Cinema
Biographical drama
Selma (2014): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Selma is a 2014 biographical drama directed by Ava DuVernay, starring David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo and Tim Roth. It runs 2 hours 8 minutes and earned $67.8 million worldwide on a $20 million budget. It won 1 Oscar, including Music (Original Song), and 2 awards in all. Critics gave it 99% on Rotten Tomatoes and 79 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.5/10.
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- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 8m (128 min)
- Director
- Ava DuVernay
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Paramount Pictures
- Budget
- $20M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
The story
What Is Selma About?
The premise of Selma without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Amidst deep-seated racial inequalities, Alabama's restrictive voting laws presented a significant obstacle for African Americans striving for equal rights. The film chronicles Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s determined fight against discrimination, focusing on the courageous march from Selma to Montgomery. This pivotal event ultimately led to President Lyndon Johnson’s signing of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965, a crucial step in the fight for civil rights.
Selma Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- civil rights
- selma alabama
- 1960s
- racism
- peaceful protest
- segregation
- political protest
- crossing a bridge
- racist
- president
- protest
- racial discrimination
+38 more Show fewer
- courage
- police
- murder
- black american
- bechdel test passed
- nonlinear timeline
- no title at beginning
- no opening credits
- one word title
- city name in title
- place name in title
- title spoken by character
- j. edgar hoover character
- lyndon b. johnson character
- deception
- liberation theology
- oval office
- the white house washington d.c.
- mother son relationship
- martin luther king jr. character
- fbi federal bureau of investigation
- police officer
- leather
- american south
- american politics
- racial issues
- social discontent
- female director
- female filmmaker
- period drama
- docudrama drama
- voting
- civil rights movement
- voting rights act
- montgomery alabama
- f rated
- tragedy
- boston massachusetts
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Cast & crew
Selma Cast
David Oyelowo leads the cast, with Carmen Ejogo and Tim Roth. Directed by Ava DuVernay; 9 actors are credited in all.
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Director Ava DuVernay
Also Starring in Selma
· 5 more Ratings
Selma Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Selma 99% on Rotten Tomatoes and 79 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.5/10.
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IMDb 7.5 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 99% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 86%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 79 Metascore
User score 7.3
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 74% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.8 /5
78 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 3.6 /5
See on Movie Insider
Plot
Selma Plot Summary
What happens in Selma from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In 1964, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) is honored with the Nobel Peace Prize. The story opens with four African American girls at the 16th Street Baptist Church, who tragically lose their lives in an explosion, a pivotal event that underscores the violence of the era. Meanwhile, in Selma, Alabama, Annie Lee Cooper (portrayed by Carmen Ejogo) struggles in her attempt to register to vote, facing obstruction from the white registrar.
Full summary
The whole story of Selma, scene by scene
Box office
Selma Box Office & Budget
Selma grossed $67.8 million worldwide on a $20 million budget, 3.4 times what it cost. $52.1 million came from the US and Canada and $15.7 million (23%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$67.8M
3.4× its budget
- US & Canada
- $52.1M
- International
- $15.7M
- Budget
- $20M
US & Canada 77%
Rest of the world 23%
Awards
Selma Awards & Nominations
Selma won 1 Oscar, including Music (Original Song), and 2 awards in all. Its biggest night was the Critics' Choice 2015, with 1 win from 5 nominations.
2 wins12 nominations4 ceremonies
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Critics' Choice 2015 1 win · 5 nominations- Won Best Song
- Nominated Best Acting Ensemble
- Nominated Best Actor – David Oyelowo
- Nominated Best Director – Ava DuVernay
- Nominated Best Picture
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Oscars 2015 1 win · 2 nominations- Won Music (Original Song)
- Nominated Best Picture
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Golden Globes 2015 4 nominations- Nominated Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama – David Oyelowo
- Nominated Best Director – Ava DuVernay
- Nominated Best Motion Picture – Drama
- Nominated Best Original Song – John Legend
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Artios Awards 2015 1 nomination- Nominated Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Big Budget Feature - Drama
Videos
Selma Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Selma.
Quiz
How Well Do You Know Selma?
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
What was the tragic event that marks the innocence lost for the four young girls in the film?
Cars
Cars in Selma
24 cars on screen, including the 1962 Pontiac Catalina and the 1952 Chrysler Saratoga.
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1962 Pontiac Catalina Important role -
1952 Chrysler Saratoga Minor role -
1962 Ford Falcon Minor role -
1963 Ford Galaxie Minor role
Details
Selma Also Known As
14 alternative titles, including “Selma: Uma Luta Pela Igualdade” and “Selma: El poder de un sueño”.
- Also known as
-
- Selma: Uma Luta Pela Igualdade
- Selma: El poder de un sueño
- 셀마
- Сельма
- 塞尔玛
- Selma - La strada per la libertà
- Selma - A Marcha da Liberdade
- סלמה
- グローリー／明日への行進
- 逐夢大道
- Özgürlük Yürüyüşü
- Селма
+2 more Show fewer
- 馬丁路德金：夢想之路
- สมรภูมิแห่งโลกเสรี
Seen Selma?
More like this
Movies Like Selma
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Selma, Lord, Selma, Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power and The Long Walk Home.
From the blog
Articles About Selma
3 articles about Selma. The latest: “The Rise of Female Filmmakers in Contemporary Cinema”.
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-
HistoryThe Art of the Biopic: Telling Real-Life Stories on Screen
Explore the captivating world of biopics, their history, challenges, and impact on cinema, as we delve into how these films bring real-life stories to the screen. 14 min read -
DirectorsWomen Behind the Lens: Pioneering Female Directors in Cinema
Discover the inspiring journey of pioneering female directors in cinema, their groundbreaking achievements, and the evolving landscape of women behind the lens. 8 min read
FAQ
Selma FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Selma, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Selma?
Selma runs 2 hours 8 minutes (128 minutes).
When was Selma released?
Selma was released on December 25, 2014.
Who directed Selma?
Selma was directed by Ava DuVernay.
More films by Ava DuVernay Who is in the cast of Selma?
Selma stars David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo and Tim Roth, among 9 credited actors.
How much did Selma make at the box office?
Selma grossed $67.8 million worldwide ($52.1 million domestic, $15.7 million international) on a budget of $20 million.
How is Selma rated?
Selma has 7.5/10 on IMDb, 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, 79 on Metacritic and 74% on TMDB.
What awards did Selma win?
Selma won 2 awards from 12 nominations, including Best Song at the Critics' Choice 2015.
Does Selma have a post-credit scene?
No. Selma has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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