Liberty Heights

Play trailer

Liberty Heights

R,

1999,

2h 7m,

Comedy/

Drama/

Music/

Romance/

Crime

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Stream Now

Watchlist

86%

50 Reviews

Tomatometer

76%

5,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

50 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

This semi-autobiographical film by Barry Levinson follows various members of the Kurtzman clan, a Jewish family living in suburban Baltimore during the 1950s. As teenaged Ben (Ben Foster) completes high school, he falls for Sylvia (Rebekah Johnson), a black classmate, creating inevitable tensions. Meanwhile, Ben's brother, Van (Adrien Brody), attends college and becomes smitten with a mysterious woman and their father (Joe Mantegna) tries to maintain his burlesque business.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Stream

Rent Liberty Heights on Fandango, or buy it on Fandango.

Critics Consensus

A moving film with moments of humor, Liberty Heights succeeds in capturing the feel of the '50s with great performances and sensitive direction.

Read Critics Reviews

David Ansen

Newsweek

Mar 6, 2018

By focusing on such a specific milieu, he keeps the genre alive with his great ear for small talk, an elegant eye and a warm, forgiving heart. This is nostalgia bottled and aged with care.

Go to Full Review

Stephen Holden

New York Times

Jan 1, 2000

3.5/5

Offers a deeper immersion in that old '50s feeling than any other Hollywood film in recent memory.

Go to Full Review

Lou Lumenick

New York Post

Jan 1, 2000

3.5/4

Touching and frequently hilarious.

Go to Full Review

Stefan Pape

Common Sense Media

Jun 5, 2024

This coming-of-age drama manages to explore the racial politics of 1950s America, while maintaining a lightness that keeps it accessible and a welcome addition to the genre.

Go to Full Review

Andy Greenwald

Spin

Dec 28, 2022

Liberty Heights is yet another entry in that most Vaseline-smeared of all film genres -- Jewish family learns life lessons in post-WWII America -- but one with a low-key charm.

Go to Full Review

Armond White

New York Press

Jun 28, 2019

It's atrocious. Twisted sociology.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Ron P

Apr 10, 2018

It's a very likable Jewish/Coming of age story. Very likable because all the characters are smart and well written, because there is good 50s music all over the movie, because coming of age usually are. The problem, if anything, is that is too likable! I mean, when the dramatic parts come through the end, they are not very dramatic at all! It ss like they have been sprinkled over with a some "Disney" powder! They miss some mordant! Even the bad guys are good people! That is why for me is not a great movie, but still a very enjoyable one.

See more

Read all reviews

Barry Levinson

Director

Adrien Brody

Van Kurtzman

Ben Foster

Ben Kurtzman

Orlando Jones

Little Melvin

Bebe Neuwirth

Ada Kurtzman

Joe Mantegna

Nate Kurtzman

My Life Without Me

65%

72%

My Life Without Me

Watchlist

Funny Bones

60%

81%

Funny Bones

Watchlist

Grace of My Heart

79%

79%

Grace of My Heart

Watchlist

Zero Effect

66%

76%

Zero Effect

Watchlist

The Sum of Us

63%

80%

The Sum of Us

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

This semi-autobiographical film by Barry Levinson follows various members of the Kurtzman clan, a Jewish family living in suburban Baltimore during the 1950s. As teenaged Ben (Ben Foster) completes high school, he falls for Sylvia (Rebekah Johnson), a black classmate, creating inevitable tensions. Meanwhile, Ben's brother, Van (Adrien Brody), attends college and becomes smitten with a mysterious woman and their father (Joe Mantegna) tries to maintain his burlesque business.

Director: Barry Levinson
Producer: Paula Weinstein
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Baltimore Pictures, Spring Creek Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music, Romance, Crime
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 17, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.7M
Runtime: 2h 7m
Sound Mix: Surround, DTS, SDDS, Dolby Digital

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings