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9 Films That Provide Insight Into Martin Luther King Jr.’s Life and Legacy

Fifty-nine years ago this August 28th, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I Have A Dream” speech– a speech that cemented his status as one of the United States’ most profound civil rights icons. To celebrate his life and the impacts of his legacy that are still as vital as ever, we’ve put together a list of insightful films about MLK that’ll take you on a journey through the life of Dr. King as a husband, a spiritual leader and one of the greatest activists in history. From revealing documentaries to dramatic recreations based on true events, these films all honor the work of a hero whose message is still as relevant and resonant today as it was nearly 60 years ago.

Selma (2014)

Selma garnered an array of awards and nominations in 2015 for its portrayal of Dr. King. and his followers’ famous march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. Inspired by historic events, the film takes place in the mid-1960s when the Civil Rights Act had technically desegregated the South but the law often only existed on paper.

Discrimination was still commonplace, making it difficult for many African Americans to register to vote in the South. In 1965, a group of civil rights activists led by King turned the Alabama town into a headquarters for change as they launched a suffrage campaign that would capture the attention of the entire nation. Directed by Ava DuVernay , this film chronicles the march itself and illuminates Dr. King’s central role in defining it.

Selma is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video .

Betty and Coretta (2013)

Betty and Coretta delves into the often overlooked lives of Coretta Scott King and Dr. Betty Shabazz, the widows of MLK and Malcolm X. After their husbands were both assassinated, the two women formed a friendship as they strived to move through grief and carry on the message of racial equality.

Starring Angela Bassett as Coretta Scott King and Mary J. Blige as Dr. Betty Shabazz, the movie shines a light on two dignified women who took a stand for what they believed in and vowed to continue their husbands’ activism while raising children as single mothers.

Betty and Coretta is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video .

King in the Wilderness (2018)

King in the Wilderness is a candid documentary directed by Peter Kunhardt, who didn’t skirt around the rough edges of MLK as a person and a leader. The film originally premiered at Sundance in 2018 and went on to win an Emmy for Outstanding Historical Documentary.

King in the Wilderness provides an inside look at the last two years of King’s life, exploring the struggles that resulted from his often misinterpreted commitment to nonviolence. By examining his relationships with everyone from the president of the United States to Black Power Movement leaders, the documentary presents an intimate portrait of King that only makes him more fascinating.

King in the Wilderness is available to stream on HBO Max .

Our Friend, Martin (1999)

If you’re looking for a great movie for kids, Our Friend, Martin is an ideal choice. This animated movie follows the story of a Black teenager named Miles, who is initially not so thrilled about a class field trip geared towards learning about MLK.

But when Miles and his best friend Randy get sent back in time, they find themselves experiencing several key events of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life firsthand. The film incorporates an important message and is voiced by an all-star cast, including Samuel L. Jackson, Whoopi Goldberg and James Earl Jones.

Our Friend, Martin is available to stream through Roku devices .

Boycott (2001)

Boycott is based on the book Daybreak of Freedom by Stewart Burns and focuses on the historic Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott of 1955 and 1956. King was just 26 years old at the time, and the film tells the story not just of his life as a civil rights activist but also about his experiences as a young husband and father during this time period. It also delves deeply into MLK’s relationship with his father and his interactions with Rosa Parks, another activist who played one of the most pivotal roles in the protests against Montgomery’s racist public transit policies.

Boycott is available to stream on Hulu and HBO Max .

Legacy of Love (2020)

Legacy of Love is a documentary by director Roberto Mighty that centers on MLK and his wife Coretta Scott King as they first met and fell in love. A fascinating look at the formative years of one of the world’s greatest civil rights couples, the film highlights their journey as young people pursuing higher education and the ways these early days began to shape their activism.

Complete with exclusive interviews, the documentary sheds light on a time in the couple’s life that’s often overlooked. Although the film is short — just 26 minutes long — you’ll come away with a deeper understanding of the ways the couple’s relationship helped prepare each of them for their shared journey that would change the world.

Legacy of Love is available to watch via Boston’s PBS member television station, WGBH World .

