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IMDbPro

Selma

  • 20142014
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 8m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
93K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,075
2,673
David Oyelowo in Selma (2014)
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 signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement.
Play trailer2:33
35 Videos
99+ Photos
BiographyDramaHistory
A chronicle of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1965.A chronicle of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1965.A chronicle of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1965.
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
93K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,075
2,673
    • Ava DuVernay
    • Paul Webb
  • Stars
    • David Oyelowo
    • Carmen Ejogo
    • Oprah Winfrey
    • Ava DuVernay
    • Paul Webb
  • Stars
    • David Oyelowo
    • Carmen Ejogo
    • Oprah Winfrey
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 292User reviews
    • 382Critic reviews
    • 79Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar

    Videos35

    Trailer #1
    Trailer 2:33
    Watch Trailer #1
    Selma
    Trailer 2:31
    Watch Selma
    We Are Martin Luther King Jr. | Supercut
    Clip 1:12
    Watch We Are Martin Luther King Jr. | Supercut
    Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon Share Their Films of Hope for Difficult Times
    Clip 8:09
    Watch Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon Share Their Films of Hope for Difficult Times
    A Guide to the Films of Ava DuVernay
    Clip 1:35
    Watch A Guide to the Films of Ava DuVernay
    Next Great Battle
    Clip 0:34
    Watch Next Great Battle
    Welcome Full
    Clip 1:07
    Watch Welcome Full
    Join Us
    Clip 0:50
    Watch Join Us
    First To Cry
    Clip 1:08
    Watch First To Cry
    Malcolm X
    Clip 0:52
    Watch Malcolm X
    Bingo
    Clip 0:46
    Watch Bingo
    Exclusive Clip
    Clip 0:49
    Watch Exclusive Clip

    Photos133

    David Oyelowo, André Holland, and Stephan James in Selma (2014)
    Lorraine Toussaint, Colman Domingo, Carmen Ejogo, David Oyelowo, Wendell Pierce, and Stephan James in Selma (2014)
    Oprah Winfrey, David Oyelowo, and Ava DuVernay in Selma (2014)
    Lorraine Toussaint, Wendell Pierce, and Stephan James in Selma (2014)
    Tessa Thompson in Selma (2014)
    David Oyelowo and Ava DuVernay in Selma (2014)
    Tom Wilkinson in Selma (2014)
    Carmen Ejogo in Selma (2014)
    David Oyelowo and Tom Wilkinson in Selma (2014)
    Lorraine Toussaint and Carmen Ejogo in Selma (2014)
    Lorraine Toussaint in Selma (2014)
    Niecy Nash in Selma (2014)

    Top cast

    Edit
    David Oyelowo
    David Oyelowo
    • Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
    Carmen Ejogo
    Carmen Ejogo
    • Coretta Scott King
    Oprah Winfrey
    Oprah Winfrey
    • Annie Lee Cooper
    Tom Wilkinson
    Tom Wilkinson
    • President Lyndon B. Johnson
    Jim France
    Jim France
    • Gunnar Jahn
    Trinity Simone
    • Girl #1
    Mikeria Howard
    • Girl #2
    Jordan Rice
    Jordan Rice
    • Girl #3
    Ebony Billups
    • Girl #4
    Nadej K. Bailey
    Nadej K. Bailey
    • Girl #5
    • (as Nadej Bailey)
    Elijah Oliver
    • Boy #1
    Clay Chappell
    • Registrar
    Giovanni Ribisi
    Giovanni Ribisi
    • Lee White
    Haviland Stillwell
    Haviland Stillwell
    • President's Secretary
    André Holland
    André Holland
    • Andrew Young
    Ruben Santiago-Hudson
    Ruben Santiago-Hudson
    • Bayard Rustin
    Colman Domingo
    Colman Domingo
    • Ralph Abernathy
    Omar J. Dorsey
    Omar J. Dorsey
    • James Orange
    • (as Omar Dorsey)
      • Ava DuVernay
      • Paul Webb
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Double Take: Showstopping Biopic Transformations

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Tim Roth grew up during the Civil Rights Era. He said he remembers George Wallace, thought of him as a "monster," and was "amazed at what was coming out of his mouth."
    • Goofs
      When MLK meets with LBJ in the Oval Office, Johnson is seated at the Resolute Desk. When Lyndon B. Johnson took office in 1963, he found he was too large for the desk, and commissioned a plainer replacement which was built by the Senate cabinet shop.
    • Quotes

      Martin Luther King Jr.: Our lives are not fully lived if we're not willing to die for those we love, for what we believe.

