Always Outnumbered

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

Tomatometer
Not Yet Available

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: N/A

81%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 949

Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer
Step 2 of 2

How did you buy your ticket?

Let's get your review verified.
Fandango

AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info

Cinemark Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Regal Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
How did you buy your ticket?
- Fandango
- AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew
  
  Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info
- Cinemark Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Regal Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You haven’t finished your review yet, want to submit as-is?

You can always edit your review after.
Are you sure?

Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers.
Want to submit changes to your review before closing?

Always Outnumbered Photos

View All Photos (7)

Movie Info

Socrates Fortlow (Laurence Fishburne) has just finished a stint in prison and settles into a new life in Los Angeles. Determined to live on the straight and narrow, Socrates looks for work but finds himself competing with younger, stronger men for menial jobs. He befriends his elderly neighbor, Right Burke (Bill Cobbs), and tries to help Darryl (Daniel Williams), a young boy in danger of ending up in prison. Socrates also starts a relationship with Iula (Natalie Cole) that quickly turns serious.

Rating:

R
Genre:

drama
Original Language:

English
Director:

Michael Apted
Producer:

Anne-Marie Mackay, Jonathan Ker
Release Date (Streaming):

Jan 16, 2007
Runtime:

1h 48m

Cast & Crew

Laurence Fishburne
Socrates Fortlow

Bill Cobbs
Right Burke

Natalie Cole
Iula Brown

Laurie Metcalf
Halley Grimes

Bill Nunn
Howard M'Shalla

Cicely Tyson
Luvia

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Always Outnumbered

All Critics (2) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (2)

HBO came through with ''Always Outnumbered,'' which featured a coolly graceful performance by Laurence Fishburne as a heroic ex-convict.

September 12, 2018 | Full Review…

Matthew Gilbert
Boston Globe
Fishburne stands up well under the weight of all this symbolism. He is abetted in his dialogue with corrupted Platonic ideals by a crafty Cobbs, an exasperated Cole, a super-respectable Tyson, and Bill Nunn and Laurie Metcalf.

February 1, 2018 | Full Review…

John Leonard
New York Magazine/Vulture

View All Critic Reviews (2)

Audience Reviews for Always Outnumbered

Oct 19, 2009

Oh this is an impossible film for me to review. It's based on one of my favouritest books, "Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned" by Walter Mosley and I like it so much, I can't view this film impartially at all. I might be recommending a made-for-tv-movie clunker here, I honestly can't tell, I'm just so pleased they put the big man up on the big screen... look, it's brilliant! Laurence Fishburne nails the role! Watch this film!! Sigh, ok, try to be impartial for one minute.... Always Outnumbered is a series of short stories (or one story with lots of bits to it) about fifty something ex-con Socrates Fortlow and the people he knows. Even though he doesn't wear a shiny costume and he can't fly, Socrates is a hero, though he'd not thank you for describing him like that, he's just trying to get by as best he can .... nope, I give up. Just read the book, ok? Or see the film. Or either. Or both! Watch it! It's brilliant!! etc etc

Lesley N Super Reviewer
May 16, 2007

This aired on Australian television as: <i>Socrates</i>. I found the story very enthralling and down to earth, even if somewhat romanticised.<br><br><a href=/actor/laurence-fishburne>Laurence Fishburne</a> plays this hard, no BS character very well and carries the entire film with his performance.

Kevin M Super Reviewer