Monday Morning Maybe

Add your email and we'll match picks to the services you stream at home.

Poster for Cry Freedom

Cry Freedom

Seen it?

1987 | 157 min | Drama

Saturday Special

Why it’s a Saturday Special

Audiences rate it highly (7.0 out of 10) and it drew serious awards attention, despite a box office loss. A strong pick for the weekend.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. If you loved The Hurricane, start here.
The mood
Thoughtful and character-driven.
The pace
Unhurried and epic, at 2 hr 37 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
  • It's long: 2 hr 37 min.

A dramatic story, based on actual events, about the friendship between two men struggling against apartheid in South Africa in the 1970s. Donald Woods is a white liberal journalist in South Africa who begins to follow the activities of Stephen Biko, a courageous and outspoken black anti-apartheid activist.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsSolid

    73% on Rotten Tomatoes, 59 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesStrong

    7.0 out of 10

  • AwardsStrong

    Won 1 BAFTA: British Academy Film Awards: Best Sound. Won 1 Berlin award: Berlin Film Festival: Best Original Song. Also nominated for 3 Oscars, 4 Golden Globes and 6 more BAFTAs. Plus 3 other awards.

  • Box office & staying powerBelow par

    $26 million worldwide on a $29 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactSolid

    About 106K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

More like this

Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks

Cast & crew

Directed by Richard Attenborough

  • Kevin KlineDonald Woods
  • Denzel WashingtonSteve Biko
  • Penelope WiltonWendy Woods
  • Kate HardieJane Woods
  • John MatshikizaMapetla
  • Zakes MokaeFather Kani
  • John ThawKruger
  • Kevin McNallyKen
  • John HargreavesBruce
  • Juanita WatermanNtsiki Biko