The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Seen it?2017 | 93 min | Drama, History, TV Movie
Weeknight Watchearly ratingWhy it’s a Weeknight Watch
With a box office flop and a lukewarm 6.3 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 history buffs. If you loved All the Way or Something the Lord Made, start here.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 33 min.
- What might put you off
- Nothing much for most grown-ups.
An African-American woman becomes an unwitting pioneer for medical breakthroughs when her cells are used to create the first immortal human cell line in the early 1950s.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsSolid
69% on Rotten Tomatoes, 64 on Metacritic
- AudiencesBelow par
6.3 out of 10
- AwardsSolid
Nominated for 1 Emmy, 1 Critics' Choice Award and 1 DGA Award.
- Reach & staying powerWeak
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 42K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by George C. Wolfe
- Oprah WinfreyDeborah Lacks
- Rose ByrneRebecca Skloot
- Renée Elise GoldsberryHenrietta Lacks
- Reg E. CatheyZakariyyah
- Courtney B. VanceSir Lord Keenan Coefield
- Rocky CarrollSonny Lacks
- Leslie UggamsSadie
- Reed BirneyDr. George Gey
- John Douglas ThompsonLawrence Lacks
- Adriane LenoxBarbara Lacks