Get on the Bus (1996)

A disparate group of African-American men travel by bus to Washington, DC for the Million Man March.

Director:

Spike Lee

Writer:

Reggie Rock Bythewood

Stars:

Ossie Davis, Charles S. Dutton, Andre Braugher

2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Belzer	...	Rick
De'aundre Bonds	...	Junior, aka 'Smooth'
Andre Braugher	...	Flip
Thomas Jefferson Byrd	...	Evan Thomas Sr.
Gabriel Casseus	...	Jamal
Albert Hall	...	Craig
Hill Harper	...	Xavier
Harry Lennix	...	Randall
Bernie Mac	...	Jay
Wendell Pierce	...	Wendell
Roger Guenveur Smith	...	Gary
Isaiah Washington	...	Kyle
Steve White	...	Mike
Ossie Davis	...	Jeremiah
Charles S. Dutton	...	George

Storyline

Get on the Bus follows several Black men on a cross country bus trip to the Million Man March. On the bus are an eclectic set of characters including a laid off aircraft worker, a former Gang Banger, a Hollywood actor, a cop who is of mixed racial background, and a White bus driver, all make the trek discussing issues surrounding the march, manhood, religion, politics, and race.

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Plot Keywords:

road movie | bus | march | million man march | religion | 

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Taglines:

On October 16, 1996, the one year anniversary of the Million Man March, Spike Lee invites you to lift your head, raise your voice, and...get on the bus.

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Spike Lee's sister; Joie Lee, plays Jamal's girlfriend. She can be seen in the picture that Jamal shows to Jeremiah.

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Goofs

While driving from South Los Angeles to Washington DC, the bus takes the Pasadena Freeway north from downtown LA. This freeway ends in Pasadena and is not the way one would travel across the country. Furthermore, a bus of this size would not be permitted on this freeway.

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Quotes

George: Let's go get something to eat, Rick, then I'll drive the bus for awhile.
Rick: I need you to do me a favor, George.
George: Rick, you can't drive the Spotted Owl the whole way, now.
Rick: That's not it. If the base calls in, you tell them I got sick.
George: Why?
Rick: Because I'm not coming back.
George: Shit, what the hell do you mean you're not coming back?
Rick: I can't do it.
George: Oh come on, stop bullshitting, you're just trying to go to Graceland.
Rick: I'd be safer there.
[...]

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Crazy Credits

Recumbent riders: Carol and Ken Lyon, who just happened to ride through the set on their Cross-Country Ramble from Ventura, CA, to Galveston, TX.

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Spike Lee Joints (2018)

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Soundtracks

The Remedy
Written by Q-Tip, Ali JD and Common
Used by permission of Zomba Music Publishing
Performed by A Tribe Called Quest Featuring Common
A Tribe Called Quest appears courtesy of Jive Records
Common appears courtesy of Relativity Recordings

User Reviews

This is the journey of a bus that is worth getting on.

We join the bus ride with a group of Black Americans as they journey to the Million Man March. During this journey, the camera enters the soul and beliefs of each character that represents a whole spectrum of the Black community. Their conversations range from the politics to the religions and beyond their inner-self . Each one finding new meaning to their life and destiny. Reggie's preachy but fascinating script is handled masterfully by the genius Spike Lee.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 October 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Get on the Bus

Filming Locations:

USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,400,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,156,409, 20 October 1996

Gross USA:

$5,754,249

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$5,754,249

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, 15 Black Men, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1