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Biographical drama

The Best of Enemies (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

The Best of Enemies (2019) movie poster

The Best of Enemies is a 2019 biographical drama directed by Robin Bissell, starring Taraji P. Henson as Ann Atwater, Sam Rockwell and Anne Heche. It runs 2 hours 13 minutes and earned $10.2 million worldwide on a $10 million budget. Critics gave it 51% on Rotten Tomatoes and 49 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10.

IMDb rating
7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
51%
worldwide gross
$10.2M
Echo Score
53
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The Best of Enemies (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 13m (133 min)
Director
Robin Bissell
Genres
Biography , Drama , History
Original language
English
Studio
STXfilms
Budget
$10M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Best of Enemies About?

The premise of The Best of Enemies without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

During the volatile summer of 1971, Durham, North Carolina faced intense racial divisions. Ann Atwater, a passionate civil rights activist, and C.P. Ellis, a Ku Klux Klan leader initially resistant to change, found themselves compelled to collaborate on a crucial desegregation initiative. Through their shared work, an unexpected bond developed, forcing both individuals to confront their beliefs and ultimately reshaping their personal journeys and impacting their community.

The Best of Enemies Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • ku klux klan
  • durham north carolina
  • activism
  • civil rights
  • race relations
  • year 1971
  • segregation
  • school integration
  • black american
  • african american
  • gas station
  • voice over during opening credits
+38 more
  • protest
  • demonstration
  • single mother
  • slumlord
  • telephone call
  • hit on the head with a telephone
  • american flag
  • prayer
  • praying
  • n word
  • violence
  • listening to music
  • listening to a car radio
  • stakeout
  • cigarette smoking
  • interracial relationship
  • rifle
  • falling to the floor
  • shooting up a house
  • slow motion scene
  • undressing
  • man wears sunglasses at night
  • city hall
  • operation breakthrough
  • housing
  • politics
  • microphone
  • housing code violation
  • city council meeting
  • rent
  • reading a newspaper
  • mother son relationship
  • father son relationship
  • brother brother relationship
  • father daughter relationship
  • husband wife relationship
  • mother daughter relationship
  • brother sister relationship
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Cast & crew

The Best of Enemies Cast & Characters

Taraji P. Henson leads the cast as Ann Atwater, with Sam Rockwell as C.P. Ellis and Anne Heche as Mary Ellis. Directed by Robin Bissell; 21 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Best of Enemies

· 17 more
Show all 21 cast members
Ratings

The Best of Enemies Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Best of Enemies 51% on Rotten Tomatoes and 49 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 53/100, strongest in character & emotion (70) and weakest in story & flow (45).

53 /100

The Best of Enemies Echo Score Breakdown

The Best of Enemies delivers noteworthy performances but struggles with predictable storytelling and tentative direction. While critics and audiences commonly praise the leads’ chemistry, many point to the film’s familiar beats and telegraphed emotional moments as detracting from its impact. Commentary also highlights uneven pacing and a cautious visual approach that further dilutes engagement. Overall, the film achieves modest appeal through its cast work but falls short of leaving a lasting emotional impression.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 45

    In terms of art and craft, the direction and technical execution show restraint but lack inspiration. Observers note the framing often adheres to safe compositions, and the pacing of edits seldom builds momentum. Production design and cinematography provide a consistent period feel without drawing attention. Consequently, the film’s visual and editorial elements support the narrative adequately but rarely elevate the material.

  • Character & Emotion 70

    When it comes to character and emotion, the central performances are consistently acknowledged as the film’s strongest asset. Viewers praise the on-screen rapport between the leads and note credible portrayals of internal transformation. However, emotional resonance is occasionally undermined by predictable character arcs and a shortage of unforeseen developments. In sum, the acting elevates the script, though deeper character complexity remains underexplored.

  • Story & Flow 45

    In storytelling and flow, the narrative follows a familiar trajectory that many find overly predictable. Reviews highlight telegraphed emotional beats and a lack of substantive surprises, resulting in limited suspense. The pacing at times feels deliberate without introducing narrative tension, and the historical events are arranged in a straightforward progression. Overall, the plot’s predictability diminishes engagement despite sincerity in the source material.

