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IMDbPro

Judas and the Black Messiah

  • 20212021
  • RR
  • 2h 6m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
83K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,059
1,286
Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield in Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)
FBI informant William O’Neal (LaKeith Stanfield) infiltrates the Illinois Black Panther Party and is tasked with keeping tabs on their charismatic leader, Chairman Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya). A career thief, O’Neal revels in the danger of manipulating both his comrades and his handler, Special Agent Roy Mitchell (Jesse Plemons). Hampton’s political prowess grows just as he’s falling in love with fellow revolutionary Deborah Johnson (Dominique Fishback). Meanwhile, a battle wages for O’Neal’s soul. Will he align with the forces of good? Or subdue Hampton and The Panthers by any means, as FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover (Martin Sheen) commands?
Play trailer2:30
18 Videos
99+ Photos
BiographyDramaHistory
Offered a plea deal by the FBI, William O'Neal infiltrates the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party to gather intelligence on Chairman Fred Hampton.Offered a plea deal by the FBI, William O'Neal infiltrates the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party to gather intelligence on Chairman Fred Hampton.Offered a plea deal by the FBI, William O'Neal infiltrates the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party to gather intelligence on Chairman Fred Hampton.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
83K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,059
1,286
    • Shaka King
  • Writers
    • Will Berson(story by)
    • Shaka King(story by)
    • Kenneth Lucas(story by)
  • Stars
    • LaKeith Stanfield
    • Daniel Kaluuya
    • Jesse Plemons
    • Shaka King
  • Writers
    • Will Berson(story by)
    • Shaka King(story by)
    • Kenneth Lucas(story by)
  • Stars
    • LaKeith Stanfield
    • Daniel Kaluuya
    • Jesse Plemons
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 396User reviews
    • 282Critic reviews
    • 85Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Oscars

    Videos18

    Official Trailer 2
    Trailer 2:30
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    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:48
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    Judas and the Black Messiah
    Trailer 2:30
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    Judas and the Black Messiah
    Trailer 2:36
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    Judas and the Black Messiah
    Trailer 1:54
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    Best Moments From the Golden Globes 2021 Telecast
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    The Rise of Oscar Winner Daniel Kaluuya
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    Judas and the Black Messiah
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    Photos235

    LaKeith Stanfield in Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)
    Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield in Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)
    LaKeith Stanfield and Shaka King in Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)
    Frances McDormand, Youn Yuh-jung, and Daniel Kaluuya at an event for The Oscars (2021)
    H.E.R. at an event for The Oscars (2021)
    H.E.R. at an event for The Oscars (2021)
    H.E.R., D'Mile, and Tiara Thomas at an event for The Oscars (2021)
    Daniel Kaluuya at an event for The Oscars (2021)
    Daniel Kaluuya at an event for The Oscars (2021)
    Daniel Kaluuya at an event for The Oscars (2021)
    Daniel Kaluuya at an event for The Oscars (2021)
    Daniel Kaluuya at an event for The Oscars (2021)

    Top cast

    Edit
    LaKeith Stanfield
    LaKeith Stanfield
    • Bill O'Neal
    Daniel Kaluuya
    Daniel Kaluuya
    • Fred Hampton
    Jesse Plemons
    Jesse Plemons
    • Roy Mitchell
    Dominique Fishback
    Dominique Fishback
    • Deborah Johnson
    Ashton Sanders
    Ashton Sanders
    • Jimmy Palmer
    Algee Smith
    Algee Smith
    • Jake Winters
    Darrell Britt-Gibson
    Darrell Britt-Gibson
    • Bobby Rush
    Lil Rel Howery
    Lil Rel Howery
    • Wayne
    Dominique Thorne
    Dominique Thorne
    • Judy Harmon
    Martin Sheen
    Martin Sheen
    • J. Edgar Hoover
    Amari Cheatom
    Amari Cheatom
    • Collins
    Khris Davis
    Khris Davis
    • Steel
    Ian Duff
    Ian Duff
    • Doc Satchel
    Caleb Eberhardt
    Caleb Eberhardt
    • Bob Lee
    Robert Longstreet
    Robert Longstreet
    • Leslie Carlyle
    Amber Chardae Robinson
    Amber Chardae Robinson
    • Betty Coachman
    Ikechukwu Ufomadu
    Ikechukwu Ufomadu
    • Walter Hicks
    James Udom
    James Udom
    • Compton
      • Shaka King
    • Writers
      • Will Berson(story by) (screenplay by)
      • Shaka King(story by) (screenplay by)
      • Kenneth Lucas(story by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Director Shaka King on 'Judas and the Black Messiah'

    Director Shaka King on 'Judas and the Black Messiah'

    IMDbPro teamed up with the Sundance Film Festival to spotlight some of the talented artists at the 2021 festival. Learn more about Judas and the Black Messiah and the artist behind the camera, Shaka King, in our spotlight interview series.
    Watch the video
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director Shaka King has described the initial idea for the film as "The Departed (2006) inside the world of COINTELPRO (Counter Intelligence Program)." He thought it was a clever way to "sort of Trojan-horse a Fred Hampton biopic and introduce the world, you know, a great segment of the world who is unaware of who he was, and is highly unaware of the Panthers' politics and ideology."
    • Goofs
      When Fred Hampton visits Jake Winters' mother, there are Longaberger pottery coffee cups on the table. Longaberger didn't launch the pottery line until the 1990's.
    • Quotes

      Fred Hampton: Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed

    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Priyanka Chopra Jonas/LaKeith Stanfield/Rob Gronkowski/Joy Oladokun (2021)
    • Soundtracks
      The Inflated Tear
      Written by Rahsaan Roland Kirk

    User reviews396

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Watch this one with 'The Trial of the Chicago 7' if you want active viewing.
    Both are based on the true story which happened in Chicago in 1968 and 1969, so two movies give the whole picture of what it was like in Chicago in late 60s. Social oppression, protest in reaction, police's excessive force of use, discrimination against the weaker are the words to describe atmosphere around that time. It's interesting to compare and contrast how Fred Hampton is realized in two movies. Other than that, there are many things to compare and contrast both contents and the forms.

    'Judas and the Black Messiah' is disappointing that the director could have done so much more with such an important historical figure (similar with 'The Trial of the Chicago 7'). The screenwriting is stretched and elongated. The momentum and the tension have to be built up for December 4th Monroe Massacre where all the powerful emotions burst. However, the director fails not only to build up but also to have a great ending.

    P.S. History speaks that William O'Neal is still a weak coward then and now.
    helpful•13
    2
    • TaylorYee94
    • Mar 23, 2021

    FAQ7

    • Where would Will get access to C4?
    • What was carved on that prisoner's chest on the scene that Fred is eating food in prison?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 12, 2021 (United States)
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • HBOMAX
      • Official Facebook
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Cleveland, Ohio, USA
    • Production companies
      • BRON Studios
      • Bron Creative
      • MACRO
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 2 hours 6 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Atmos
      • Dolby Surround 7.1
      • Dolby Digital

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