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Tsotsi

2005·Movie
1h 34min·R
75
GreatGoodWatch score

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Tsotsi fingerprint

Big heart, strong craft, a touch of humor.

Energy

Tense

  • Tension7
  • Fast Pace6
  • Violence6

Heart

Deeply moving and cathartic

Much of it is about growing up and family.

  • Pathos9
  • Catharsis8
  • Melancholy7

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Dark Humor3
  • Physical Comedy2

World

Everyday modern life, society, and crime

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion9
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Novelty7

Craft

Standout performances, characters, and direction

  • Acting9
  • Character Depth9
  • Direction8

Style

Standout cinematography

  • Cinematography8
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightPartner WatchSolo WatchTeensThought-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

In this world... Redemption comes just once.

A young South African boy from the Johannesburg ghetto named Tsotsi, meaning Gangster, leaves home as a child to get away from his helpless parents. Now a teenage thug, Tsotsi finds a baby in the back seat of a car he's just stolen. He decides that it is his responsibility to care for the infant and in the process learns that maybe the criminal life isn’t the best way.
Redemption ArcSouth African CinemaUrban DramaSocial RealismCrime ThrillerEmotional JourneyCharacter StudyGrittyPoverty & Humanity

Crew

Directed by:
Composed by:

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Tsotsi

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Tsotsi legally?

You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, and Plex. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Tsotsi worth watching?

75
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 75/100 (IMDb 7.2, Rotten Tomatoes 82%, and Metacritic 70). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Tsotsi rated?

RViolenceStrong languageDisturbing imagery

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: violence, strong language, and disturbing imagery.

How long is Tsotsi?

1 h 34 min

Tsotsi runs 1 h 34 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Tsotsi?

Critics76
Audiences76

Yes. Critics average 76 and audiences 76 out of 100, so both groups see Tsotsi much the same way.

Was Tsotsi a box office hit?

Budget$3 million
Box office$10 million

Yes. It cost about $3 million to make and earned $10 million worldwide, 3.3 times its budget.

What language is Tsotsi in?

TswanaSouthern SothoAfrikaansZuluEnglish

It was made in Tswana, with some Southern Sotho, Afrikaans, Zulu, English. Produced in South Africa, United Kingdom.

In how many countries can I watch Tsotsi?

61AEAOARATAUBOBRBZCACHCICLCMCO+47

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Tsotsi in 61 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Tsotsi use?

Spiteful SpitAnd Then What?Bait-and-Switch GunshotKick the DogRevised EndingMorality PetAnti-HeroChildren Raise YouSetting UpdateDramatic Gun CockReasonable Authority FigureToken Whiteand 5 more

TV Tropes lists 17 storytelling tropes for Tsotsi, including Spiteful Spit, And Then What?, Bait-and-Switch Gunshot.