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Milk
CAST & DIRECTOR
Directed by Gus Van Sant. With Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin.
7.2/10
MOVIHERO RATINGWHAT IT'S ABOUT
The true story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man ever elected to public office. In San Francisco in the late 1970s, Harvey Milk becomes an activist for gay rights and inspires others to join him in his fight for equal rights that should be available to all Americans.
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7.2/10
MOVIHERO RATINGYOUR WATCHLISTThe true story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man ever elected to public office. In San Francisco in the late 1970s, Harvey Milk becomes an activist for gay righ…
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RELEASE SNAPSHOT
Release snapshot for Milk.
MoviHero lists November 5, 2008 as the release date for Milk. Gus Van Sant is the listed director. The listed cast includes Sean Penn as Harvey Milk, Emile Hirsch as Cleve Jones, Josh Brolin as Dan White, Diego Luna as Jack Lira. A trailer and 5 stills are available on this page.
Release dateNovember 5, 2008
GenresDrama · History
Runtime2h 8m
DirectorGus Van Sant
CastSean Penn as Harvey Milk, Emile Hirsch as Cleve Jones, Josh Brolin as Dan White, Diego Luna as Jack Lira
TrailerAvailable on this page
Images5 stills
BEFORE YOU PRESS PLAY
Is Milk 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?
Milk runs 2h 8m. Allow extra time for breaks.
Is it slow or fast?
The current MoviHero pacing estimate is 4/10: a more patient 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 Milk. Profile differences are estimates, not a guarantee of the same story or mood.
MOVIE RATING
MoviHero Rating
MoviHero Rating: 7.2/10 from 2,523 votes. Updated Nov 2, 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
What did you think?
Your movie rating. Your audience score.
CHECK AVAILABILITY
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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.
Pacing4/10
Emotional Impact5/10
Mind-Bending2/10
Scary1/10
Violence5/10
Rewatchability5/10
Attention Required6/10
VIEWER REVIEWS
What viewers say about Milk
Selected viewer reactions, in their own words. These excerpts reflect individual opinions, not an overall verdict.
Viewer reaction
“Milk shakes its nutrient-rich substance to produce a delectably important biopic.”
Viewer reaction
“A brilliantly informed piece of history. I learnt more than I thought I would and enjoyed it even more. Enjoyed probably isn’t the word as…”
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
“This is Harvey Milk speaking- Friday, November the 18th. This is only to be played in the event of my death by assassination.”
A CLOSER LOOK
Stay with the image.
CAST & CREW
The people who make it land.
CHARACTERS IN THIS MOVIE
Follow the character.
Reviewed MoviHero character guides connected to this movie.
otherAnne KronenbergAnne Kronenberg appears in Milk (2008).Open character guide otherCleve JonesCleve Jones appears in Milk (2008).Open character guide otherScott SmithScott Smith appears in Milk (2008).Open character guide otherDan WhiteDan White appears in Milk (2008).Open character guide otherHarvey MilkHarvey Milk appears in Milk (2008).Open character guide otherJack LiraJack Lira appears in Milk (2008).Open character guide
SIMILAR GENRES & STORY THEMES
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