The Birth of a Nation

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The Birth of a Nation

R

2016

1h 54m

History

Drama

Biography

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Popcornmeter

72%

Tomatometer

269 Reviews

71%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Nat Turner is an enslaved Baptist preacher who lives on a Virginia plantation owned by Samuel Turner. With rumors of insurrection in the air, a cleric convinces Samuel that Nate should sermonize to other slaves, thereby quelling any notions of an uprising. As Nate witnesses the horrific treatment of his fellow man, he realizes that he can no longer just stand by and preach. On Aug. 21, 1831, Turner's quest for justice and freedom leads to a violent and historic rebellion in Southampton County.

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Critics Consensus

The Birth of a Nation overpowers its narrative flaws and uneven execution through sheer conviction, rising on Nate Parker's assured direction and the strength of its vital message.

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Kristen Lopez

Culturess

Nov 20, 2017

Parker's film depicts an important event in American history through the eyes of an amateur passing a test in Film Production 101.

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Adam Nayman

Cinema Scope

Sep 28, 2017

It's very strange to watch painful verities staged in a way that diminishes their power under the guise of amplifying it. This is a film about deep-seated systems of oppression that feels tonally like a superhero origin myth.

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Soraya Nadia McDonald

Andscape

Sep 26, 2017

One of The Birth of a Nation's biggest weaknesses is that the film's female characters are given little consideration in comparison to their male counterparts.

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Feb 16, 2024

4/5

Today, directly echoing the racial tension and divides present in our country, The Birth of a Nation acquires the “timely” badge and earns the difficult processing time it requires of its audiences.

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

Aug 19, 2022

3/5

From start to finish “Birth” keeps you locked in and focused. Parker never loses the potency of his subject matter.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Apr 11, 2022

2/4

Instead of inspiring his audience, Parker's desperation to achieve greatness proves transparent, while the quality of filmmaking does not equal his ambitions.

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Blake- N

@PBSAniDom Apr 6, 2026

I thought The Birth of a Nation was a strong and impactful film overall. Nate Parker delivers a powerful performance, and the story carries a lot of emotional weight that stays with you. What stood out most to me is how the film builds tension and highlights the historical struggles in a way that feels intense and personal. The cinematography and music also add to the atmosphere, making certain moments hit even harder. While it’s not perfect and can feel uneven at times, the message and performances make it worth watching. Overall, I’d give it a 7/10—it’s a meaningful and well-acted film that leaves an impression.

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meeqwon U

Aug 17, 2025

Great movie. Would see it again

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Scott J

@RT84940053 Feb 22, 2025

I’m only a movie fan, and a fan of learning about history, and real life. This part of American history is something that too many of us would like everyone to forget about, or never hear about. That’s just another injustice to the people who were stolen from their native lands or sold into slavery by their own rulers. Everyone should know this story of, Nat Turner.

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Pat B

@RT37952203 Feb 5, 2025

The truth hurts… reviews talking about the film being bad because the producers, it was amateurish blah blah blah… it doesn’t matter, just like the Jewish say “never forget”. This is the same “we should never forget”

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Jack F

@RT03795164 Jan 28, 2025

Terribly pretentious and makes cowards of its heroes….

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Jason S

@RT20604130 Oct 11, 2023

Brilliant film about American Nat Turner and the rebellion.

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Nate Parker

Director

Nate Parker

Nat Turner

Armie Hammer

Samuel Turner

Mark Boone Junior

Reverend Zalthall

Colman Domingo

Hark

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor

Nancy Turner

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Synopsis

Nat Turner is an enslaved Baptist preacher who lives on a Virginia plantation owned by Samuel Turner. With rumors of insurrection in the air, a cleric convinces Samuel that Nate should sermonize to other slaves, thereby quelling any notions of an uprising. As Nate witnesses the horrific treatment of his fellow man, he realizes that he can no longer just stand by and preach. On Aug. 21, 1831, Turner's quest for justice and freedom leads to a violent and historic rebellion in Southampton County.

Director: Nate Parker
Producer: Nate Parker, Kevin Turen, Jason Michael Berman, Aaron L. Gilbert, Preston L. Holmes
Screenwriter: Nate Parker
Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Production Co: Mandalay Pictures, BRON Studios, Phantom Four
Rating: R (Some Brief Nudity|Disturbing Violent Content)
Genre: History, Drama, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 7, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 21, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $15.8M
Runtime: 1h 54m

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