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American History X

  • 19981998
  • RR
  • 1h 59m
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
1.1M
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
565
61
Edward Norton in American History X (1998)
Trailer for this intense drama
Play trailer2:25
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
A former neo-nazi skinhead tries to prevent his younger brother from going down the same wrong path that he did.A former neo-nazi skinhead tries to prevent his younger brother from going down the same wrong path that he did.A former neo-nazi skinhead tries to prevent his younger brother from going down the same wrong path that he did.
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
1.1M
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
565
61
  • Director
    • Tony Kaye
  • Writer
    • David McKenna
  • Stars
    • Edward Norton
    • Edward Furlong
    • Beverly D'Angelo
Top credits
  • Director
    • Tony Kaye
  • Writer
    • David McKenna
  • Stars
    • Edward Norton
    • Edward Furlong
    • Beverly D'Angelo
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1.6KUser reviews
    • 125Critic reviews
    • 62Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #38
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 4 wins & 15 nominations total

    Videos2

    American History X
    Trailer 2:25
    American History X
    American History X
    Trailer 2:26
    American History X

    Photos448

    Edward Furlong and Edward Norton in American History X (1998)
    Edward Norton in American History X (1998)
    Fairuza Balk and Edward Norton in American History X (1998)
    Edward Norton in American History X (1998)
    Edward Furlong in American History X (1998)
    Beverly D'Angelo, Edward Furlong, Elliott Gould, and Edward Norton in American History X (1998)
    Danny
    Derek & Danny
    Family Reunion
    Derek & Cameron
    Derek & Sweeney
    Derek & Doris

    Top cast

    Edit
    Edward Norton
    Edward Norton
    • Derekas Derek
    Edward Furlong
    Edward Furlong
    • Dannyas Danny
    Beverly D'Angelo
    Beverly D'Angelo
    • Dorisas Doris
    Jennifer Lien
    Jennifer Lien
    • Davinaas Davina
    Ethan Suplee
    Ethan Suplee
    • Sethas Seth
    Fairuza Balk
    Fairuza Balk
    • Staceyas Stacey
    Avery Brooks
    Avery Brooks
    • Sweeneyas Sweeney
    Elliott Gould
    Elliott Gould
    • Murrayas Murray
    Stacy Keach
    Stacy Keach
    • Cameronas Cameron
    William Russ
    William Russ
    • Dennisas Dennis
    Guy Torry
    Guy Torry
    • Lamontas Lamont
    Joe Cortese
    Joe Cortese
    • Rasmussenas Rasmussen
    Jason Bose Smith
    • Little Henryas Little Henry
    • (as Jason Bose-Smith)
    Antonio David Lyons
    Antonio David Lyons
    • Lawrenceas Lawrence
    Alex Sol
    Alex Sol
    • Mitch McCormickas Mitch McCormick
    Keram Malicki-Sánchez
    Keram Malicki-Sánchez
    • Chrisas Chris
    • (as Keram Malicki-Sanchez)
    Giuseppe Andrews
    Giuseppe Andrews
    • Jasonas Jason
    Michelle Christine White
    • Lizzyas Lizzy
    • Director
      • Tony Kaye
    • Writer
      • David McKenna
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Edward Norton turned down Saving Private Ryan (1998) to do this film.
    • Goofs
      In the opening scene, Derek fires 24 shots without reloading from a Ruger P94, which could hold no more than 10 rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber.
    • Quotes

      Bob Sweeney: There was a moment, when I used to blame everything and everyone for all the pain and suffering and vile things that happened to me, that I saw happen to my people. Used to blame everybody. Blamed White people, blamed society, blamed God. I didn't get no answers 'cause I was asking the wrong questions. You have to ask the right questions.

      Derek Vinyard: Like what?

      Bob Sweeney: Has anything you've done made your life better?

    • Alternate versions
      The New Line Cinema DVD features 3 deleted scenes:
      • A scene in which an elderly black woman is harassed and made to cry on the boardwalk by a bunch of teenage skinheads.
      • A scene after the "party", in which Cameron and Seth go to a café and discuss Derek's change. They then harass a black guy/white girl couple, and then leave. A car is waiting outside, in which several black men watch them leave, before going after them. One black man inside the car remarks "Somebody's gonna get their ass whipped." The aftermath is not shown, but we later learn that Cameron and Seth were attacked.
      • A brief scene in the café near the end in which Derek winks at a little black girl and asks her if he looks okay.
    • Connections
      Edited into American History X: Deleted Scenes (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Battle Hymn of the Republic
      (circa 1856) (uncredited)

      Music by William Steffe

      Lyrics by Julia Ward Howe (1862)

      Sung a cappella by Ethan Suplee with modified lyrics

    User reviews1.6K

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    The Most Dangerous Person To Us Is Ourselves
    American History X is a movie of its own. It has a little bit of everything in the way it touches you. This of course making it a very though provoking film. There isn't a genre you can place this film in because it is a not a crime story, action or even a simple drama instead it is a humanistic thriller. What it is about, is the battle over ourselves.

    Who better than to display these wild but common complexities within people than Edward Norton. The range he shows here is astounding in only his fifth movie. Norton plays Derek Vinyard, a skin head that realizes through cruel yet necessary events in his life that he has gone down the wrong path. When he comes out of jail he attempts to stop his brother played Edward Furlong from going down the same road he had done. Through all his efforts though some things just prove to be inevitable. Avery Brooks also gives a great performance as Derek Vinyard's former teacher and now principal of his former school. His words may not be of the most inspiring but his actions and messages sent across are subtle yet strong and to the point.

    Norton's performance though wasn't just about range but exploring different dimensions of life. Whether it proved to be psychological, social or even political on a certain level. It is a transforming performance revealing something mind blowing and eye opening. That we, and this includes anyone, can take a devastating turn in life no matter how intelligent we are or thoughtful. That the person that determines the outcome of your life is yourself whether it is good or bad. Norton's realizations aren't through teachings such as the ones that got him in jail but they are through the events in the time he spent in jail. He saw the truth for himself realizing then what is false and what is real.

    The screenplay written by David McKenna is about as versatile as the performance Norton gives. Not only because of the Derek Vinyard character but because of the characters involved in his life. For example the root of his evil did not come from the murder of his father but rather his father himself. Through just a conversation at breakfast did his negative thoughts get really embedded eventually then leading to them dramatically taking over his mind and way of life. Only when his father got killed did these negative thoughts seem justified. The way this screenplay and direction was able to display this message in just a plethora of other underlying tones was spectacular.

    What makes this movie great though is that you can truly find yourself in the messages delivered. As much as the main character might not seem relevant or connected to many people it his emotions and functioning of his mind that all of us are able to connect with. Yet what makes a movie great is not simply the message or messages sent across but how powerfully they are delivered. American History X delivers its multiple and intertwining messages about as powerfully as I've seen from a film.
    helpful•143
    19
    • alexkolokotronis
    • Feb 1, 2009

    FAQ14

    • What events cause Derek to renounce his neo-Nazi views?
    • What happened to Seth and Cameron?
    • Is "American History X" based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 20, 1998 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Warner Bros. (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Fatalni kurs X
    • Filming locations
      • Venice High School - 13000 Venice Boulevard, Venice, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • New Line Cinema
      • Savoy Pictures
      • The Turman-Morrissey Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $20,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $6,719,864
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $156,076
      • Nov 1, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $23,875,127
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 59 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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