Stamped From the Beginning | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

100% Tomatometer 28 Reviews 66% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings

Oscar-winning director Roger Ross Williams brings Dr. Ibram X. Kendi's New York Times bestseller to the screen with Stamped From the Beginning. Published in 2016, Dr. Kendi's National Book Award winner chronicles the entire story of anti-Black racist ideas and their staggering power over the course of American history.

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Critics Consensus

Looking pointedly to the past in an effort to help illuminate the present, Stamped from the Beginning is an outstanding documentary achievement.

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Critics Reviews

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Stamped From the Beginning | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Murtada Elfadl Variety The film does not pretend to be presenting radical or new beliefs. Yet by the end, it reveals the myths, the distortions and the made-up fallacies that have been presented as truth for centuries. And that is the most radical thing it could have done. Nov 25, 2023 Full Review Stamped From the Beginning | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Lisa Kennedy New York Times In addition to interviews and archival images, film clips and news footage, Williams (“Cassandro” “Life, Animated”) leans into animation. Nov 20, 2023 Full Review Stamped From the Beginning | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Eric Deggans NPR Won't necessarily surprise those who already know this history, but may still be tough to watch for those sensitive to stories about the exploitation of marginalized people. Nov 20, 2023 Full Review Stamped From the Beginning | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Edward Frumkin The Film Stage Unlike most racism-occupied documentaries that often conclude on a dark note, Williams uplifts his end with an honest, enlightened meaning of unity and an anti-racist society. There’s so much improvement and hope for a better nation. Rated: B Apr 5, 2024 Full Review Stamped From the Beginning | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Robert Roten Laramie Movie Scope 'Black people know what they want. They know what freedom and liberation will look like. And it doesn't look like this radical utopia. It looks a lot like the world that white people live in. The world that white people living in never question.' Rated: B Jan 11, 2024 Full Review Stamped From the Beginning | Rotten Tomatoes (6) tt stern-enzi WXIX-TV (Cincinnati, OH) [Roger Ross Williams] comes with a really high pedigree for this type of project and completely knocks it out of the park. Rated: A Dec 14, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Bob B Seemed appropriate to take up my time and attention on the weekend before MLK day. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/13/24 Full Review Jay B "interesting. but it would be nice if we could stop living in a past that doesn't affect us" That is not a review as much as a statement about themselves. It has nothing to do with the quality of the film and should be ignored when looking at the audience score. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/13/24 Full Review dave d A documentary feature that us heavy-handed at times, but with a purpose to open eyes and give a different perspective. There is no doubt certain shades of people have been given a disadvantage and this film makes that case very well. It might be hard for some majorities to hear that they may have been given more money for passing GO than their neighbor. What will be more difficult for those same people: to accept it. It's a very necessary documentary feature for the flaws on being very one-note. Final Score: 7/10 Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/25/23 Full Review B. S This is a film which harms society with its absurdity. Rated 1/5 Stars • Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/17/24 Full Review Robert B Ibram X. Kendi is the biggest grifter in the world. Rated 0.5/5 Stars • Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 12/09/23 Full Review Jonathan B Let's elevate each other, not divide. Rated 1/5 Stars • Rated 1 out of 5 stars 12/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

Roger Ross Williams Director Ibram X. Kendi Self Angela Davis Self Honorée Fanonne Jeffers Self Brittany Packnett Self David Teague Writer
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Synopsis Oscar-winning director Roger Ross Williams brings Dr. Ibram X. Kendi's New York Times bestseller to the screen with Stamped From the Beginning. Published in 2016, Dr. Kendi's National Book Award winner chronicles the entire story of anti-Black racist ideas and their staggering power over the course of American history.

Director
Roger Ross Williams

Producer
Alisa Payne, David Teague, Roger Ross Williams

Screenwriter
David Teague

Distributor
Netflix

Production Co
One Story Up Productions, Netflix

Rating
R (Nude Images|Language|Drug Content|Racism|Some Violent Content)

Genre
Documentary

Original Language
English

Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 10, 2023, Limited

Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 20, 2023

Runtime
1h 31m

Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
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