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Emperor

  • 2020
  • PG-13
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
Dayo Okeniyi in Emperor (2020)
Inspired by the true legend of Shields Green (Dayo Okeniyi) who, in 1859, escaped from a plantation and made a daring journey north where he met Frederick Douglass (Harry Lenix) and John Brown (James Cromwell). With the opportunity to continue to freedom in Canada, Green instead chose to fight to end slavery in the raid at Harper’s Ferry. Briarcliff Entertainment Presents, A Sobini Films Production in association with Hudlin Productions directed by Mark Amin and written by Pat Charles and Mark Amin.
Play trailer1:01
3 Videos
39 Photos
BiographyDramaHistoryWestern

An escaped slave travels north and has chance encounters with Frederick Douglass and John Brown. Based on the life story of Shields Green.An escaped slave travels north and has chance encounters with Frederick Douglass and John Brown. Based on the life story of Shields Green.An escaped slave travels north and has chance encounters with Frederick Douglass and John Brown. Based on the life story of Shields Green.

  • Director
    • Mark Amin
  • Writers
    • Pat Charles
    • Mark Amin
  • Stars
    • James Cromwell
    • Mykelti Williamson
    • Bruce Dern
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.9/10
    1.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Mark Amin
    • Writers
      • Pat Charles
      • Mark Amin
    • Stars
      • James Cromwell
      • Mykelti Williamson
      • Bruce Dern
    • 41User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
    • 39Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations total

    Videos3

    Trailer 2
    Trailer 1:01
    Trailer 2
    Emperor
    Trailer 1:40
    Emperor
    Emperor
    Trailer 1:40
    Emperor
    'Emperor' Star Kat Graham Was Inspired by This Hollywood Icon
    Video 3:46
    'Emperor' Star Kat Graham Was Inspired by This Hollywood Icon

    Photos39

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    + 34
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    Top cast80

    Edit
    James Cromwell
    James Cromwell
    • John Brown
    Mykelti Williamson
    Mykelti Williamson
    • Truesdale
    Bruce Dern
    Bruce Dern
    • Levi Coffin
    James Le Gros
    James Le Gros
    • Robert E. Lee
    Kat Graham
    Kat Graham
    • Delores
    M.C. Gainey
    M.C. Gainey
    • Randolph Stevens
    Harry Lennix
    Harry Lennix
    • Frederick Douglass
    Paul Scheer
    Paul Scheer
    • Duvane Henderson
    David Kallaway
    David Kallaway
    • Sam Bowmine
    Ben Robson
    Ben Robson
    • Luke McCabe
    Nicholas Logan
    Nicholas Logan
    • Gunther Bowman
    Naturi Naughton
    Naturi Naughton
    • Sarah Green
    Keean Johnson
    Keean Johnson
    • Rufus Kelly
    Dayo Okeniyi
    Dayo Okeniyi
    • Shields Green
    Chip Carriere
    Chip Carriere
    • Tom Affleck
    Brad Carter
    Brad Carter
    • Grady
    Eric Goins
    Eric Goins
    • James Alcorn
    • (as Eric Lee Goins)
    Mark Ashworth
    Mark Ashworth
    • Reverend
    • Director
      • Mark Amin
    • Writers
      • Pat Charles
      • Mark Amin
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews41

    5.91.6K
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    Featured reviews

    6jbathie

    A story told, and another story that misses an important point.

    I've seen my share of Civil War movies, slave-trading, indentured service movies and all of them are consistent with the same themes. African tribes that won wars against other African tribes sold them into slavery, kept the women and children, and that theme repeated.

    As slavery grew across Africa, 100's of years ago, it found it's way to Europe. After several decades of slavery growing in Europe it founds it's way to what would become North America, literally the last place slavery got it's foothold, and the place African Americans inaccurately place all of the blame.

    In fact, what would become the last place slavery had a foothold, would become the place African Americans place all the blame for centuries of wrongdoing. But, that's not the story directors seem to want to tell.

    Slavery was alive and well in 100's of countries many centuries before the US would ever be named or even discovered. Nobody but the US seems to be held responsible for it though, which is totally unwarranted. Convenient though considering the US is the richest nation on the planet though.

    Perhaps my white privilege has me not thinking clearly, but I think it's time for all communities to stand up and be proud of who they are and stop blaming current generations for what their ancestors did. If they did, this would be a much better place to live for all of us.

    I enjoyed the story, the acting, and the actors selected for this movie though and suggest it would be an entertaining 99 minutes of their time.
    5Tina_jeppesen

    I enjoyed it until....

    I went into this movie knowing nothing about it so of course I looked up the characters afterward. It's not at all historically accurate. Hollywood thinks we are morons & can't appreciate a true story to be inspiring or entertaining as is, or they're idiots & cant make it to be so without elaborating & fictionalizing. Disrespects the actual characters too imo.
    8slcasey-433-586151

    Another untold story of American and black history

    Great historical untold story, reminiscent of 12 Years a Slave, I wish it could have been longer to focus more historical attributes and heroes .
    8filmtravel101

    It's very entertaining like Braveheart or Last Mohicans

    I watched this film with no prior history of Shield Green and loved the film. It's very well written and the acting and direction is top notch. And about time a good Hollywood film is made that puts an action packed theme to a black historical figure- and yes of course it obviously takes lots of liberties with historical accuracy much like Braveheart or Last of the Mohican but the end result is entertaining. It's funny to see bad reviews just because of Harper Ferry and John Brown historical inaccuracy but it's a hollywood film - not a silly documentary so just enjoy the show zand you'll love it. The main actor is phenomenal and could be next Denzel and the supporting actors are excellent esp the bounty hunter. A solid 8
    6LiveLoveLead

    Not at all historically accurate!

    They took quite a lot of liberties with the beginning and end of the story, making up details of Shields Greens life and completely changing the outcome of his fight at the armory. But besides all the historical inaccuracies, if you just wanted to watch it for pure entertainment, the script was a bit weak, which made it hard for the actors to shine. Even though their were some big named actors, their performances were average due to the poor script, direction, and sets. It was enjoyable enough but could have been so much better, IMHO! 6.5

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Filming began on June 18, 2018, in Savannah, Georgia, and lasted for 28 days.
    • Goofs
      The federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry was a small collection of buildings along the Potamic River and was just on the edge of town. The film instead shows the arsenal as a large fort in a large open field with no town in sight.
    • Quotes

      Shields Green: This man will never be a slave, yet he is willing to risk his life and the life of his sons.. so we can be free. No sir. I cannot sit idle while this man fights for me. We can't all fight this war with a pen Mr. Douglas. Some of us best equipped to fight this war with a gun. I think I'll go with the old man.

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    FAQ15

    • How long is Emperor?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 18, 2020 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Імператор
    • Filming locations
      • Fort Jackson, Savannah, Georgia, USA(Harper's Ferry)
    • Production companies
      • Envision Casting
      • Hudlin Entertainment
      • Sobini Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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