How to Survive a Plague
A galvanizing archival portrait of ACT UP and TAG activists who fought political indifference and helped transform AIDS treatment.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- angry
- urgent
- mournful
- historical reflection
- social justice viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the documentary as an angry, powerful, stirring, and brilliantly constructed account of AIDS activists who forced action and medical change.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
ACT UP and TAG members recount organizing, protest strategy, and treatment advocacy alongside period footage.
The film follows LGBTQ activists challenging official inaction while seeking effective HIV/AIDS treatment.
ACT UP and TAG activism is shown influencing research, drug approval, and the transformation of AIDS treatment.
Archival demonstrations and organizing footage create a direct, confrontational record of the AIDS crisis.
Films like How to Survive a Plague, and why
The Times of Harvey Milk
activist documentary focused on LGBTQ history, community organizing, and institutional change
United in Anger: A History of ACT UP
powerful documentary about HIV/AIDS, queer community memory, and political neglect
Paris Is Burning
urgent social-justice documentary combining archival footage, testimony, and grassroots activism
Movie Details
- Director
- David France
- Release Date
- 2012-09-21
- Runtime
- 109 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (82)
Cast
- Peter Staley
- Larry Kramer
- Iris Long
- Bob Rafsky
- Mark Harrington
- Anthony Fauci
- David Barr
- Jim Eigo
- Ann Northrop
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, Sundance Now
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is How to Survive a Plague about?
- A galvanizing archival portrait of ACT UP and TAG activists who fought political indifference and helped transform AIDS treatment.
- What is How to Survive a Plague like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of How to Survive a Plague as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is How to Survive a Plague violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in How to Survive a Plague as mild.
- What did critics think of How to Survive a Plague?
- Critics broadly regard the documentary as an angry, powerful, stirring, and brilliantly constructed account of AIDS activists who forced action and medical change.
- Which films are like How to Survive a Plague?
- Films with a similar feel include The Times of Harvey Milk, United in Anger: A History of ACT UP, and Paris Is Burning.
- How long is How to Survive a Plague?
- How to Survive a Plague runs 109 minutes.
- Where can I watch How to Survive a Plague?
- In United States, How to Survive a Plague streams on Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, Sundance Now.