    • Crazy credits
      Martin Sheen is not listed in the credits.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Chris Pine/David Oyelowo/Bobby Flay (2014)
    • Soundtracks
      One Morning Soon
      Written by Traditional

      Performed by Joyce Collins & Johnita Collins

      Courtesy of Tompkins Square, LLC

    User reviews292

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    A bridge too far for Civil Rights
    Last year's "Pride" brilliantly demonstrated how far gay rights have come in the UK in 30 years. Selma does an equally superb job in showing how far racial equality has come in the US in 50 years.

    The year is 1964 and racial tension is rife in the Southern states, with attacks and murders of black citizens going unpunished by the combination of a white-majority policing and legal system. Enter Martin Luthor King (English actor David Oyelowo) at the point of receiving his Nobel Peace prize. King insists at a Presidential level (with Tom Wilkinson playing Lyndon Johnson) that black citizens be allowed unfettered rights to vote in elections, with the aim of securing a more just and balanced society. Looking for a suitable location to mount a media-led stand, in an age before social networking and 'Arab-Springs', King centres his attention on the Alabama town of Selma, mounting a series of non-violent (at least on their side) protests and marches. The local redneck police chief, Wilson Baker (David Dwyer), and the state governor, George Wallis (Tim Roth), are not going to stand for this and the tinder-box reaches ignition point during a march from Selma to the state capital of Montgomery.

    Nominated for the Oscar for Best Picture (but only that in the major awards, so winning chances are probably near-zero), Selma is primarily an excellent example of an ensemble cast that works particularly well together. There are a wealth of outstanding performances: Tom Wilkinson's Lyndon Johnson comes across as a surprisingly sympathetic character (jerking me out of my natural Vietnam-coloured perception of the politician); Oprah Winfrey (also a co-producer) provides a text-book example of acting without acting, her expressions doing all of the work; Dylan Baker (so fantastic in "The Good Wife") is chillingly sinister as J. Edgar Hoover; English-born Carmen Ejogo plays (extremely well) a similar role to Sienna Miller's in "American Sniper" as the wife alienated by her husband's calling; and Giovanni Ribisi ("Saving Private Ryan", "Friends"), Cuba Gooding Jnr and (a bizarrely uncredited) Martin Sheen turn up in great cameo performances.

    But towering over all of this great acting is Oyelowo's performance which is simply outstanding: every death and injury is etched on his face. This is a Martin Luthor King that you can really believe in. I would have personally bounced Bradley Cooper in the nomination list for him, and it is astonishing (given his English background) that he was also overlooked at the BAFTAs. He must be feeling pretty aggrieved right now. Mr Oyelowo – if you are reading this – this critic thanks you for an outstanding performance.

    As a relative newcomer to direction, at least for a movie of this scale, Ava Duvernay does a great job with some of the action scenes (with particularly the shocking opening to the film showing enormous style). Paul Webb (apparently with this as a screen writing debut – – how on earth did he get THIS job?) does a creditable job, with lots of memorable sound-bites that stick in the mind. Where the film ran into soft mud for me however was in the personal scenes between the married couple: they don't really provide enough insight into the stresses of King's serial adultery, and the plotting becomes slow and dull…. I personally lost interest in most of these scenes and was desperate for the film to get back to the 'action' in Selma.

    Also of note is the end title song – "Glory" by John Legend and Common (who also stars in the film) – which is also nominated for an Oscar and won the Golden Globe.

    Both gay rights and racial equality undoubtedly still have much further to go, but this does make you proud that as US and UK societies we have come so far within my own lifetime. A recommended watch, particularly for those with an interest in sociology and/or American history.

    (If you enjoyed this review, please see the multi-media version together with more reviews at bob-the-movie-man.com and enter your email address to subscribe. Thanks.)
    helpful•17
    10
    • bob-the-movie-man
    • Feb 13, 2015

    FAQ1

    • Why is the movie titled Selma?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 9, 2015 (United States)
      • United Kingdom
      • France
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Site
      • Official site (France)
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Selma, Alabama, USA
    • Production companies
      • Pathé
      • Harpo Films
      • Plan B Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 2 hours 8 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Digital
      • Dolby Surround 7.1
      • Datasat
      • Dolby Atmos

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