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Judas and the Black Messiah
CAST & DIRECTOR
Directed by Shaka King. With Daniel Kaluuya, LaKeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons.
7.3/10
MOVIHERO RATINGWHAT IT'S ABOUT
Bill O'Neal infiltrates the Black Panthers on the orders of FBI Agent Mitchell and J. Edgar Hoover. As Black Panther Chairman Fred Hampton ascends—falling for a fellow revolutionary en route—a battle wages for O’Neal’s soul.
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7.3/10
MOVIHERO RATINGYOUR WATCHLISTBill O'Neal infiltrates the Black Panthers on the orders of FBI Agent Mitchell and J. Edgar Hoover. As Black Panther Chairman Fred Hampton ascends—falling for a fellow…
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RELEASE SNAPSHOT
Release snapshot for Judas and the Black Messiah.
MoviHero lists February 12, 2021 as the release date for Judas and the Black Messiah. Shaka King is the listed director. The listed cast includes Daniel Kaluuya as Fred Hampton, LaKeith Stanfield as Bill O'Neal, Jesse Plemons as Roy Mitchell, Dominique Fishback as Deborah Johnson. A trailer and 5 stills are available on this page.
Release dateFebruary 12, 2021
GenresDrama · History
Runtime2h 5m
DirectorShaka King
CastDaniel Kaluuya as Fred Hampton, LaKeith Stanfield as Bill O'Neal, Jesse Plemons as Roy Mitchell, Dominique Fishback as Deborah Johnson
TrailerAvailable on this page
Images5 stills
BEFORE YOU PRESS PLAY
Is Judas and the Black Messiah right for tonight?
Pacing, attention and emotional impact are estimates from the current MoviHero Watch Profile, not verified scene-by-scene reviews.
How much time should I set aside?
Judas and the Black Messiah runs 2h 5m. Allow extra time for breaks.
Is it slow or fast?
The current MoviHero pacing estimate is 5/10: a middle-ground pace.
Is it a good choice when I am tired?
The attention estimate is 6/10. Expect to follow the story rather than use it as background viewing.
How emotionally intense is it?
The emotional-impact estimate is 5/10, suggesting a moderate emotional load. This does not tell you whether the ending is happy or sad.
CHANGE ONE THING
Like this, but...
These share a listed genre with Judas and the Black Messiah. Profile differences are estimates, not a guarantee of the same story or mood.
MOVIE RATING
MoviHero Rating
MoviHero Rating: 7.3/10 from 1,777 votes. Updated Nov 3, 2026.
Rating data supplied by TMDB, shown on a 10-point scale. MoviHero audience ratings are calculated separately from scores submitted here.
MOVIHERO AUDIENCE RATING
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WHAT WATCHING IT FEELS LIKE
Watch Profile
Seven estimates of the viewing experience, based on the stored Watch Profile. These are separate from the movie rating and are not verified scene-by-scene assessments.
Pacing5/10
Emotional Impact5/10
Mind-Bending2/10
Scary1/10
Violence5/10
Rewatchability5/10
Attention Required6/10
VIEWER REVIEWS
What viewers say about Judas and the Black Messiah
Selected viewer reactions, in their own words. These excerpts reflect individual opinions, not an overall verdict.
Viewer reaction
“Shaka King's Judas and the Black Messiah is a powerful, meticulously crafted film about state-sanctioned murder.”
Viewer reaction
“It’s a bummer when a film has an important historical story to tell but the finished product just isn’t very good.”
Viewer reaction
“I haven't seen a dramatic movie that talks so clearly about the Black Panther Party, clearly its chief and its members are the conspiracy that…”
More reactions (1)
Viewer reaction
“Racism has all too often reared its ugly head in recent years with the rise of extremist groups who felt emboldened by recent political climates.”
Selected review excerpts supplied by TMDB. Opinions belong to their original authors.
WORDS THAT STAY WITH YOU
Memorable lines
Reveal a line containing a spoiler
“Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed”
A CLOSER LOOK
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CAST & CREW
The people who make it land.
CHARACTERS IN THIS MOVIE
Follow the character.
Reviewed MoviHero character guides connected to this movie.
otherDeborah JohnsonDeborah Johnson appears in Judas and the Black Messiah (2021).Open character guide otherBill O'NealBill O'Neal appears in Judas and the Black Messiah (2021).Open character guide otherFred HamptonFred Hampton appears in Judas and the Black Messiah (2021).Open character guide otherJimmy PalmerJimmy Palmer appears in Judas and the Black Messiah (2021).Open character guide otherRoy MitchellRoy Mitchell appears in Judas and the Black Messiah (2021).Open character guide otherWayneWayne appears in Judas and the Black Messiah (2021).Open character guide
SIMILAR GENRES & STORY THEMES
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