Trailer
Summary
Filmed in the coal country of West Virginia, "Matewan" celebrates labor organizing in the context of a 1920s work stoppage.
Good for
- Friends night
- Teens
- Thought-provoking
Where to watch
Fingerprint
At a glance
Critics vs audiences
Critics and audiences agree
Critics 84Audiences 83GoodWatch 82
Tomatometer94%
Metascore73
Audience score93%
Letterboxd · 18 K ratings4.2/5
IMDb7.9
User score7.7
Box office
42%of its budget back
- Budget
- $4 M
- Worldwide
- $2 M
Worldwide it made back $2 M of the $4 M it cost.
Running time
2 h 12 min
Longer than most dramas, +23 min on the typical 109
typical 109132Half of all dramas run 98–125 min.
Reach
Streams in 7 countries, rent or buy in 28 more
Released
1987
August 28, 1987
39 years ago
Genres
DramaHistoryLanguage
English
Original language
Also spoken
ItalianMade in
- United States
Rated
- PG-13United States
Not for young kids: it's rated PG-13 in the United States for violence, and the viewing guide lists it for teens and adults.
What's in it
- ViolenceModerate
- Gore, disturbing imagesLittle or none
- Frightening scenesLittle or none
- Sex, nudityLittle or none
- Dark themesStrong
In white: what the content advisories name. Levels from the title analysis.
Viewing guide
AdultsFriends NightSolo WatchTeensThought-ProvokingNot listed for kids or family movie night.
24 of 49
Chris CooperJoe Kenehan
James Earl Jones'Few Clothes' Johnson
Mary McDonnellElma Radnor
Will OldhamDanny Radnor
David StrathairnPolice Chief Sid Hatfield
Ken JenkinsSephus Purcell
Kevin TigheBill Hickey
Gordon ClappTom Griggs
Bob GuntonC.E. Lively
Jace AlexanderHilllard Elkins
Joe GrifasiFausto
Nancy MetteBridey Mae Tolliver- JHJo HendersonMrs. Elkins
Josh MostelMayor Cabell Testerman
Gary McCleeryLudie
Maggie RenziRosaria
Tom WrightTom- MBMichael B. PrestonEllix (as Michael Preston)
- TAThomas A. CarlinTurley
- JCJenni ClineLuann
Michael MantellDoolin- JKJ.K. Kent LillyPappy's Voice (voice)
- JKJames KizerTolbert
- RSRonnie StapletonStennis
Directing · 4
- John Sayles Director, Writer
- Benita Allen Second Assistant Director
- Matia Karrell First Assistant Director
- John Tintori Script Supervisor
Production · 29
- Amir Jacob Malin Executive Producer
- Jerry Silva Executive Producer
- Mark Balsam Executive Producer
- Maggie Renzi Producer
- Peggy Rajski Production Manager, Producer
- Barbara Shapiro Casting
Camera · 15
- Haskell Wexler Director of Photography
- Stefan Czapsky Key Grip
- Newton Thomas Sigel Second Unit Director of Photography
- Sean Fogel Assistant Grip
- Robert K. Feldmann Grip
- Mitch Dubin Camera Operator
Editing · 3
- Sonya Polonsky Editor
- David Leonard Editorial Production Assistant
- Geraldine Peroni Assistant Editor
Sound · 9
- Mason Daring Original Music Composer
- Skip Lievsay Supervising Sound Editor
- Christopher Weir Assistant Sound Editor
- Tom Fleischman Additional Sound Re-Recording Mixer
- Philip Stockton Sound Editor
- Marissa Littlefield Assistant Sound Editor
Art · 16
- Nora Chavooshian Production Design
- Leslie A. Pope Set Decoration
- Jem Cohen Assistant Property Master
- Ann Edgeworth Property Master
- Daniel Boxer Assistant Set Dresser
- Jeff Butcher Art Department Assistant
Costume & Make-Up · 15
- Bill McKinney Set Dressing Production Assistant
- Lorna Scott Wardrobe Assistant
- Susan Lyall Assistant Costume Designer
- David Smith Set Dressing Production Assistant
- James Sarzotti Makeup & Hair
- David Halsey Makeup & Hair Assistant
Lighting · 4
- Morris Flam Gaffer
- Lynn Breschel Best Boy Electric
- Louisa Heyward Electrician
- Robert Bruce Electrician
Other crew · 27
- Edgard Mourino Stunt Coordinator
- Rachel Bower Set Production Assistant
- Gregory Jacobs Set Production Assistant
- Danny Aiello III Stunts
- Davide Ferrario Dialogue Coach
- Kevin Ball Set Production Assistant
More like this
Similar
Most like Matewan overall
Nearest on the related map: closest in everything it does to you, not one trait
- Exodus (1960)
GoodWatch score 67 - The Battle of Algiers (1966)
GoodWatch score 91 - Grand Illusion (1937)
GoodWatch score 90 - The Resistance Banker (2018)
GoodWatch score 69 - The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006)
GoodWatch score 79 - Quo Vadis, Aida? (2021)
GoodWatch score 90 - The Sand Pebbles (1966)
GoodWatch score 81 - I Am Cuba (1964)
GoodWatch score 89 - Salvador (1986)
GoodWatch score 77 - Samurai Rebellion (1967)
GoodWatch score 89 - Strike (1925)
GoodWatch score 88 - Julius Caesar (1953)
GoodWatch score 85 - Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
GoodWatch score 83 - Rome, Open City (1945)
GoodWatch score 91 - A Soldier's Story (1984)
GoodWatch score 75 - Paisan (1946)
GoodWatch score 89
Same genre
More drama movies
- Inglourious Basterds (2009)
GoodWatch score 76 - The Social Network (2010)
GoodWatch score 87 - Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
GoodWatch score 66 - 12 Years a Slave (2013)
GoodWatch score 88 - The Theory of Everything (2014)
GoodWatch score 76 - Almost Famous (2000)
GoodWatch score 86 - The Blind Side (2009)
GoodWatch score 67 - True Grit (2010)
GoodWatch score 86