Concussion
A Nigerian-American forensic pathologist risks his career to prove that professional football can cause lasting brain trauma.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- earnest
- morally urgent
- restrained
- serious movie night
- sports history viewing
What critics said
Critics found the film timely and solidly acted, especially praising Will Smith, but considered its conventional sports-drama structure too safe.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Dr. Bennet Omalu investigates CTE and fights the NFL's denial of football-related brain trauma.
Omalu's Nigerian immigrant identity shapes his position as an outsider within American medicine and professional football.
The discovery of CTE becomes a fight over whether football players and families will be informed about brain damage.
The story links professional football to concussions, chronic brain trauma, and the deaths of former players.
Films like Concussion, and why
Erin Brockovich
shared biographical drama form, institutional conflict, social justice themes, and determined protagonist confronting entrenched power
The Insider
shared true-story medical investigation, ethical stakes, restrained drama, and exposure of corporate wrongdoing
42
shared sports-centered social justice drama, racial politics, and a principled individual challenging a powerful system
Dark Waters
shared medical whistleblower narrative, professional ethics, and emotionally serious confrontation with institutional denial
Movie Details
- Director
- Peter Landesman
- Release Date
- 2015-11-12
- Runtime
- 123 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (2778)
Cast
- Will Smith
- Alec Baldwin
- Albert Brooks
- Gugu Mbatha-Raw
- David Morse
- Arliss Howard
- Mike O'Malley
- Eddie Marsan
- Hill Harper
- Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, YouTube TV, Netflix Standard with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Concussion about?
- A Nigerian-American forensic pathologist risks his career to prove that professional football can cause lasting brain trauma.
- What is Concussion like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Concussion as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Concussion violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Concussion as mild.
- What did critics think of Concussion?
- Critics found the film timely and solidly acted, especially praising Will Smith, but considered its conventional sports-drama structure too safe.
- Which films are like Concussion?
- Films with a similar feel include Erin Brockovich, The Insider, 42, and Dark Waters.
- How long is Concussion?
- Concussion runs 123 minutes.
- Where can I watch Concussion?
- In United States, Concussion streams on Netflix, YouTube TV, Netflix Standard with Ads.