MLK/FBI (2021)

It may come as no surprise that MLK did not escape the notice of J. Edgar Hoover or the FBI back in the 1960s. Few people, however, are likely to have guessed how intense and invasive the intelligence organization’s obsession with King became. In MLK/FBI , Oscar-nominated filmmaker Sam Pollard presents these horrible truths hidden in a series of newly declassified files.

From illegal wiretapping to blackmail, the extent of the FBI’s campaign to discredit and destroy Dr. King’s progress and legacy is revealed in this illuminating documentary. The film manages to raise some truly uncomfortable questions, many of which history has yet to fully answer.

MLK/FBI is available to stream on Hulu .

I Am MLK Jr. (2018)

I AM MLK Jr. is a feature-length documentary directed by Michael Hamilton and John Barbisan. Not only does the film honor King as a civil rights icon, but it also examines his life from a modern-day perspective. By highlighting how the same issues that King fought for and against are still present today, the documentary makes it clear that MLK’s work is still urgently relevant decades after his death.

The film also utilizes interviews conducted in the same churches where King preached during his lifetime. Everyone from congresspeople to civil rights activists of today weighs in to help viewers gain a deeper understanding of MLK’s goals and their true importance.

I Am MLK Jr. is available to rent on Amazon Prime Video .

I Am Not Your Negro (2016)

This powerful documentary and visual essay is based on a memoir started by acclaimed Black author James Baldwin, who set out to chronicle the lives and assassinations of his three friends, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Medgar Evers. Though Baldwin had completed only 30 pages of the manuscript at the time of his death in 1987, filmmaker Raoul Peck picked up where he left off. I Am Not Your Negro “will make you rethink race,” New York Times film critic A.O. Scott explains, and it’ll also give you a unique perspective on King’s legacy — one informed by someone personally familiar with his influence.

I Am Not Your Negro is available to stream on YouTube and Amazon Prime Video .

Fifty Shades of Grey

Literature student Anastasia Steele's life changes forever when she meets handsome, yet tormented, billionaire Christian Grey. Literature student Anastasia Steele's life changes forever when she meets handsome, yet tormented, billionaire Christian Grey. Literature student Anastasia Steele's life changes forever when she meets handsome, yet tormented, billionaire Christian Grey.

Sam Taylor-Johnson
Kelly Marcel
Dakota Johnson
Jamie Dornan
Jennifer Ehle
1.6K User reviews
410 Critic reviews
46 Metascore
See more at IMDbPro
9 wins & 30 nominations total

Anastasia Steele

Christian Grey

Elliot Grey

Paul Clayton

Mr. Clayton

WSU University President
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

Did you know

Trivia Remote controlled cameras were utilized for a majority of the sex scenes so the set could be more private for the actors, though stunt coordinator Melissa R. Stubbs said in an interview that in some of the wilder scenes, the two lead actors had to spend hours naked in front of a full crew.
Goofs When Kate looks on the web for pictures of Christian Grey, you can see 2 of him that are taken from scenes that happen further on in the film. Christian in the coffee shop and him in Clayton's Hardware Store.

Christian Grey : [answers phone] Anastasia.

Anastasia Steele : Yeah, this is me. I'm sending back your expensive books because I already have copies of those. Thanks though for the kind gesture.

Christian Grey : You're welcome. Where are you?

Anastasia Steele : Oh, I'm in line because I have to pee really bad.

Christian Grey : Anastasia, have you been drinking?

Anastasia Steele : [laughs] Yeah! I have, Mr. Fancy Pants. You hit... you hit the hail on the nead. I mean the head right on the nail.

Christian Grey : Listen to me. I want you to go home right now.

Anastasia Steele : You're so bossy! Ana, let's go for a coffee. No, stay away from me Ana! I don't want you! Get away. Come here, come here! Go away!

Christian Grey : That's it. Tell me where you are.

Anastasia Steele : A long way from Seattle! A long way from you.

Christian Grey : Which bar? What's it called?

Anastasia Steele : I don't know. I gotta go, though.

Christian Grey : Which bar Ana?

Anastasia Steele : [to girl in line] I told him. Right?

