Milk

Play trailer

Milk

R

2008

2h 8m

Biography

Drama

LGBTQ+

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

241 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

In 1972, Harvey Milk (Sean Penn) and his then-lover Scott Smith leave New York for San Francisco, with Milk determined to accomplish something meaningful in his life. Settling in the Castro District, he opens a camera shop and helps transform the area into a mecca for gays and lesbians. In 1977, he becomes the nation's first openly gay man elected to a notable public office when he wins a seat on the Board of Supervisors. The following year, Dan White (Josh Brolin) kills Milk in cold blood.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Anchored by Sean Penn's powerhouse performance, Milk is a triumphant account of America's first openly gay man elected to public office.

Read Critics Reviews

Namrata Joshi

Outlook

01/31/2019

3/4

Penn is so well-tuned that not for a minute does his Milk lapse into a caricature.

Go to Full Review

Nathan Lee

Film Comment Magazine

03/20/2018

Milk is fortuitously, if inevitably, a movie of its moment.

Go to Full Review

David Ansen

Newsweek

02/06/2018

Penn may be the main attraction, but this is very much an ensemble piece. Emile Hirsch, as cheeky street kid turned activist Cleve Jones, Diego Luna as Milk's annoyingly needy, unstable second lover and James Franco's Scott, add to the communal spirit.

Go to Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Nov 3

4/4

The climactic candlelight vigil -- one of the most stirring sights in 20th century American history -- is so expertly handled that it’s inspiring in both its artistic expression and its emotional impact.

Go to Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

03/05/2024

3.5/4

Sean Penn plays Harvey Milk as if overcome by another personality, allowing us to forget there’s an amazing actor at work and simply accept the person as presented.

Go to Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

04/08/2023

... focuses less on Milk’s triumphs than on his activism: how he shaped a movement and showed gay men and lesbian women all over the country that they could stand up for their rights as a political force.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Mark C.

@mrpiggy1992 3d

Best biopic film of 2008

See more

Stephen C

@bob25009 Mar 1

Academy Award winner in 2009 for Best Actor (Sean Penn, who played the main mayor (pride) leader in San Francisco, California, USA). 81st Annual Academy Awards ceremony.

See more

Oaklee D

@ODie63 Oct 2

I enjoyed it but I wanted to love it and it just didn't click with me as much as I wanted it too.

See more

Gareth v

@geewah Aug 9

An impactful, well-acted biopic that honors a pivotal figure in civil rights history.

See more

Adam Y

@Adyacht Jul 9

Penn burrows inside his character, capturing not only Milk's Long Island Jewish intonations but also the intensity of his beliefs and the particular mix of fear and desire through which he viewed the world.

See more

Jared M.

@Jed76 Jul 1

Great performance by Penn!

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Gus Van Sant

Director

Sean Penn

Harvey Milk

Emile Hirsch

Cleve Jones

Josh Brolin

Dan White

Diego Luna

Jack Lira

James Franco

Scott Smith

Milk: Official Clip - A Cold Welcome to the Castro

1:05

Milk: Official Clip - Harvey Meets Cleve Jones

1:50

Milk: Official Clip - Victory Map

1:52

Milk: Official Clip - My Fellow Degenerates

1:24

Milk: Official Clip - Harvey Tries to Work With Dan

1:19

Milk: Official Clip - We Must Fight!

1:54

Milk: Official Clip - Gay Pride Rally Speech

2:51

Milk: Official Clip - Strategy Session

1:12

Milk: Official Clip - Cleve Joins the Revolution

2:58

Milk: Official Clip - Harvey Debates Senator Briggs

1:03

View more videos

Boys Don't Cry

90%

87%

Boys Don't Cry

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Boys Don't Cry

Boy Erased

80%

74%

Boy Erased

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Boy Erased

Trumbo

74%

79%

Trumbo

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Trumbo

Howl

64%

58%

Howl

Watchlist

Monster

81%

81%

Monster

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

In 1972, Harvey Milk (Sean Penn) and his then-lover Scott Smith leave New York for San Francisco, with Milk determined to accomplish something meaningful in his life. Settling in the Castro District, he opens a camera shop and helps transform the area into a mecca for gays and lesbians. In 1977, he becomes the nation's first openly gay man elected to a notable public office when he wins a seat on the Board of Supervisors. The following year, Dan White (Josh Brolin) kills Milk in cold blood.

Director: Gus Van Sant
Producer: Dan Jinks, Bruce Cohen
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Jinks/Cohen Company, Groundswell Productions
Rating: R (Language|Brief Violence|Some Sexual Content)
Genre: Biography, Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 26, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $31.8M
Runtime: 2h 8m