lost My Body takes audiences on a singularly strange journey whose unexpected contours lead to a wholly satisfying destination.
I Lost My Body is a movie that will make you root for a severed hand to climb a ladder. Yes, you read that right. But don’t let the bizarre premise scare you away. This French animated film is a beautiful and emotional journey that will leave you stunned by the end. The hand’s quest for human connection is surprisingly touching, and the animation is simply breathtaking. So, if you’re looking for something unique and thought-provoking, give I Lost My Body a chance. Who knows, you might just fall in love with a disembodied hand.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Netflix
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Netflix), Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
TV-MA
Year of Release
2019
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Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:1h 21m
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Language(s):French
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Country of origin:France
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 15, 2019 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 29, 2019
Genre(s)
Fantasy/Drama
Keyword(s)
I Lost My Body, Fantasy, Drama, French (France), Jérémy Clapin, Marc du Pontavice, Guillaume Laurant, Hakim Faris, Victoire Du Bois, Patrick d’Assumçao, Belek Abdelmalek, Hichem Mesbah, Maud Le Guénédal, Netflix, Dolby Digital, Scope (2.35:1), severed hand, dissection lab, animation, unique, unexpected, satisfying, beautiful, journey, tragedy, comedy, existential, sweet, twisted, ghastly, romantic, lovable dog, clever cat, human connection, trauma, healing, philosophical, sensory experience, foreign film, Netflix release, unique premise, engaging, screenplay, award-worthy, weird, fantastic story, Amelie, tears, audience reviews, critic reviews, Tomatometer, box office performance, budget, MPAA rating, reviewed by critics
Worldwide gross: $1,136,431
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,313,094
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,527
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 143,195
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Victoire Du Bois – Gabrielle – Voice
Patrick d’Assumçao – Georges – Voice
Belek Abdelmalek – Raouf – Voice
Hichem Mesbah – Voice
Maud Le Guénédal – Voice
Director(s)
Jérémy Clapin
Writer(s)
Jérémy Clapin, Guillaume Laurant
Producer(s)
Marc du Pontavice
Film Festivals
Cannes
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
31 wins & 56 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (87) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (84) | Rotten (3)
Heartbreaking tragedy blends beautiful animation with witty silent comedy…
June 10, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Kambole Campbell
NME
TOP CRITIC
A gloriously hand-animated existential fable that manages to be both genuinely sweet and thoroughly twisted.
January 14, 2020
Bilge Ebiri
New York Magazine/Vulture
TOP CRITIC
That’s a premise both ghastly and romantic. Yet, it’s one we’ve seen again and again-though often with a lovable dog or a clever cat instead of a severed body part.
January 11, 2020
Kristy Puchko
Pajiba
TOP CRITIC
Until I watched I Lost My Body, I never thought I’d sit with bated breath, rooting for a severed hand o defy the laws of physics and hurl itself up a ladder rung by rung.
December 3, 2019
Ashlie D. Stevens
Salon.com
TOP CRITIC
I Lost My Body is fundamentally weird and potentially off-putting. But it’s also visually and emotionally beautiful, one of 2019’s most ambitious, engaging films.
December 3, 2019
Tasha Robinson
Polygon
TOP CRITIC
Dan Levy’s mesmerising score, a stellar voice cast, and an unconventional denouement ensure that this is the best animated feature film of 2019.
November 30, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
Tara Brady
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
Art is rewarded by patience. I Lost My Body was the biggest surprise I got from a movie in 2019. It took me completely off-guard and made me feel stunned by the end. Beautiful animation, heart-gripping music. [Full review in Spanish]
July 7, 2022 | Rating: 9/10
Victor Pineyro
Seventh Art Studio
Rather than macabre, this story of a severed hand is a touching journey for human connection. Though much of this film may feel familiar, the distinct point of view makes for an otherworldly view of trauma and healing.
May 19, 2022 | Rating: 7/10
Daniel Howat
Next Best Picture
I Lost My Body is a lyrical and magnificently animated meditation on what it means to be human.
April 6, 2022
Bianca Garner
In Their Own League
Sounding bizarre yet? Im not going to convince you otherwise, but like so many of the quirks of French cinema, the film weaves together a thoughtful story to question how we can navigate our lives as individuals philosophically, but also literally.
February 21, 2022
Daisy Leigh-Phippard
Screen Queens
I was surprised by how emotionally invested I became in the well-being of a disembodied hand.
January 28, 2021
Fletcher Powell
KMUW – Wichita Public Radio
The endlessly innovative and touching French animated film follows a severed hand looking for its human across Paris. It is a breathtaking sensory experience.
October 28, 2020
Film Companion Staff
Film Companion…
Plot
In a Parisian laboratory, a severed hand escapes its unhappy fate and sets out to reconnect with its body. During a hair-raising escapade across the city, the extremity fends off pigeons and rats alike to reunite with pizza boy Naoufel. Its memories of Naoufel and his love for librarian Gabrielle may provide answers about what caused the hand’s separation, and a poetic backdrop for a possible reunion between the three. Based on Guillaume Laurant’s novel “Happy Hand.”
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
One of the voice actors in I Lost My Body is Patrick d’Assumçao, who plays the character Georges.
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