O

Play trailer

O

R,

2001,

1h 35m,

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Stream Now

Watchlist

64%

123 Reviews

Tomatometer

58%

25,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

64%

Tomatometer

123 Reviews

58%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Moving the classic tale of Othello onto the basketball courts of a high school, the story focuses on a young black man named Odin (Mekhi Phifer) who is convinced by a conniving best friend, Hugo (Josh Hartnett) that his girlfriend (Julia Stiles) is cheating on him. Of course, what Odin doesn't know is that Hugo is in fact motivated by his own jealousy of Odin's good fortune. It's a sticky situation in classic Shakespearean tradition.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Stream

Rent O on Fandango, or buy it on Fandango.

Critics Consensus

Though well-intentioned and serious in its exploration of teen violence, O is an uneven experiment that doesn't quite succeed.

Read Critics Reviews

David Ansen

Newsweek

Mar 31, 2008

This arty melodrama is not likely to make teenage America get down with Shakespeare.

Go to Full Review

Todd McCarthy

Variety

Mar 25, 2008

This transferral of the tragedy of the Moor to a contempo American high school is something that never should have gone further than a class assignment to see if it could be made to work.

Go to Full Review

Alan Morrison

Empire Magazine

Dec 30, 2006

4/5

Hartnett never allows him to become a hissable villain, keeping Hugo shy of our sympathies, yet his every move is utterly believable.

Go to Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Mar 12, 2026

2/4

Director Tim Blake Nelson and writer Brad Kaaya try to connect the movie to the ever-present dilemma of school violence, but in the process, they have stripped the Bard’s tale of its power.

Go to Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Sep 7, 2022

B+

The movie is classy and dead serious, but it may not meet with the approval of either Shakespeare die-hards or teen audiences. For the rest of us, though, it works.

Go to Full Review

Richard Luck

Film4

Jul 6, 2008

2.5/5

The presence of old lags Martin Sheen and John Heard just beggars belief. What were they thinking?

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Albus M

May 6, 2018

O is just a bunch of weak stereotypes slapped onto a lazy teen drama. The idea that anyone could enjoy this angsty bullshit is lunacy.

See more

Rey R

Apr 27, 2018

O is a disappointing film. It is about NBA hopeful Odin James who is the only black student at an elite private school. in the deep American south Mekhi Phifer and Josh Hartnett give terrible performances. The screenplay is badly written. Tim Blake Nelson did a horrible job directing this movie. I was not impressed with this motion picture.

See more

Draco W

Sep 20, 2017

Thos is a stupid unrealistic, racist movie. Dont wastes your time!

Draco M

Feb 3, 2017

The script doesn't do a great job of translating the tragedy into a believable modern conflict, which could be due to its understated manner - but it hits enough right notes to be somewhat watchable.

See more

Read all reviews

Tim Blake Nelson

Director

Mekhi Phifer

Odin James

Josh Hartnett

Hugo Goulding

Julia Stiles

Desi Brable

Andrew Keegan

Michael Cassio

Rain Phoenix

Emily

O: Official Clip - It Has to Look Like Suicide

2:11

Now Playing

O: Official Clip - Watch Your Girl, Bro

2:09

Now Playing

O: Official Clip - Stolen Scarf

1:45

Now Playing

O: Official Clip - Odin's Accusation

2:12

Now Playing

O: Official Clip - A Life of Jealousy

2:11

Now Playing

O: Official Clip - My Life Is Over

2:12

Now Playing

O: Official Clip - Believing the Lie

2:09

Now Playing

O: Official Clip - Dunk Contest Drama

2:12

Now Playing

O: Official Clip - Plan of Attack

2:13

Now Playing

O: Official Clip - Under Suspicion

2:09

Now Playing

View more videos

The Watcher

11%

28%

The Watcher

Watchlist

One Night at McCool's

34%

39%

One Night at McCool's

Watchlist

The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things

41%

70%

The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things

Watchlist

Assassination of a High School President

55%

46%

Assassination of a High School President

Watchlist

Finder's Fee

60%

58%

Finder's Fee

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Brush Up On Your Shakespeare With Our List Of The Bard’s Best Films

RTIndie: Stephen Frears Talks "The Queen" and Oscars; Almodovar And Cruz To Re-Team; Slamdance Lineup Set

Bosworth and Bloom to Brave the Depression Together

View more photos

Synopsis

Moving the classic tale of Othello onto the basketball courts of a high school, the story focuses on a young black man named Odin (Mekhi Phifer) who is convinced by a conniving best friend, Hugo (Josh Hartnett) that his girlfriend (Julia Stiles) is cheating on him. Of course, what Odin doesn't know is that Hugo is in fact motivated by his own jealousy of Odin's good fortune. It's a sticky situation in classic Shakespearean tradition.

Director: Tim Blake Nelson
Producer: Daniel Fried, Eric Gitter, Anthony Rhulen
Screenwriter: William Shakespeare, Brad Kaaya
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Chickie the Cop, Daniel Fried Entertainment, Rhulen Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 31, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 14, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $16.4M
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings