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Trailer

Native Son

1986Movie1 h 51 minPG

Drama
56
DecentGoodWatch score
IMDb6.0
56
DecentGoodWatch score
IMDb6.0

Summary

In 1940s Chicago, a young black man takes a job as a chauffeur to a white family, which takes a turn for the worse when he accidentally kills the teenage daughter of the couple and then tries to cover it up.

Good for

  • Friends night
  • Binge-friendly
  • Thought-provoking

Skip it if

  • You need an uplifting mood

Where to watch

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Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

Movies with

Cast

20 of 20

Crew

Directed by
Jerrold Freedman
Written by
Richard Wright, Richard Wesley
Produced by
Diane Silver
Music by
James Mtume

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

December 24, 1986 · 1 h 51 min · PG

Released
December 24, 1986
Runtime
1 h 51 min
Age rating
PG
Content
Violence, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$2 million
Box office
$1 million
Available in
4 countries
Keywords
based on novel or book

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream Native Son?"

Questions about Native Son

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Native Son?

Kanopy

In the United States, Native Son is free with ads on Kanopy.

Is Native Son worth watching?

56
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 56 (IMDb 6).

Is Native Son okay for kids?

PGViolenceDisturbing imagery

Better for older viewers: it's rated PG in the United States for violence and disturbing imagery, and the viewing guide lists it for adults.

Will I feel good after watching Native Son?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for bleakness and 8 for melancholy, against 1 for hopefulness.

Was Native Son a box office flop?

Budget$2 million
Box office$1 million

Yes: it cost about $2 million to make and earned $1 million worldwide, 65% of its budget.