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IMDbPro

Selma

  • 20142014
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 8m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
92K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
5,055
1,328
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
92K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
5,055
1,328
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Ava DuVernay
    • Writer
      • Paul Webb
    • Stars
      • David Oyelowo
      • Carmen Ejogo
      • Oprah Winfrey
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Ava DuVernay
    • Writer
      • Paul Webb
    • Stars
      • David Oyelowo
      • Carmen Ejogo
      • Oprah Winfrey
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 291User reviews
    • 382Critic reviews
    • 80Metascore
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 58 wins & 91 nominations total

    Videos35

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

    Photos136

    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)
    • Director
      • Ava DuVernay
    • Writer
      • Paul Webb
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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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 reviews291

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Captivating Portrayal of the Civil Rights Leader and Intensely Moving Story
    The words I best describe this movie are "profound" and "intense." From what I've learned since my school days, equal rights among race was a very touchy subject when it came to American history.

    David Oyelowo's portrayal of Martin Luther King Jr. was so spot-on that I was immediately drawn in to see every detail of the film play out. I was disturbed and further curious at the same time amongst every scene that unfolded during the key moments of the film.

    Basically, it featured how much King sacrificed and went through in the 1960s to maintain blacks rights to vote and eliminate segregation from all states. I couldn't believe how much violent injustice and racial discrimination were used to intimidate innocent people who were trying to have the same rights like many in America.

    Oprah Winfrey, Cuba Gooding Jr, and rapper-actor Common brought out great performances as the individuals who stood up for what they truly believe in and they wouldn't let hate stand in their way. Tom Wilkinson's portrayal of President Lyndon B. Johnson was rather physically uncanny and his scenes brought out the angst of what he had to face at a time when violence was further escalating during the Civil Rights Movement. Tim Roth as Governor George Wallace made me feel to hate the man for his segregationist beliefs, but when confronted by President Johnson himself, it just got real.

    The juxtaposition of real-life archive footage in the movie gave a nice touch to how very genuine these people of Selma endured plenty of horrible confrontations. Whether these usually ended in violence or even death, they just kept growing in numbers and overcome all who stood against their true beliefs in racial equality.

    My only nitpick was that of President Johnson's confrontations with Martin Luther King himself. I've learned in the history books that they've had their fair share of disagreements, but nothing this intense as shown on screen. Nevertheless, it proved that being an American President was no easy feat at a very difficult time. Overall, this is a film that didn't require lengthy (moving) MLK speeches, instead it focused on tense confrontations black people had to endure and how one individual stood tall and fought back not with violence, but with powerful words and strong beliefs. I applaud David Oyelowo and director Ava DuVernay for providing a glimpse into how racism was overcome by one profound man whose legacy still reverberates to this day.
    helpful•40
    21
    • valen060
    • Jan 23, 2015

    FAQ1

    • Why is the movie titled Selma?

    Details

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

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $20,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $52,076,908
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $571,450
      • Dec 28, 2014
    • Gross worldwide
      • $66,787,908
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 8 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • Dolby Surround 7.1
      • Datasat
      • Dolby Atmos
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

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