  • Sensory Experience 55

    In the sensory domain, the film offers a cohesive visual style coupled with a measured musical score. Critics observe that the soundtrack underscores key scenes without overwhelming them, and the production’s period details maintain authenticity. Sound design remains serviceable but does not introduce distinctive sonic elements. Thus, the overall sensory presentation is competent, though it seldom leaves a memorable audio-visual imprint.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    When considering rewatch factor, the film’s predictability may limit its appeal on subsequent viewings. Audiences appreciate the strong performances, which can retain some enjoyment, but the familiar story arc reduces the incentive to revisit. The absence of unexpected moments or layered storytelling means revisit value is modest. In conclusion, this title may attract repeat viewings primarily for the lead performances rather than narrative surprises.

Plot

The Best of Enemies Plot Summary

What happens in The Best of Enemies from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In 1971, in Durham, North Carolina, a fierce community struggle unfolds as Ann Atwater [Taraji P. Henson] fights to improve housing conditions for poor Black residents, challenging an all-white panel of judges and the entrenched racial boundaries of the town. Her bold push for better living standards puts her on a collision course with C.P. Ellis [Sam Rockwell], the local Ku Klux Klan leader who, despite his harsh racist views, is a father who cares about his children and worries about the world his son will inherit.

Full summary

The whole story of The Best of Enemies, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

The Best of Enemies Box Office & Budget

The Best of Enemies grossed $10.2 million worldwide on a $10 million budget, 1.0 times what it cost. $10.2 million came from the US and Canada and $4,197 (0%) from the rest of the world.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$10.2M

1.0× its budget

US & Canada
$10.2M
International
$4.2K
Budget
$10M
US & Canada 100% Rest of the world 0%
Videos

The Best of Enemies Trailers & Videos

The trailer of The Best of Enemies.

The Best of Enemies | Official Trailer [HD] | Coming Soon To Theaters
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Best of Enemies?

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

  1. Question 1: not answered
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  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

In what year and city is the film set?

Cars

Cars in The Best of Enemies

33 cars on screen, including the 1971 Cadillac Sedan DeVille and the 1965 Chevrolet Corvair.

All 33 cars
  • 1971 Cadillac Sedan DeVille in The Best of Enemies 1971 Cadillac Sedan DeVille Important role
  • 1965 Chevrolet Corvair in The Best of Enemies 1965 Chevrolet Corvair Important role
  • 1970 Chrysler 300 in The Best of Enemies 1970 Chrysler 300 Important role
  • 1964 Ford Fairlane in The Best of Enemies 1964 Ford Fairlane Important role
Details

The Best of Enemies Also Known As

22 alternative titles, including “Найкращі вороги” and “Лучшие враги”.

Also known as
  • Найкращі вороги
  • Лучшие враги
  • Най-добрите врагове
  • 最佳敌人
  • 더 베스트 오브 에너미즈
  • No soy tu enemigo
  • 最佳敵人
  • Οι Καλύτεροι Εχθροί μου
  • מיטב האויבים
  • Raça e Redenção
  • Najlepsi wrogowie
  • Кращі вороги
+10 more
  • Migliori nemici
  • Labākie no ienaidniekiem
  • ศัตรูที่ดีที่สุด
  • Ellenségek legjobbika
  • Cei mai buni inamici
  • Os Melhores Inimigos
  • Geriausi priešai
  • ベスト・オブ・エネミーズ ~価値ある闘い
  • أفضل الأعداء
  • सबसे अच्छे दुश्मन

Seen The Best of Enemies?

FAQ

The Best of Enemies FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Best of Enemies, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Best of Enemies?

The Best of Enemies runs 2 hours 13 minutes (133 minutes).

When was The Best of Enemies released?

The Best of Enemies was released on April 5, 2019.

Who directed The Best of Enemies?

The Best of Enemies was directed by Robin Bissell.

More films by Robin Bissell

Who is in the cast of The Best of Enemies?

The Best of Enemies stars Taraji P. Henson as Ann Atwater, Sam Rockwell as C.P. Ellis and Anne Heche as Mary Ellis, among 21 credited actors.

How much did The Best of Enemies make at the box office?

The Best of Enemies grossed $10.2 million worldwide ($10.2 million domestic, $4,197 international) on a budget of $10 million.

How is The Best of Enemies rated?

The Best of Enemies has 7.3/10 on IMDb, 51% on Rotten Tomatoes, 49 on Metacritic and 74% on TMDB.

Does The Best of Enemies have a post-credit scene?

No. The Best of Enemies has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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