Emancipation movie poster
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Our Rating
Emancipation
Emancipation movie poster

Emancipation (2022)

Drama Suspense War
Rated R
134 min.
Release Date
December 2, 2022 (Limited)
Digital Date
December 9, 2022 (Apple TV+)
Director
Antoine Fuqua
Writer
William N. Collage
Cast
Will Smith, Ben Foster, Charmaine Bingwa, Gilbert Owuor, Mustafa Shakir, Steven Ogg, Grant Harvey, Ronnie Gene Bivens, Jayson Warner Smith, Jabbar Lewis, Michael Luwoye, Aaron Moten, Imani Pullum
Running Time
134 minutes
MPA Rating
Rated R for strong racial violence, disturbing images and language

“Emancipation” tells the triumphant story of Peter (Smith), a man who escapes from slavery, relying on his wits, unwavering faith and deep love for his family to evade cold-blooded hunters and the unforgiving swamps of Louisiana on his quest for freedom. The film is inspired by the 1863 photos of “Whipped Peter,” taken during a Union Army medical examination, that first appeared in Harper’s Weekly. One image, known as “The Scourged Back,” which shows Peter’s... Full synopsis »

MOVIE REVIEW

Being a Black slave in the South during Civil War times was pretty awful, according to Emancipation, a movie that feels like a regurgitation of better movies. Fast-paced through and through, this Will Smith-starring Oscar wannabe unfortunately feels soulless. Full movie review »