Alternate versions 3 minutes and 14 seconds were cut from the R-rated version and released as a Blu-ray exclusive edition that includes longer sex scenes.
Connections Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Morgan Freeman/Kesha/Tweedy (2014)
Soundtracks I Put a Spell on You (Shades of Grey Version) Written by Screamin' Jay Hawkins (as Jay Hawkins) Performed by Annie Lennox Additional string arrangement by Danny Elfman Courtesy of Blue Note Records and Island Records Ltd. Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User reviews 1.6K

Feb 12, 2015
How long is Fifty Shades of Grey? Powered by Alexa
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February 13, 2015 (United States)
United States
Official Facebook
Official site
50 Shades of Grey
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Focus Features
Michael De Luca Productions
Trigger Street Productions
See more company credits at IMDbPro
$40,000,000 (estimated)
$166,167,230
$85,171,450
Feb 15, 2015
$569,651,467

Technical specs

Runtime 2 hours 5 minutes
Dolby Digital

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Fifty Shades of Grey

2015, Romance/Drama, 2h 5m

What to know

Critics Consensus

While creatively better endowed than its print counterpart, Fifty Shades of Grey is a less than satisfying experience on the screen. Read critic reviews

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Fifty shades of grey videos, fifty shades of grey photos.

When college senior Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) steps in for her sick roommate to interview prominent businessman Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) for their campus paper, little does she realize the path her life will take. Christian, as enigmatic as he is rich and powerful, finds himself strangely drawn to Ana, and she to him. Though sexually inexperienced, Ana plunges headlong into an affair -- and learns that Christian's true sexual proclivities push the boundaries of pain and pleasure.

Rating: R (Language|Graphic Nudity|Sexual Dialogue|Some Unusual Behavior|Strong Sexual Content)

Genre: Romance, Drama

Original Language: English

Director: Sam Taylor-Johnson

Producer: Michael De Luca , E.L. James , Dana Brunetti

Writer: Kelly Marcel

Release Date (Theaters): Feb 13, 2015 wide

Release Date (Streaming): Jan 5, 2016

Box Office (Gross USA): $166.1M

Runtime: 2h 5m

Distributor: Focus Features

Production Co: Michael De Luca

Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

Cast & Crew

Dakota Johnson

Anastasia Steele

Jamie Dornan

Christian Grey

Jennifer Ehle

Eloise Mumford

Victor Rasuk

Luke Grimes

Marcia Gay Harden

Max Martini

Andrew Airlie

Callum Keith Rennie

Rachel Skarsten

Emily Fonda

Sam Taylor-Johnson

Kelly Marcel

Screenwriter

Michael De Luca

Dana Brunetti

Marcus Viscidi

Executive Producer

Danny Elfman

Original Music

Seamus McGarvey

Cinematographer

David Wasco

Production Design

Debra Neil-Fisher

Film Editing

Anne V. Coates

Lisa Gunning

Mark Bridges

Costume Design

Francine Maisler

Laurel Bergman

Art Director

Sandy Reynolds-Wasco

Set Decoration

Sandy Walker

News & Interviews for Fifty Shades of Grey

The 10 Most Unintentionally Unsexy Sex Scenes in the Movies

Oscars 2016: Full Winners List

Razzie Awards 2016 “Winners” Announced

Critic Reviews for Fifty Shades of Grey

Audience reviews for fifty shades of grey.

I won't even get into why the novel sounds like utterly asinine stuff and concentrate why the movie is probably a lot more tame and also nothing to get excited about. Sure, there are some entertaining and amusing parts and, of course, a few sex scenes that show a lot of Johnson, but once the whips are whipped out things get really repetitive until there suddenly isn't much of an ending and the film just stops. Especially the last 15 minutes with all the crying are really boring and annoying. Avoid and watch porn instead.

With unintentionally hilarious dialogue, terrible writing, bad plot and just about everything being a disaster. Fifty Shades of Grey is nothing more than a porno with piss poor storytelling and dialogue. Though to be honest most pornos have better stories than this disaster of a flick. Best part, we're getting 2 more of these.... yay?....... please don't waste your time with this movie...

