Selma

2014

Selma

Critics Consensus

Fueled by a gripping performance from David Oyelowo, Selma draws inspiration and dramatic power from the life and death of Martin Luther King, Jr. -- but doesn't ignore how far we remain from the ideals his work embodied.

99%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 300

86%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 61,322
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Movie Info

SELMA is the story of a movement. The film chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. The epic march from Selma to Montgomery culminated in President Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement. Director Ava DuVernays SELMA tells the real story of how the revered leader and visionary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his brothers and sisters in the movement prompted change that forever altered history.(C) Paramount
  • Rating:
    PG-13 (for disturbing thematic material including violence, a suggestive moment, and brief strong language)
  • Genre:
    Drama
  • Directed By:
    Ava DuVernay
  • Written By:
    Paul Webb
  • In Theaters:
     limited
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Paramount Pictures

Cast

David Oyelowo
as Martin Luther King Jr.
Carmen Ejogo
as Coretta Scott King
Tom Wilkinson
as Lyndon Baines Johnson
Cuba Gooding Jr.
as Fred Gray
Alessandro Nivola
as John Doar
Giovanni Ribisi
as Lee C. White
Common
as James Bevel
Wendell Pierce
as Reverend Hosea Williams
Lorraine Toussaint
as Amelia Boynton
Tim Roth
as George Wallace
Oprah Winfrey
as Annie Lee Cooper
André Holland
as Andrew Young
Omar J. Dorsey
as James Orange
Tessa Thompson
as Diane Nash
Colman Domingo
as Ralph Abernathy
Martin Sheen
as Frank Minis Johnson
Dylan Baker
as J. Edgar Hoover
Niecy Nash
as Richie Jean Jackson
LaKeith Stanfield
as Jimmie Lee Jackson
Stephan James
as John Lewis
Haviland Stillwell
as President's Secretary
Nigel Thatch
as Malcolm X
Jeremy Strong
as James Reeb
Yamanee Coleman
as Church/Funeral Attendant
Corey Reynolds
as CT Vivian
Ruben Santiago-Hudson
as Hudson-Bayard Rustin
Trai Byers
as James Forman
John Archer Lundgren
as Deputized Klansman
E. Roger Mitchell
as Reverend Frederick Reese
Tara Ochs
as Viola Liuzzo
Henry G. Sanders
as Cager Lee
Kent Faulcon
as Dr. Sullivan Jackson
Charity Jordan
as Viola Lee
Christine Horn
as Female Marcher
Preston Baker
as Hotel Patron/Selma Citizen
John Lavelle
as Roy Reed
Stan Houston
as Sheriff Jim Clark
Dane Davenport
as Klansman #1
Clay Chappell
as Registrar
Greg Chandler Maness
as LBJ's Aide
Ledisi Young
as Mahalia Jackson
David Silverman (XI)
as Anthony Liuzzo
Elizabeth Diane Wells
as Marie Reeb (as Elizabeth Wells Berkes)
Jody Thompson
as Actor
Fred Galle
as Alabama State Attorney
Amahre Palmer
as Civil Rights Activist
Brandon Carroll
as Klansman
Nadej K. Bailey
as Girl #5
Nadej Bailey
as Girl #5
Montrel Miller
as Young Marcher
Merriwether Stormy
as Daughter
Trinity Simone
as Girl #1
Walter Hendrix, III
as AA eFx Marcher
Joseph Oliveira
as National Guardsman
Charlandra L. Jacobs
as Funeral Attendee
Michael Shikany
as Archbishop Iakovos
Jordan Christina Rice
as Girl
Clint Crane
as National Guardsman
Kenny Cooper
as Black Marcher
Roger A. Harrison
as Senator
Mikeria Howard
as Girl #2
Aaron Brewstar
as Alabama State Trooper/Selma Alabama Police
Brian Kurlander
as Voice on Recorder
Dexter Tillis
as Angry Marcher
Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut
as Church/Funeral Attendant
Jeffery James Bucchino
as Congressman
Mark Cabus
as State Attorney
Shannon Edwards
as Senator
John Merical
as Reporter
Andrew Bleidner
as LBJ's Marine Guard/White House Aide
Brandon O'Dell
as Reeb's Companion
Charles Black
as Elderly Marcher
Samuel Lee Fudge
as Young Marcher
Kyle McMahon
as Senator John J. Williams
Gordon Meyer
as Deputy Sheriff
J.J. Green
as Marcher
Tim Battle
as Dallas County Deputy
Patti Schellhaas
as Congressional Aide
Raven Ferguson
as Female Marcher
Ronan Brookes
as Montgomery Police Officer
Thom McGlon
as Sheriff Posseman
Travis Turner (II)
as Press/Reporter
Ryan Fontaine
as National Guardsman
Qualen Bradley
as Male Marcher
Kathy Alderman
as Angry White Woman
John Collier
as Montgomery Police Officer
Mike Taylor
as Man on Street
Jasmine Taylor
as Female Marcher
Carol Anne Taylor
as White Supporter
Scotty Bishop
as Racist Spectator
Rachelle Wicker
as Funeral Attendee
Christopher Anthony Carr
as Racist Spectator/White Marcher/Press Background
Thomas Hughes
as Deputized Klansman
Amy Elizabeth Jones
as Marcher
AngelAnn Green-Orr
as Church Attendant
Todd Sassano
as National Guardsman
Donald Horner
as Court Room Attendant
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News & Interviews for Selma

The 21 Most Memorable Movie Moments of the Past 21 Years: Vote for the Best Now!
21 Most Memorable Movie Moments: Crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma (2014)
Melanie Lynskey’s Five Favorite Films
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Critic Reviews for Selma

All Critics (300) | Top Critics (57) | Fresh (296) | Rotten (4)

View All Critic Reviews (300)

Audience Reviews for Selma

  • May 27, 2017
    effective dramatisation. it could've been a bit longer though and a bit more detailed. tim roth did the best acting.
    Sanity Assassin ! Super Reviewer
  • Jan 01, 2017
    The story of Martin Luther King's efforts to give black Americans the right to vote in the 1960s is mostly engaging and interestingly portrayed. Some conversations could have used some trimming, there are a few slow parts. But the acting is top notch, especially Oyelowo is fantastic during King's speeches. It is the ending with original footage from the walk that is particularly touching and well done. Especially when you realize what a step backwards we seem to be taking currently.
    Jens S Super Reviewer
  • Dec 03, 2016
    I really liked this movie but was somewhat disappointed in it, too. There are three major scenes depicting the famous marches on the Edmund Pettus Bridge and each of them is historically accurate, powerful in their depiction and highly moving. There are other scenes that are not nearly so accurate, powerful or moving. Contrary to popular opinion I was not transfixed by the performance of David Oyelowo as Rev. Martin Luther King. President Lyndon Johnson's portrayal as an antagonist to MLK, I believe, is over exaggerated. The J. Edger Hoover fixation on Dr. King is underplayed. And, much more doesn't work for me. Nonetheless, Selma, as a whole, is worthy of our attention, our discussion on its merits and flaws and our our respec
    Aldo G Super Reviewer
  • Apr 08, 2016
    Has some pacing/editing issues, but the cast are all on top form.
    Marcus W Super Reviewer
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