critics consensus

Angry, powerful, and stirring, How to Survive a Plague is a brilliantly constructed documentary about the activists who pushed for action to combat the AIDS epidemic. Read critic reviews

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How to Survive a Plague Photos

Peter Staley in "How to Survive a Plague."

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Movie Info

In the late 1980s, members of Act-Up and other AIDS activists battle indifference and hostility to bring attention to the disease and play a huge role in reducing the number of AIDS-related fatalities in the U.S.

Genre:

documentary, history, gay and lesbian, drama
Original Language:

English
Director:

David France
Producer:

David France, Howard Gertler
Writer:

Tyler H. Walk, David France, T. Woody Richman
Release Date (Theaters):

Sep 21, 2012 limited
Release Date (Streaming):

Dec 5, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA):

$94.0K
Runtime:

1h 50m

Cast & Crew

David Barr

Jim Eigo

Ann Northrop

Larry Kramer

Gregg Bordowitz

Peter Staley

Show all Cast & Crew

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Critic Reviews for How to Survive a Plague

All Critics (80) | Top Critics (42) | Fresh (78) | Rotten (2)

David France's rousing and inspirational documentary should be required viewing for political activists everywhere.

May 26, 2020 | Full Review…

Geoffrey Macnab
Independent (UK)
There are personal glimpses into the home lives of activists that left many in my theater wiping their tears on their coat sleeve.

May 10, 2016 | Full Review…

Monica Castillo
Bitch Media
A compellingly watchable portrait of a battle fought under that most memorable rallying cry: "Silence = Death". Bravo.

November 11, 2013 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Mark Kermode
Observer (UK)
This inspirational, unexpectedly hilarious film is a patchwork of archival footage that takes us up to the present day.

November 8, 2013 | Full Review…

Charlotte O'Sullivan
London Evening Standard
This documentary by David France persuasively argues that one of the greatest grassroots activist campaigns of modern times was the Act Up movement ...

November 7, 2013 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
David France's documentary about the 1980s/90s American gay community and its leading role in discovering "combination therapy" - the anti-HIV magic bullet - will be inspiring among audiences from the G20.

November 7, 2013 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Nigel Andrews
Financial Times
For anybody who doubts that individuals can combat giant governmental and corporate forces and win, this is a great how-to manual.

February 28, 2020 | Full Review…

B. Ruby Rich
Film Quarterly
An excellent film for both those unfamiliar and gay youth uninitiated with the dark days of the AIDS crisis, and the deadly struggle to speak up or die quietly.

August 6, 2019 | Full Review…

Nicholas Bell
IONCINEMA.com
Feels like a far more shallow experience than it really should be.

August 6, 2019 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

Matthew Lucas
From the Front Row
How to Survive a Plague will leave people feeling hopeful that it can be done sooner rather than later.

June 29, 2019 | Rating: 8/10 | Full Review…

C.J. Prince
Way Too Indie
One of the most moving scenes in the film is close to the end when we see the survivors in a series of long, silent close-ups, as they are now... jowls, grey hair and aging itself becomes a triumph, as it rarely is on American movie screens.

March 14, 2019 | Full Review…

Ren Jender
Bitch Flicks
How to Survive a Plague supplies plenty of moments that are electrifying, inspiring and often both, courtesy of such luminary leaders as Peter Staley and Larry Kramer

March 6, 2019 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Peter Gutiérrez
CineVue

View All Critic Reviews (80)

Audience Reviews for How to Survive a Plague

Feb 10, 2014

An excellent documentary that effectively conveyed the desperation, fear and power of the gay community during the height of the AIDS epidemic. Really well done.

Christian C Super Reviewer
Jul 23, 2013

An extremely enlightening overview of that which was the most devastating plague that hit the world in the past century, and an essential historical document that shows how activism played the most important role during the acme of the epidemic.

Carlos M Super Reviewer
Apr 08, 2013

A topic that should have been more interesting to me... but it was quite hard for my interest to survive this dull documentary - and I usually like documentaries.

Thomas J Super Reviewer
Feb 26, 2013

"How to Survive a Plague" is a sad, yet uplifting look at the coalitions ACT UP and TAG in the battle against AIDS. This documentary uses archival footage from the 80s and 90s to show the devastating effects of AIDS, and the constant struggle to get better medication to victims. Some of the footage is heartbreaking, some will enrage you, and some will show you that with enough support and enough people pushing for a cause, that anything can happen. AIDS is still prevalent in the world today, but it isn't nearly as destructive as it was, and it's because of the people showcased in this movie. It deserved it's nominated for "Best Documentary" at the Oscars, just as much so as the other 4 nominees. The movie drags a little in the middle, but I think it's because it doesn't have much of a narrative, and relies mostly on old footage to tell the story. Fascinating movie, that shines a light on taboo subject in our world. Definitely worth a watch.

Everett J Super Reviewer