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A Lesson Before Dying

1999·Movie
1h 41min·PG-13
72
GoodGoodWatch score

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Not streaming in United States. Where it is:

A Lesson Before Dying fingerprint

Strong craft, a touch of humor.

Energy

Tense

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension7
  • Adrenaline4
  • Fast Pace4

Heart

Deeply moving and melancholic

  • Pathos9
  • Melancholy8
  • Catharsis8

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay4
  • Dark Humor2
  • Situational Comedy1

World

Society, history, and the mind

  • Dialogue Centrality8
  • World Immersion7
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Standout performances and characters

  • Acting8
  • Character Depth8
  • Direction7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Music Composition7
  • Editing6

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFriends NightPartner WatchSolo WatchTeensBackground WatchDrop-in FriendlyThought-Provoking

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

A young man's destiny becomes a teacher's journey.

In the 1940s South, an African-American man is wrongly accused of the killing a a white store owner. In his defense, his white attorney equates him with a lowly hog, to indicate that he didn't have the sense to know what he was doing. Nevertheless convicted, he is sentenced to die, but his godmother and the aunt of the local schoolteacher convince school teacher go to the convicted man's cell each day to try to reaffirm to him that he is not an animal but a man with dignity.
1940s SouthRacial InjusticeWrongful AccusationDignitySocial CommentaryCharacter DevelopmentHistorical DramaEducation

Crew

Directed by:
Produced by:

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about A Lesson Before Dying

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream A Lesson Before Dying legally?

GoodWatch doesn't know of a legal streaming option for A Lesson Before Dying in the United States right now. Pick another country in the Where to Watch section to check elsewhere.

Is A Lesson Before Dying worth watching?

72
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 72/100 (IMDb 6.7 and Rotten Tomatoes 80%). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is A Lesson Before Dying rated?

PG-13ViolenceStrong languageSuicide themes

It's rated PG-13 in the United States. Content advisories: violence, strong language, and suicide themes.

How long is A Lesson Before Dying?

1 h 41 min

A Lesson Before Dying runs 1 h 41 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on A Lesson Before Dying?

Critics80
Audiences72

Not quite. Critics rate A Lesson Before Dying higher (80) than audiences (72). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

What language is A Lesson Before Dying in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch A Lesson Before Dying?

19ATBEBFCDCHCIDEFRGFLUMCMGMLNE+5

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for A Lesson Before Dying in 19 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.