Overview
A groundbreaking figure rises in the face of adversity, championing the rights of a marginalized community.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- sincere
- hopeful
- intimate
- lgbtq+ history month
- social justice film night
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as a humane, richly detailed, and triumphant biographical drama anchored by Sean Penn’s powerhouse performance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Harvey Milk’s relationships, camera shop, and campaign work are presented as interconnected forms of community building.
Milk converts community solidarity and gay purchasing power into electoral influence and legislative opposition.
The film follows San Francisco’s gay rights activism and electoral battles during the 1970s.
The story begins from a statement recorded late in Harvey Milk’s life and moves through flashbacks.
Films like Milk, and why
The Times of Harvey Milk
shared biographical drama form, political activism, historical injustice, and emotionally charged public leadership
Pride
shared lgbtq+ historical drama, community organizing, homophobia, and intimate activist relationships
Selma
shared political biography, reformist ambition, public opposition, and humane historical storytelling
Malcolm X
shared true-life political drama, movement building, moral conviction, and tragic public conflict
Movie Details
- Director
- Gus Van Sant
- Release Date
- 2008-11-05
- Runtime
- 128 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (2499)
Cast
- Sean Penn
- Emile Hirsch
- Josh Brolin
- Diego Luna
- James Franco
- Alison Pill
- Victor Garber
- Denis O'Hare
- Joseph Cross
- Stephen Spinella
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- History Vault
- 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 Milk about?
- A tender, politically charged portrait of Harvey Milk’s rise from camera-shop owner to pioneering gay-rights leader in 1970s San Francisco.
- What is Milk like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Milk as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Milk violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Milk as mild.
- What did critics think of Milk?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as a humane, richly detailed, and triumphant biographical drama anchored by Sean Penn’s powerhouse performance.
- Which films are like Milk?
- Films with a similar feel include The Times of Harvey Milk, Pride, Selma, and Malcolm X.
- How long is Milk?
- Milk runs 128 minutes.
- Where can I watch Milk?
- In United States, Milk streams on History Vault.
