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Amistad

  • 1997
  • R
  • 2h 35m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
89K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,118
1,861
Djimon Hounsou in Amistad (1997)
Theatrical Trailer from Dreamworks
Play trailer2:32
2 Videos
99+ Photos
DocudramaLegal DramaPeriod DramaBiographyDramaHistory

When a revolt on a Spanish slave ship causes it to be captured off the coast of Long Island, the Americans take it upon them to decide whether the captives are free to return home.When a revolt on a Spanish slave ship causes it to be captured off the coast of Long Island, the Americans take it upon them to decide whether the captives are free to return home.When a revolt on a Spanish slave ship causes it to be captured off the coast of Long Island, the Americans take it upon them to decide whether the captives are free to return home.

  • Director
    • Steven Spielberg
  • Writer
    • David Franzoni
  • Stars
    • Djimon Hounsou
    • Matthew McConaughey
    • Anthony Hopkins
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    89K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,118
    1,861
    • Director
      • Steven Spielberg
    • Writer
      • David Franzoni
    • Stars
      • Djimon Hounsou
      • Matthew McConaughey
      • Anthony Hopkins
    • 282User reviews
    • 87Critic reviews
    • 64Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 4 Oscars
      • 11 wins & 44 nominations total

    Videos2

    Amistad
    Trailer 2:32
    Amistad
    What Are Scorsese and Spike Lee Really Like on Set? Anna Paquin Knows Best
    Video 2:02
    What Are Scorsese and Spike Lee Really Like on Set? Anna Paquin Knows Best
    What Are Scorsese and Spike Lee Really Like on Set? Anna Paquin Knows Best
    Video 2:02
    What Are Scorsese and Spike Lee Really Like on Set? Anna Paquin Knows Best

    Photos187

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    + 181
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    Top Cast99+

    Djimon Hounsou
    Djimon Hounsou
    • Cinque
    Matthew McConaughey
    Matthew McConaughey
    • Roger Sherman Baldwin
    Anthony Hopkins
    Anthony Hopkins
    • John Quincy Adams
    Morgan Freeman
    Morgan Freeman
    • Theodore Joadson
    Nigel Hawthorne
    Nigel Hawthorne
    • Martin Van Buren
    David Paymer
    David Paymer
    • Secretary John Forsyth
    Pete Postlethwaite
    Pete Postlethwaite
    • Holabird
    Stellan Skarsgård
    Stellan Skarsgård
    • Tappan
    Razaaq Adoti
    Razaaq Adoti
    • Yamba
    Abu Bakaar Fofanah
    • Fala
    Anna Paquin
    Anna Paquin
    • Queen Isabella
    Tomas Milian
    Tomas Milian
    • Calderon
    Chiwetel Ejiofor
    Chiwetel Ejiofor
    • Ensign Covey
    Derrick N. Ashong
    • Buakei
    Geno Silva
    Geno Silva
    • Ruiz
    John Ortiz
    John Ortiz
    • Montes
    Ralph Brown
    Ralph Brown
    • Lieutenant Gedney
    Darren E. Burrows
    Darren E. Burrows
    • Lieutenant Meade
    • (as Darren Burrows)
    • Director
      • Steven Spielberg
    • Writer
      • David Franzoni
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews282

    7.388.6K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'Amistad' Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Curabitur pretium tincidunt lacus.

    Nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam quis enim lobortis scelerisque
    Lorem ipsum dolorSit amet consecteturAdipiscing elitSed do eiusmodTempor incididuntUt labore et doloreMagna aliquaUt enim ad minimVeniam quisNostrud exercitation
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    What Is Steven Spielberg's Best Film?

    What Is Steven Spielberg's Best Film?

    Steven Spielberg has legions of devoted fans thanks to iconic films like Schindler's List, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and Saving Private Ryan. See how his movies stack up based on their IMDb ratings.
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    Production art
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    Related interests

    Jesse Eisenberg in The Social Network (2010)
    Docudrama
    Tom Cruise, Demi Moore, and Kevin Pollak in A Few Good Men (1992)
    Legal Drama
    Emma Watson, Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, and Eliza Scanlen in Little Women (2019)
    Period Drama
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    Biography
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    Drama
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    History

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      Sir Anthony Hopkins astounded the crew by delivering the entire seven-page courtroom speech in a single take. Steven Spielberg was so in awe, he couldn't bring himself to call him Tony, and insisted on addressing him as Sir Anthony throughout the shoot.
    • Goofs
      Martin Van Buren was never photographed while in office, and in 1839 photography was extremely new technology and not widespread. The first president to be photographed while in office was Van Buren's immediate successor William Henry Harrison in March 1841. Van Buren was photographed in 1845, well after he had left office, but he was not wearing a sash as depicted in the movie. Former Presidents John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson were also photographed that same year.
    • Quotes
      • John Quincy Adams: [to the Court] This man is black. We can all see that. But can we also see as easily that which is equally true: that he is the only true hero in this room? Now, if he were white, he wouldn't be standing before this court fighting for his life. If he were white and his enslavers were British, he wouldn't be standing, so heavy the weight of the medals and honors we would bestow upon him. Songs would be written about him. The great authors of our times would fill books about him. His story would be told and retold, in our classrooms. Our children, because we would make sure of it, would know his name as well as they know Patrick Henry's. Yet, if the South is right, what are we to do with that embarrassing, annoying document, The Declaration of Independence? What of its conceits? "All men created equal," "inalienable rights," "life, liberty," and so on and so forth? What on Earth are we to do with this? I have a modest suggestion.
      • [tears papers in half]
    • Crazy credits
      The events depicted did not historically occur at Fort El Morro
    • Alternate versions
      The board of film censors of Jamaica have excised the opening scenes, depicting a violent slave uprising on a ship, from all copies of the film released in Jamaican theatres.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper: Alien Resurrection/Welcome to Sarajevo/Flubber/Public Housing/Bent (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      Andante From Quartet No. 2 In B Flat Major
      Written by Giovanni Battista Viotti

      Performed by Quartetto Aira

      Courtesy of Dynamic SRL.

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    Details

    • Release date
      • December 12, 1997 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Mende
      • Spanish
      • Portuguese
    • Also known as
      • Chuyến Tàu Nô Lệ
    • Filming locations
      • San Juan, Puerto Rico
    • Production companies
      • DreamWorks Pictures
      • Home Box Office (HBO)
      • Amblin Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    • Budget
      • $36,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $44,229,441
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,573,523
      • Dec 14, 1997
    • Gross worldwide
      • $44,229,441
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 2h 35m(155 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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