Overview
A powerful journey of courage and resilience in the face of oppression.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- harrowing
- inspirational
- tense
- historical film night
- social justice discussion
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Cynthia Erivo's committed performance, the film's historical significance, and its visual craft while finding its conventional biopic storytelling formulaic.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Harriet Tubman's repeated escapes and rescue missions frame her courage, ingenuity, and tenacity as the emotional center of the story.
The plot follows Tubman's escape and subsequent missions to guide enslaved people toward freedom through the Underground Railroad.
The film's historical settings and John Toll's cinematography provide a visually substantial backdrop for Tubman's dangerous journeys.
The story foregrounds slavery, fugitive resistance, and Harriet Tubman's lasting place in African American history.
Films like Harriet, and why
12 Years a Slave
Shares a historical biopic focus on an African American freedom fighter confronting slavery, racism, and institutional oppression.
The Birth of a Nation
Shares an inspirational historical drama structure centered on resistance to slavery and the pursuit of liberation.
Suffragette
Shares a female-led period drama about courage, political conviction, and defiance against oppressive social systems.
Movie Details
- Director
- Kasi Lemmons
- Release Date
- 2019-11-01
- Runtime
- 125 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (962)
Cast
- Cynthia Erivo
- Leslie Odom Jr.
- Janelle Monáe
- Clarke Peters
- Vanessa Bell Calloway
- Omar J. Dorsey
- Henry Hunter Hall
- Joseph Lee Anderson
- Antonio J Bell
- Zackary Momoh
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
- 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 Harriet about?
- Harriet dramatizes Harriet Tubman's transformation from escaped slave to fearless Underground Railroad conductor and symbol of liberation.
- What is Harriet like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Harriet as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Harriet violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Harriet as moderate.
- What did critics think of Harriet?
- Critics broadly praised Cynthia Erivo's committed performance, the film's historical significance, and its visual craft while finding its conventional biopic storytelling formulaic.
- Which films are like Harriet?
- Films with a similar feel include 12 Years a Slave, The Birth of a Nation, and Suffragette.
- How long is Harriet?
- Harriet runs 125 minutes.
- Where can I watch Harriet?
- In United States, Harriet streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
