Overview
A groundbreaking story of courage and deception unfolds in a racially charged America.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- witty
- confrontational
- angry
- political film night
- historical drama night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Spike Lee's energetic, trenchant fusion of undercover crime entertainment, racial satire, and contemporary political commentary.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The undercover operation is framed as an entertaining historical caper while the film draws explicit parallels between 1970s white supremacy and present-day politics.
Ron Stallworth enters Ku Klux Klan circles by telephone while Flip Zimmerman adopts the physical role of Ron's invented white persona.
The film turns Klan rituals, conspiracy, and racist posturing into targets of ridicule while preserving the threat posed to Black characters and activists.
The 1970s investigation is linked to contemporary racial politics and the aftermath of Charlottesville in the film's broader framing.
Films like BlacKkKlansman, and why
Get Out
shares a provocative blend of racism-focused social commentary, genre entertainment, and revisionist historical drama
The Departed
shares undercover crime plotting, institutional racism, and a tense but sharply satirical tone
Selma
shares civil rights themes, confrontational political filmmaking, and dramatized historical struggle
Django Unchained
shares revisionist history, racial violence, dark humor, and an intentionally provocative contemporary political perspective
Movie Details
- Director
- Spike Lee
- Release Date
- 2018-08-09
- Runtime
- 136 min
- Rating
- 7.5 / 10 (8291)
Cast
- John David Washington
- Adam Driver
- Topher Grace
- Laura Harrier
- Alec Baldwin
- Jasper Pääkkönen
- Corey Hawkins
- Paul Walter Hauser
- Ryan Eggold
- Isiah Whitlock Jr.
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- 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 BlacKkKlansman about?
- A Black Colorado police officer infiltrates the Ku Klux Klan through an audacious undercover operation that turns racial danger into incendiary political satire.
- What is BlacKkKlansman like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of BlacKkKlansman as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is BlacKkKlansman violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in BlacKkKlansman as moderate.
- What did critics think of BlacKkKlansman?
- Critics broadly praised Spike Lee's energetic, trenchant fusion of undercover crime entertainment, racial satire, and contemporary political commentary.
- Which films are like BlacKkKlansman?
- Films with a similar feel include Get Out, The Departed, Selma, and Django Unchained.
- How long is BlacKkKlansman?
- BlacKkKlansman runs 136 minutes.
- Where can I watch BlacKkKlansman?
- In United States, BlacKkKlansman is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
