Critical Thinking

Play trailer

2:04

Critical Thinking

2020,

1h 57m,

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Critical Thinking: Trailer 1

Now Playing

View more videos

Watchlist

97%

34 Reviews

Tomatometer

- -

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

34 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Miami -- 1998. Poverty, broken families, and a prejudiced system push underprivileged youth to the fringes of society. But for a magnetic group of teens, there's a reprieve. A game where it's not about where you come from, but how you play. That equalizer is chess. Mr. "T" Martinez, a chess militant and passionate coach, leads them to a completely foreign field of battle.

Critics Consensus

Strategic in delivering all the feels, Critical Thinking is a good old-fashioned underdog story that marks a winning directorial debut for John Leguizamo.

Read Critics Reviews

Matthew Monagle

Austin Chronicle

Sep 11, 2020

3/5

[It] captures the appeal of chess without defaulting to a white perspective of these students. It may be overly familiar at times, but just like the game of chess itself, sometimes it's the smallest moves that end up making the biggest difference.

Go to Full Review

Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (LAist)

Sep 5, 2020

When John Leguizamo is just flowing with those kids... this movie is as good as any other [classroom drama].

Go to Full Review

Odie Henderson

RogerEbert.com

Sep 4, 2020

3/4

If nothing else, Critical Thinking reminds you what a chess player can look like.

Go to Full Review

M.N. Miller

Ready Steady Cut

Sep 9, 2022

3.5/5

John Leguizamo’s Critical Thinking is a strategic crowd-pleaser.

Go to Full Review

Josh Parham

Next Best Picture

Jun 5, 2022

7/10

It’s difficult to not become invested in a light-hearted story with good intentions, even when the storytelling feels scattershot at times.

Go to Full Review

Nicolás Delgadillo

Discussing Film

Jun 25, 2021

3.5 / 5

A smart and solid directing debut.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

John Leguizamo

Director

John Leguizamo

Mario Martinez

Rachel Bay Jones

Principal Kestel

Michael Kenneth Williams

Mr. Roundtree

Corwin C. Tuggles

Sedrick Roundtree

Jorge Lendeborg

Ito Paniagua

Windows on the World

80%

Windows on the World

Watchlist

Language Arts

67%

Language Arts

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Language Arts

The Beautiful Beast

50%

The Beautiful Beast

Watchlist

Liza, Liza, Skies Are Grey

33%

Liza, Liza, Skies Are Grey

Watchlist

The Obituary of Tunde Johnson

95%

54%

The Obituary of Tunde Johnson

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Critical Thinking: Trailer 1

2:04

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Miami -- 1998. Poverty, broken families, and a prejudiced system push underprivileged youth to the fringes of society. But for a magnetic group of teens, there's a reprieve. A game where it's not about where you come from, but how you play. That equalizer is chess. Mr. "T" Martinez, a chess militant and passionate coach, leads them to a completely foreign field of battle.

Director: John Leguizamo
Producer: Jason Mandl, Scott M. Rosenfelt
Screenwriter: Dito Montiel
Distributor: Vertical Entertainment
Production Co: Perfect Balance, Cinema Veritas, NRSP, Hialeah Park Studios
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 4, 2020, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 4, 2020
Runtime: 1h 57m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings