Amazing Grace

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Amazing Grace

PG

2007

1h 56m

History

Drama

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Popcornmeter

68%

Tomatometer

123 Reviews

85%

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50,000+ Ratings

In 18th-century England, House of Commons member William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd) and his close friend and a future prime minister, William Pitt (Benedict Cumberbatch), begin a lengthy battle to abolish Great Britain's slave trade. Though Wilberforce's legislation is soundly defeated in 1791, his growing affection for Barbara Spooner (Romola Garai) inspires him to take up the fight once more.

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Critics Consensus

Amazing Grace is your quintessential historical biopic: stately, noble, and with plenty of electrifying performances.

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David Fear

Time Out

09/22/2007

2/6

It's neither amazing nor graceful.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

09/22/2007

2/5

A decent cast under Michael Apted's direction does its best, but it's dull, naive and dramatically inert.

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Nathan Rabin

AV Club

09/22/2007

B

Apted's unexpected crowd-pleaser is inspirational, but also surprisingly entertaining.

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Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

09/02/2020

Amazing Grace fails to explain the different social interests lined up against slavery, for many of whom, manufacturers and others, the question was hardly a moral one.

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Kaleem Aftab

The List

11/03/2018

2/5

Alas, the subject matter is far more interesting than the execution... It's a film bogged down with staid dialogue that reeks of horse manure.

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Adam Hochschild

The New York Review of Books

08/23/2018

In a year that offers the occasion for a deeper and richer look at British slavery and abolition, it is a pity that artists of the caliber of Michael Apted and Steven Knight lent their talents to a tamely traditional and misleading film.

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Blake- N

@PBSAniDom Apr 30

Amazing Grace is a genuinely enjoyable film that makes for a fun watch from start to finish. It has a warm energy, strong performances, and a sense of heart that keeps it engaging throughout. Even when it leans into its more familiar beats, it still feels easy to connect with because the film is so earnest and well put together. What really makes it work is the overall charm. The story is uplifting, the pace moves well, and there is a comfort to the way everything comes together. It is the kind of movie that may not try to be flashy, but it still leaves a solid impression because it is made with care. Overall, Amazing Grace is an entertaining and worthwhile watch. It is not perfect, but it is definitely a fun film with a lot to like. 7/10.

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Angie S

@MonTexan Feb 7

Wonderful & beautiful movie, should have the highest ratings of any movie. Great lesson.

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Jan 16

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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e11e T

@RT83150167 06/26/2025

Pure white wash with a layer of gloss on top. See Kehinde Andrew's analysis of this film in his book 'White Psychosis'.

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Chris P

@RT06285801 12/29/2024

An all around great movie full of inspiration!

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Dylpickle08 T

@RT50423702 08/10/2024

An inspiring biopic about how one man can make a difference by going against the grain of society and always doing the right thing.

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Michael Apted

Director

Ioan Gruffudd

William Wilberforce

Romola Garai

Barbara Spooner

Benedict Cumberbatch

William Pitt

Albert Finney

John Newton

Michael Gambon

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Synopsis

In 18th-century England, House of Commons member William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd) and his close friend and a future prime minister, William Pitt (Benedict Cumberbatch), begin a lengthy battle to abolish Great Britain's slave trade. Though Wilberforce's legislation is soundly defeated in 1791, his growing affection for Barbara Spooner (Romola Garai) inspires him to take up the fight once more.

Director: Michael Apted
Producer: Edward R. Pressman, Terrence Malick, Patricia Heaton, David Hunt, Ken Wales
Screenwriter: Steven Knight
Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Company
Production Co: Roadside Attractions, Samuel Goldwyn Films
Rating: PG (Thematic Material|Mild Language)
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 23, 2007, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $21.2M
Runtime: 1h 56m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS