Amistad (1997): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Amistad is a 1997 historical drama directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Matthew McConaughey, Morgan Freeman and Anthony Hopkins. It runs 2 hours 35 minutes and earned $44.2 million worldwide on a $36 million budget. It won 1 award from 11 nominations, among them 4 Oscar nominations. Critics gave it 78% on Rotten Tomatoes and 64 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 35m (155 min)
- Director
- Steven Spielberg
- Original language
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English - Studio
- DreamWorks Distribution
- Budget
- $36M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Amistad About?
The premise of Amistad without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In this powerful drama based on a true story, a group of African slaves being transported on the ship La Amistad mutiny and seize control. Their journey brings them to America, where their fight for freedom sparks a national debate about slavery, justice, and the core values of American society. The ensuing legal battles and moral complexities challenge the nation's understanding of human rights and the legacy of the slave trade.
Amistad Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- male full frontal nudity
- ship
- slave ship
- escape from slavery
- male pubic hair
- african american slavery
- slave trade
- based on true story
- white savior
- black penis
- year 1839
- martin van buren
+38 more Show fewer
- isabella ii of spain
- queen
- queen regnant
- year 1841
- house of bourbon
- period drama
- pubic hair
- dreamworks
- reference to julius caesar
- reference to roman emperor claudius
- cigarette smoking
- f word
- spanking
- flatulence
- 1830s
- image entertainment
- docudrama drama
- live action
- mutiny
- abolitionist
- courtroom
- africa
- supreme court
- freedom
- slavery
- pre american civil war
- president
- united states supreme court decision
- boston massachusetts
- judicial system
- one word title
- escape
- torture
- declaration of independence
- sadism
- visual metaphor
- symbolism
- escalation
Amistad Cast
Matthew McConaughey leads the cast, with Morgan Freeman and Anthony Hopkins. Directed by Steven Spielberg; 4 actors are credited in all.
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Director Steven Spielberg
More from Steven Spielberg
More films directed by Steven Spielberg, best-rated first: Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, The Fabelmans and Jaws.
Amistad Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Amistad 78% on Rotten Tomatoes and 64 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10.
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IMDb 7.3 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 78% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 79%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 64 Metascore
User score 7.4
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 70% User score
See on TMDB
Amistad Plot Summary
What happens in Amistad from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The ship La Amistad becomes the setting for a harrowing tale of rebellion and struggle as it carries Africans captured from Sierra Leone and sold into slavery in Cuba. One of these captives, Sengbe Pieh, known by his slave name Cinque, bravely leads a revolt aboard the vessel, resulting in the death of most of the crew. The remaining crew members, kept alive by the Africans’ hope of navigation, are believed to guide the ship back to West Africa.
Full summary
The whole story of Amistad, scene by scene
Amistad Box Office & Budget
Amistad grossed $44.2 million worldwide on a $36 million budget, 1.2 times what it cost.
Worldwide gross
$44.2M
1.2× its budget
- US & Canada
- $44.2M
- Budget
- $36M
Amistad Awards & Nominations
Amistad won 1 award from 11 nominations, among them 4 Oscar nominations. Its biggest night was the Critics' Choice 1998, with 1 win from 1 nomination.
1 win11 nominations5 ceremonies
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Critics' Choice 1998 1 win · 1 nomination- Won Best Supporting Actor – Anthony Hopkins
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Golden Globes 1998 4 nominations- Nominated Best Director – Steven Spielberg
- Nominated Best Motion Picture – Drama
- Nominated Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama (Actor) – Djimon Hounsou
- Nominated Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama, Musical or Comedy (Supporting Actor) – Anthony Hopkins
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Oscars 1998 4 nominations- Nominated Actor in a Supporting Role – Anthony Hopkins
- Nominated Cinematography
- Nominated Costume Design
- Nominated Music (Original Dramatic Score)
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Actor Awards (SAG) 1998 1 nomination- Nominated Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role – Anthony Hopkins
Show all 5 ceremonies Show fewer ceremonies
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DGA Awards 1998 1 nomination- Nominated Feature Film – Steven Spielberg
Amistad Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 2 trailers.
- Trailer Theatrical Trailer
How Well Do You Know Amistad?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
In what year does the story of Amistad take place?
Amistad Also Known As
12 alternative titles, including “断锁怒潮” and “Amistad - Das Sklavenschiff”.
- Also known as
-
- 断锁怒潮
- Amistad - Das Sklavenschiff
- Амистад, ამისტადი
- 勇者无惧
- אמיסטד
- アミスタッド
- 아미스타드
- 勇者無懼
- Amistadas
- Амістад
- أميستاد
- อมิสตาด หัวใจทาสสะท้านโลก
Seen Amistad?
Movies Like Amistad
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Tamango, Slavers and 12 Years a Slave.
Amistad FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Amistad, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Amistad?
Amistad runs 2 hours 35 minutes (155 minutes).
When was Amistad released?
Amistad was released on December 10, 1997.
Who directed Amistad?
Amistad was directed by Steven Spielberg.
More films by Steven Spielberg Who is in the cast of Amistad?
Amistad stars Matthew McConaughey, Morgan Freeman and Anthony Hopkins, among 4 credited actors.
How much did Amistad make at the box office?
Amistad grossed $44.2 million worldwide on a budget of $36 million.
How is Amistad rated?
Amistad has 7.3/10 on IMDb, 78% on Rotten Tomatoes, 64 on Metacritic and 70% on TMDB.
What awards did Amistad win?
Amistad won 1 award from 11 nominations, including Best Supporting Actor at the Critics' Choice 1998.
Does Amistad have a post-credit scene?
No. Amistad has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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