When We Were Kings
Seen it?1996 | 89 min | Documentary
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (98% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office flop. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for the curious. If you loved Senna, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Eye-opening.
- The pace
- Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 29 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
It's 1974. Muhammad Ali is 32 and thought by many to be past his prime. George Foreman is ten years younger and the heavyweight champion of the world. Promoter Don King wants to make a name for himself and offers both fighters five million dollars apiece to fight one another, and when they accept, King has only to come up with the money. He finds a willing backer in Mobutu Sese Suko, the dictator of Zaire, and the "Rumble in the Jungle" is set, including a musical festival featuring some of America's top black performers, like James Brown and B.B. King.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
98% on Rotten Tomatoes, 83 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.6 out of 10
- AwardsSolid
Won 1 Oscar: Best Documentary Feature Film. Plus 1 other award.
- Box office & staying powerWeak
$3 million worldwide
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 54K people sought it out in the past year, and interest is climbing
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Leon Gast
- Muhammad AliSelf
- George ForemanSelf
- Don KingSelf
- James BrownSelf
- B.B. KingSelf
- Spike LeeSelf
- Mobutu Sese SekoSelf
- Norman MailerSelf
- George PlimptonSelf
- Malick BowensSelf