Though the depiction of a BDSM relationship as solely abusive is ridiculous, and the characters are bland cardboard cutouts, some of this I actually enjoyed. It makes fun of itself occasionally and can actually warrant a laugh. Visually this film is pretty well shot, with balanced, eye catching frames, and beautiful visuals of the Seattle landscape. The soundtrack and songs were really tonally perfect, though I didn't see the film as a love story so much as an off-balance depiction of an already degraded and misunderstood group of people.

Not as good as the book but still interesting

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Tease of Fifty Shades Darker

Featurettes, behind the shades, e.l. james & fifty shades, fifty shades: the pleasure of pain, the world of: christian grey, jamie dornan profile, christian grey profile, christian's apartment, a rich man's toys, christian's wardrobe, the world of: ana, dakota johnson profile, all about ana, ana's world, ana's wardrobe, the world of: friends & family, eloise mumford, victor rasuk, luke grimes, marcia gay harden, jennifer ehle, max martini, music videos, skylar grey - "i know you", the weekend - "earned it", behind the scenes of "earned it", theatrical trailer, international trailer, rotten tomatoes® score.

Here's a film that is offensive only in how inoffensive it proves to be.

Feels like an elegantly made - the cinematography and score are top notch - night time soap opera.

At least, the film goes out of the way to show the use of condoms.

If this is love, no thanks.

In terms of story and character, this film is in desperate need of a safe word.

Overlong, too clinical in design, and based on lowest common denominator entertainment (or so I'm told), Fifty Shades of Grey still manages to be engaging, funny, and unexpectedly human.

Given that this is her second film, [Sam] Taylor-Johnson directs the film with taste and care by focusing on the interactions between Ana and Christian rather than the sexual side of the story and the film looks stunning.

Fifty Shades of Grey will draw you in out of curiosity and possibly hopes of a good movie, then leave you wondering why you agreed to such a thing in the first place, much like the main character.

Funny that no one seemed to understand in the making of Grey that watching two vaguely defined characters engage in ceaseless rounds of conservatively filmed grimaces and stifled moans gets tiresome quickly.

There is little more critical than to say a third of the film had people laughing at dialogue, and the other two thirds wiggling in their seats, not from discomfort or innervation, but from boredom.

Additional Info

Genre : Drama
Release Date : February 11, 2015
Languages : English, Spanish
Captions : English, Spanish
Audio Format : 5.1

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Trends & Culture

"Freed: Fifty Shades Freed as Told by Christian" Is Coming June 1

The book is the final installment of the "Fifty Shades as Told by Christian" trilogy.

Courtesy of Amazon

Mr. Grey will see you now—well, in June, that is. The third and final installment of Fifty Shades of Grey as Told by Christian— the spinoff series of the original trilogy , which follows Ana and Christian's love story from the perspective of Mr. Grey (a.k.a. Christian)—will be dropping June 1, 2021.

E.L. James, the British author responsible for the insanely successful series-turned-blockbuster-hit, shared the release date of the final installment to her Instagram over the weekend. "SAVE THE DATE!! Freed (Fifty Shades Freed as told by Christian) will be with you in North America and the UK on June 1, 2021," she wrote.

We see the couple finally tie the knot in Fifty Shades Freed, which means we're getting a second (!!) wedding in this new book—third if you're counting Dakota Johnson and Jamie Doran's portrayal of the nuptials during the movie adaptation.

James revealed that the book's release has been a long time coming. "This story has been a labor of love, one that my readers have been eagerly awaiting," she said in a press release on Sunday. "For me, just as for Anastasia Steele, Christian is a challenging, infuriating, and endlessly fascinating character. Living in his head is exhausting, but I got to explore aspects of his life in Freed that we only glimpsed in the original trilogy, and to follow his emotional growth in response to Ana's love and compassion."

The original Fifty Shades books were a huge hit, sitting atop The New York Times bestseller list for 133 consecutive weeks, according to People — before the books were turned into a steamy, mega-successful film series starring Johnson and Doran! Freed: Fifty Shades Freed as Told by Christian is available for preorder now.