Selma

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Selma

PG-13

2015

2h 8m

History

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

99%

Tomatometer

307 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 legally desegregated the South, discrimination was still rampant in certain areas, making it very difficult for Blacks to register to vote. In 1965, an Alabama city became the battleground in the fight for suffrage. Despite violent opposition, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his followers pressed forward on an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, and their efforts culminated with President Lyndon Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

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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.

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Chris Stuckmann

ChrisStuckmann.com

Oct 5, 2018

B+

Excellent acting, very good directing, a good tight script -- a little bit of pacing issues and... other characters are nowhere near as investing as Martin Luther King is.

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Simon Weaving

Sydney Morning Herald

Oct 4, 2018

3.5/5

If you don't mind the technical confusion it's a gripping story, and a great credit to DuVernay and co-writer Paul Webb who were unable to use King's original speeches for copyright reasons.

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Philippa Hawker

Sydney Morning Herald

Oct 4, 2018

4/5

Ava DuVernay's Selma is a beautifully observed drama of public and private lives, of personal narratives and historic moments.

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Shane Hennessy

Film Ireland Magazine

Aug 12, 2025

For a movie released at a time when deadly racial tensions are still very much the topic of the day in America, its measured and sanguine execution becomes all the more timely.

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Jul 28, 2025

5/5

"Selma," whose name echoes the history being told, is one of those films that gets history right, honors it, entertains you without sacrificing the real thing, and moves you to no end.

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Savina Petkova

A Good Movie To Watch

Nov 24, 2023

80/100

With her uncompromising directorial approach, DuVernay crafts a thrilling period film that has all the markers of a well-done genre feature, but uses its mechanisms to tell an emotionally potent story.

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Helene T

Jan 15, 2022

It is a very powerful movie but

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Umutoni G

@RT01569678 Jul 6, 2026

Selma is powerful movie with strong message. it tells an important true story and keeps you thinking even after it ends definitely worth watching.

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Peninnah Z

@RT68923912 Jun 30, 2026

Selma is a powerful and moving historical drama that tells an important chapter in the fight for equal voting rights in the United States. The film does an excellent job of showing the courage, determination, and resilience of people who stood together to demand justice through peaceful protest. I appreciated how it highlighted the importance of strong leadership, unity, and the willingness to stand up for what is right, even in the face of great challenges. The performances were outstanding, and the storytelling was both emotional and educational without losing its impact. Overall, Selma is an inspiring film that provides valuable insight into the civil rights movement and reminds viewers that meaningful change often requires courage, sacrifice, and perseverance. It is a thought-provoking movie that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys history and inspiring true stories.

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Tyler P.

@TylerPhoenixMD Feb 2, 2026

Amazing movie, acting, and story in this historical moment. You know have to love anything MLK! Only 4 starts because it’s slow at times but other than that super cool!

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Scott R

@ScottR Dec 22, 2025

NYT 1000 films. A moving tribute to Selma and the Civil Rights movement. MLK’s words are so powerful and true, I wish we could use his wisdom and follow his example better. It was good to learn about the history of what happened at Selma, but the pacing and some of the narratives confused and it could have been better. Regardless, this is a decent film. Saw on paramount.

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Tunde

Sep 1, 2025

Very powerful and moving. I learned some things I didn’t know.

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Ava DuVernay

Director

David Oyelowo

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Tom Wilkinson

President Lyndon Baines Johnson

Carmen Ejogo

Coretta Scott King

Giovanni Ribisi

Lee White

Alessandro Nivola

John Doar

Selma: Official Clip - Dr. King and President Johnson

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Selma: Official Clip - Our Lives Are Not Fully Lived

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Selma: Official Clip - The Fog of Death

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Selma: Official Clip - The Wrongs Are Enormous

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Selma: Official Clip - Soon and Very Soon

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Selma: Official Clip - Arguing With the President

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Selma: Official Clip - The Edmund Pettus Bridge Attack

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Selma: Official Clip - We Shall Overcome

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Selma: Official Clip - The March Begins

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Selma: Official Clip - The Second March

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Synopsis

Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 legally desegregated the South, discrimination was still rampant in certain areas, making it very difficult for Blacks to register to vote. In 1965, an Alabama city became the battleground in the fight for suffrage. Despite violent opposition, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his followers pressed forward on an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, and their efforts culminated with President Lyndon Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Director: Ava DuVernay
Producer: Christian Colson, Oprah Winfrey, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner
Screenwriter: Paul Webb
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Plan B Entertainment, Cloud Eight, Harpo Films
Rating: PG-13 (Brief Strong Language|A Suggestive Moment|Disturbing Thematic Material|Violence)
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 9, 2015, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Mar 20, 2015
Release Date (Streaming): May 24, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $52.1M
Runtime: 2h 8m

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