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Beloved

Play trailer Poster for Beloved R,  1998,  2h 52m,  History/ Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 72% 127 Reviews Tomatometer 71% 10,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
72% Tomatometer 127 Reviews 71% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
In 1873 Ohio, Sethe is a mother of three haunted by her horrific slavery past and her desperate actions for freedom. As a result, Sethe's home is haunted by a furious poltergeist, which drives away her two sons. Sethe and her daughter endure living with the spirit for 10 more years, until an old friend, Paul D. Garner, arrives to run it out. After Garner moves in, a strange woman named Beloved enters their lives, causing turmoil.
Beloved

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A powerful, emotional and successful film adaptation of the original novel.

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Critics Reviews

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Elvis Mitchell Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com Feb 2, 2022
3/4
It's a daring and provocative collection of ideas and heart that needed to be better, but still has something going for it. Go to Full Review
Ann Hornaday Baltimore Sun Feb 2, 2022
4/4
The result is an extraordinary film that is always hypnotically watchable, even as it presents the audience with scenes of harrowing pain. Go to Full Review
Ella Taylor L.A. Weekly Feb 2, 2022
Demme's Beloved is permanently heated to the boil. Rightly so, for the terrain of Toni Morrisons magisterial novel, on which the movie is based, is not the politics of slavery but its private agonies, the torture of evil turned inward against the self. Go to Full Review
Jazzmin Crawley Girl, That's Scary (Podcast) Mar 16, 2026
A haunting Black southern gothic tale that blends the ideas of horror, history, and home together. Go to Full Review
Wesley Lovell Cinema Sight Feb 6, 2023
4/4
“Beloved” is easily one of the year’s best films. An emotionally intense motion picture. Go to Full Review
Alison Macor Austin American-Statesman Feb 2, 2022
4/4
Beloved stumbles a bit during its first half-hour. The narrative smooths itself out, however, and finds a groove that makes the remaining 145 minutes barely noticeable. More important, the length proves absolutely essential in conveying Sethe's story. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Ron R Mar 3, 2019 An unflinching, stylized portrayal of people haunted by history. In form and plot, it takes getting used to.
Kylo P Jun 28, 2017 This is a sort of gothic horror tale. It was darkly beautiful and complex. I will admit to being confused at times, but the overall film is very powerful and moving. Worth seeing. See more
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Beloved

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Jonathan Demme

Director

Oprah Winfrey

Sethe

Danny Glover

Paul D Garner

Thandiwe Newton

Beloved

Kimberly Elise

Denver

Beah Richards

Baby Suggs, aka Grandma Baby

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Beloved

Beloved (1998) Beloved (1998) Beloved (1998) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In 1873 Ohio, Sethe is a mother of three haunted by her horrific slavery past and her desperate actions for freedom. As a result, Sethe's home is haunted by a furious poltergeist, which drives away her two sons. Sethe and her daughter endure living with the spirit for 10 more years, until an old friend, Paul D. Garner, arrives to run it out. After Garner moves in, a strange woman named Beloved enters their lives, causing turmoil.
Director
Jonathan Demme
Producer
Jonathan Demme, Kate Forte, Gary Goetzman, Edward Saxon, Oprah Winfrey
Screenwriter
Toni Morrison, Akosua Busia, Richard LaGravenese, Adam Brooks
Distributor
Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co
Touchstone Pictures, Harpo Films, Clinica Estetico
Rating
R
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 16, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 12, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$22.8M
Runtime
2h 52m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround
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