Nightjohn

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

100%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 9

83%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 162
User image

Tap to review this movie

  • User image

    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.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Step 2 of 2

    How did you get your ticket?

    • Fandango

    • AMC (Coming Soon)

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

    • 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.

    • Bought 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.

  • User image

    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 get your ticket?

    • Fandango

    • AMC (Coming Soon)

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

    • 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.

    • Bought 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.

Where to watch

Nightjohn Photos

View All Photos (2)

Movie Info

Set in the South before the Civil War, when it was illegal for African Americans to be literate, this well-wrought made-for-television drama centers on Nightjohn (Carl Lumbly), a slave who risks his life to teach a younger slave, Sarny (Allison Jones) to read and write.
  • Rating:
    PG-13
  • Genre:
    Drama
  • Directed By:
    Charles Burnett
  • Written By:
    Bill Cain
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Hallmark Entertainment

Cast

Carl Lumbly
as Nightjohn
Beau Bridges
as Waller
Lorraine Toussaint
as Delie
Allison Jones
as Sarny
Bill Cobbs
as Old Man
Gabriel Casseus
as Outlaw
Kathleen York
as Callie Waller
Tom Nowicki
as Dr. Chamberlaine
Joel Thomas Traywick
as Jeffrey Waller
Monica Ford
as Egypt
Patty Mack
as Evelyn
Deborah Calloway Duke
as Lethe
Danny Nelson
as Reverend Rush
Gerald Brown
as Joseph
Robin McLamb-Vaughn
as Sarny's Mom
Alecia Gainey
as Sarny at 4
Steven Sutherland
as Alan Bowen
Shannon Eubanks
as Fanny Bowen
John P. Ford III
as Arthur Waller
John Herina
as Homer Waller
Jordan Williams
as James Waller
Bill Gribble
as Slave Trader
Bruce Evers
as Patroller No. 1
James Mayberry
as Patroller No. 2
Antwan Isaac
as Young Man
View All

Critic Reviews for Nightjohn

All Critics (9) | Top Critics (7) | Fresh (9)

View All Critic Reviews (9)

Audience Reviews for Nightjohn

  • Nov 21, 2011
    Wonderful movie that brought to light the truths of why keeping slaves illiterate was so important to slave owners. Very touching story...chock full of some very good actors. Well done. Beau Bridges at his best.
    Cynthia S Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

Nightjohn Quotes

There are no approved quotes yet for this movie.

Movie & TV guides