Race (2016) | Rotten Tomatoes

Race

PG-13

Released Feb 19, 2016

2h 14m

Biography

History

Drama

TRAILER

for Race: Trailer 1

List

Race: Trailer 1

2:28

Race: Sneak Peek 1

0:14

View more videos

63%

Tomatometer

160 Reviews

77%

Audience Score

10,000+ Ratings

Young Jesse Owens (Stephan James) becomes a track and field sensation while attending the Ohio State University in the early 1930s. With guidance from coach Larry Snyder (Jason Sudeikis), Owens gains national recognition for breaking numerous records. After heated debates, the United States decides not to boycott the Olympics in Nazi Germany. Overcoming racism at home and abroad, Owens seizes the opportunity to show Berlin and the the world that he's the fastest man alive.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Netflix

Watch Race with a subscription on Netflix, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

Critics Consensus

Race is nowhere near as thrillingly fleet or agile as its subject, but the story -- and a winning central performance from Stephan James -- are enough to carry it over the finish line.

Read Critics Reviews

Candice Frederick

AWFJ.org

Just when I was beginning to lose hope when it comes to Hollywood's disturbing penchant for seeing black characters as victims, Race comes along.

Sep 29, 2021

Full Review

Nell Minow

AWFJ.org

Race is a long overdue film about Jesse Owens with excellent performances and a thoughtful portrayal of documentarian/propagandist Leni Riefenstahl.

Sep 29, 2021

Full Review

Aramide Tinubu

Shadow and Act

Race isn't a bad film or biopic for that matter. It's beautifully shot, informative, and has some fantastic actors helming it. However, that's exactly what you'd expect.

Apr 12, 2017

Full Review

Anne Brodie

AWFJ.org

Race concerns Jesse Owens the barrier-breaking Olympian. An incredible story, well told.

Sep 29, 2021

Full Review

Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

A quality sports biopic centred on the life, times and legacy of one of the greatest sprinters of all time, the legitimately legendary Jesse Owens.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 10, 2021

Full Review

David Walsh

World Socialist Web Site

A more profound and historically insightful film than Race would have found a truthful way to deal with the contradictions and concrete social obstacles that reality, not mythology, presents.

Feb 12, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Dave C

Loved it! Directed and acted brilliantly, with a strong script. Such a good story!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/29/24

Full Review

Fernando A

Just astonishing! Epic Film!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Pretty good movie. Entertaining with broad strokes in writing, acting, and pacing. Worth watching:

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/22/23

Full Review

Dudley M

A wonderful movie about a wonderful person who lived wonderfully. i am grateful for having seen this movie and all the thinking that it should inspire in all of us to be better and kinder.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/25/23

Full Review

Bob M

Disappointed regarding historic accuracy of the film. The film depicted the Los Angeles Colosseum as the site of the 1935 NCAA Track & Field Championships when it actually took place at Edwards Field at the University of California, Berkeley. I know this because my father, who was in high school at the time, attended the meet and saw Jesse Owen's amazing performance. Go Bears!!!!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/20/23

Full Review

William C

One of the best biopics I have seen in years!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/19/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Stephen Hopkins

Director

Stephan James

Jesse Owens

Jason Sudeikis

Larry Snyder

Eli Goree

Dave Albritton

Shanice Banton

Ruth Solomon

Carice van Houten

Leni Riefenstahl

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

81%

82%

The Founder

TRAILER

for The Founder

80%

84%

Marshall

TRAILER

for Marshall

81%

85%

42

38%

73%

Unbroken: Path to Redemption

TRAILER

for Unbroken: Path to Redemption

64%

76%

The Zookeeper's Wife

TRAILER

for The Zookeeper's Wife

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

2017 NAACP Image Awards: Hidden Figures, black-ish, Queen Sugar Win Top Awards

2017 NAACP Image Award Nominations Announced

How Family-Friendly is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows?

Race: Trailer 1

2:28

Race: Sneak Peek 1

0:14

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Young Jesse Owens (Stephan James) becomes a track and field sensation while attending the Ohio State University in the early 1930s. With guidance from coach Larry Snyder (Jason Sudeikis), Owens gains national recognition for breaking numerous records. After heated debates, the United States decides not to boycott the Olympics in Nazi Germany. Overcoming racism at home and abroad, Owens seizes the opportunity to show Berlin and the the world that he's the fastest man alive.

Director: Stephen Hopkins
Producer: Jean-Charles Levy, Luc Dayan, Louis-Philippe Rochon, Dominique Séguin, Stephen Hopkins, Kate Garwood, Karsten Brünig, Nicolas Manuel
Screenwriter: Joe Shrapnel, Anna Waterhouse
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Forecast Pictures, Trinity Race, Solofilms
Rating: PG-13 (Thematic Elements|Language)
Genre: Biography, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 19, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 4, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $19.1M
Runtime: 2h 14m

Most Popular at Home Now