Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

Mandela

  • TV Movie
  • 19871987
  • 2h 15m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
242
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Mandela (1987)
  • Drama
Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) become South Africa's first Black President, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his leadership in negotiating a bloodless revolution in that country.Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) become South Africa's first Black President, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his leadership in negotiating a bloodless revolution in that country.Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) become South Africa's first Black President, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his leadership in negotiating a bloodless revolution in that country.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
242
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Philip Saville
  • Writer
    • Ronald Harwood
  • Stars
    • Danny Glover
    • Tam Mpofu
    • Priscilla Mundawarara
Top credits
  • Director
    • Philip Saville
  • Writer
    • Ronald Harwood
  • Stars
    • Danny Glover
    • Tam Mpofu
    • Priscilla Mundawarara
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1User review
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 6 wins & 5 nominations total

    Photos6

    Mandela (1987)
    Mandela (1987)
    Danny Glover in Mandela (1987)
    Danny Glover in Mandela (1987)
    Mandela (1987)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Danny Glover
    Danny Glover
    • Nelson Mandelaas Nelson Mandela
    Tam Mpofu
    • Young Manas Young Man
    Priscilla Mundawarara
    • Angry Motheras Angry Mother
    Mike Davey
    • Police Officeras Police Officer
    Peter Joyce
    • Police Sergeantas Police Sergeant
    Mbuso Pityana
    • African Policemanas African Policeman
    Dudley Dickin
    • Ministeras Minister
    Andy Nimmo
    • 1st Civil Servantas 1st Civil Servant
    Bryan MacKenzie
    Bryan MacKenzie
    • 2nd Civil Servantas 2nd Civil Servant
    Julian Glover
    Julian Glover
    • Senior Police Officeras Senior Police Officer
    Niel Nativel
    • Sergeant Van Niekerkas Sergeant Van Niekerk
    Doug Wilson
    • Sergeant Naudeas Sergeant Naude
    Hans Woolfe
    • Sergeant Louwas Sergeant Louw
    Warren Clarke
    Warren Clarke
    • Swanepoelas Swanepoel
    John Matshikiza
    John Matshikiza
    • Walter Sisuluas Walter Sisulu
    John Indi
    • Oliver Tamboas Oliver Tambo
    Peter Cartwright
    Peter Cartwright
    • Court Judgeas Court Judge
    John Matthews
    • Lawyer Joffeas Lawyer Joffe
    • Director
      • Philip Saville
    • Writer
      • Ronald Harwood
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    Mandela
    6.8
    Mandela
    Mandela and de Klerk
    7.0
    Mandela and de Klerk
    Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
    7.1
    Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
    Goodbye Bafana
    7.1
    Goodbye Bafana
    Mandela
    8.4
    Mandela
    Invictus
    7.3
    Invictus
    Freedom Song
    7.2
    Freedom Song
    Bopha!
    6.5
    Bopha!
    Madiba
    6.6
    Madiba
    The Life and Loves of a She-Devil
    8.1
    The Life and Loves of a She-Devil
    The Mandela Effect
    5.8
    The Mandela Effect
    Nelson Mandela
    6.5
    Nelson Mandela

    Storyline

    Edit
    Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) become South Africa's first Black President, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his leadership in negotiating a bloodless revolution in that country.
    • africa
    • character name as title
    • nelson mandela character
    • winnie mandela character
    • surname as title
    • 11 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      A TV movie for the HBO network.
    • Quotes

      South African Prime Minister D. F. Malan: [1948 opening narration; South African police raid & bulldoze a Black shantytown] Mr. Speaker, today South Africa belongs to us. Where we shall be introducing legislation to implement our policy which we call Apartheid-the separation between the races. Races will live and travel separately. Education will be separate for all groups at all levels. Native reserves will become Black homelands. Work fitting for the White man will be reserved for him and him alone. Apartheid rests on three unarguable foundations - Afrikaner Experience - OUR experience, Scientific Proof that the White man is a superior being, and Biblical Witness. Apartheid represents divine will.

    • Connections
      Featured in The 40th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1988)

    User reviews1

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Informative without the happy ending
    There are many actors who have portrayed Nelson Mandela through the years. If you want to see Danny Glover play the famous South African leader while he was still imprisoned (that's right; this movie was made in 1987), try to find a copy of the 3-hour tv-movie Mandela. There is a certain suspense lost when you go back and watch it now, because you know about the happy ending in real life. But try to put on your 1987 goggles for better appreciation of this movie.

    This does feel a little lengthy, so don't expect a PBS one-hour docudrama. You'll see Danny/Mandela age decades, with a great deal of attention paid to more than a few life events. We see his introduction to his future wife (played by Alfre Woodard), as well as their courtship and strength through the difficult years of their marriage. Both Danny and Alfre nail the difficult South African accent, and if you like their chemistry together, check them out in 1991's Grand Canyon. Some of this movie might feel like a repeat of history class, but to reiterate: remember when it was made. Just imagine how it would feel to watch a biopic of Barack Obama that was made and released in 2006. Informative, but a little anticlimactic, right? But if you like Danny Glover (and who doesn't), you can give this one a shot to see him portray one of the great leaders of our time.
    helpful•0
    0
    • HotToastyRag
    • Oct 18, 2021

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 20, 1987 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Nelson Mandela
    • Filming locations
      • Zimbabwe
    • Production companies
      • HBO Pictures
      • Polymuse Productions
      • Titus Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 15 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

    Related news

    Madiba review – Nelson Mandela miniseries almost lives up to the legend
    Feb 1The Guardian - TV News
    'Dear White People': will the UK listen to race comedy?
    'Dear White People': will the UK listen to race comedy?
    Jun 22ScreenDaily

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • IMDb Answers: Help fill gaps in our data
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The 10 Most Anticipated Marvel and DC Movies
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    2022 TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.