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Beloved

Name: Beloved
Genre: History, Horror, Drama
Released: 1998-10-16
Cast: Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover, Kimberly Elise, Thandiwe Newton, LisaGay Hamilton

1998 | 172 min | History, Horror, Drama

Weeknight Watchearly rating

Why it’s a Weeknight Watch

With a lukewarm 5.8 out of 10 from audiences, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.

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

Is it for you?

Who'll love it: Made for horror fans and history buffs. If you loved Gerald's Game or Don't Look Now, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood: Scary.
The pace: Unhurried and epic, at 2 hr 52 min.
What might put you off: Rated R: meant for adults.
It's long: 2 hr 52 min.
Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

After Paul D. finds his old slave friend Sethe in Ohio and moves in with her and her daughter Denver, a strange girl comes along by the name of "Beloved". Sethe and Denver take her in and then strange things start to happen...

How it earned its rating

CriticsSolid
78% on Rotten Tomatoes, 58 on Metacritic
AudiencesBelow par
5.8 out of 10
AwardsSolid
Nominated for 1 Oscar.
Box office & staying powerSolid
$80 million worldwide on a $80 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 152K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Jonathan Demme

Oprah WinfreySethe
Danny GloverPaul D
Kimberly EliseDenver
Thandiwe NewtonBeloved
LisaGay HamiltonYounger Sethe
Beah RichardsBaby Suggs
Albert HallStamp Paid
Irma P. HallElla
Carol Jean LewisJaney Wagon
Kessia EmbryAmy Denver