Roots
Seen it?1977 | 1 seasons | 90 min | Drama
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
It won 9 Emmys, people are still talking about it and it earned strong reviews (76% on Rotten Tomatoes), despite a small audience. 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 character drama.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- One season: easy to finish in a weekend or two, hour-long episodes, about 12 hours in all.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1977: an older pace and style.
The epic tale of celebrated Pulitzer-prize winning author Alex Haley's ancestors as portrayed in the acclaimed twelve hour mini-series Roots, was first told in his 1976 bestseller Roots: The Saga of an American Family. The docu-drama covers a period of history that begins in mid-1700s Gambia, West Africa and concludes during post-Civil War United States, over 100 years later. This 1977 miniseries eventually won 9 Emmy awards, a Golden Globe award, and a Peabody award, and still stands as the most watched miniseries in U.S. history.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
76% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.4 out of 10
- AwardsVery strong
Won 9 Emmys: Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Limited Series, Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series, Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series, Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series and 5 more. Won 1 Golden Globe: Golden Globe Awards: Best Series – Drama. Also nominated for 5 more Emmys and 1 more Golden Globe.
- Reach & staying powerBelow par
Limited series that reached a modest audience; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactVery strong
About 362K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Created by Alex Haley
- John AmosOlder Kunta Kinte
- Olivia ColeMathilda Moore
- Ben VereenChicken Joe Moore
- Madge SinclairBelle Reynolds