Get on the Bus | Rotten Tomatoes

Get on the Bus

R

Released Oct 16, 1996

2 hr. 0 min.

Drama

LGBTQ+

List

89%

45 Reviews

Tomatometer

71%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

A disparate group of African-American men climb on a bus bound for the Million Man March in Washington, D.C. -- among them, Evan Sr. (Thomas Jefferson Byrd) and his son, Smooth (De'aundre Bonds), who have been shackled together as a condition of Smooth's temporary probation. Although the group begins the trip as strangers, their shared stories and experiences unite them as their discourse builds a portrait of what it means to be black in America.

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Critics Consensus

Get on the Bus finds Spike Lee pulling a page from history with fervor and flair, offering a strong, stirring fact-based drama further elevated by an array of solid performances.

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Steve D

Deep and beautifully written.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Spike Lee presents a tale of discovery and self-learning During the Million Man March in Washington DC 12 African American men board a shuttle to take part But first they have to break down what makes them a part of the black identity while also confronting their own issues Although the group begins the trip as strangers, their shared stories and experiences unite them as their discourse builds a portrait of what it means to be black in America Amazing cast comprised of Andre Braugher, Ossie Davis, Charles S. Dutton, Hill Harper, Isaiah Washington, Richard Belzer, Wendell Pierce, Bernie Mac, and Harry Lennix Each passenger has their own take on the topic of race, identity, language, destination, gender, manhood, crime This appears like a documentary yet is a big dramatization of urgent sociopolitical themes The director himself doesn't have to be in this to make the messages clear Is there such thing as atonement? Even though slavery is gone is it really over? What makes black black? Is one community supposed to fix everything that has happened in our history? Who do we have to blame for all the oppression, denigration, and suffering? Why leave out the female influence during a struggle for equality? It's important everyone should have a voice being a part of the same group man or woman Terrific actors making these men confront one another putting their issues on the table when it comes to masculinity, racism, discrimination, their roots, linguistics, homophobia, sexual preference, their portrayal in the media, law enforcement, and where they stand A movement is one thing but the real march in life has yet to begin to stop crime, start loving, and being better, we have got a lot of work to do Spike Lee makes one of his best, finest, and most honest flicks in his filmography The issues from back then are still present today holding so much relevancy

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

While it's preachy and schmaltzy, it's also evocative. Dreamy, trippy cinematography to support a story mostly set on a bus. Theatricality compensates stagnation; it's supposed to feel stagey. If it were realism, it'd be boring. Lots of interesting techniques employed here. Brilliant circumstances. Multidimensional; so many perspectives and ideologies represented. Ultimately, a film about unity.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I wanna see this movie over and over again I love it

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Here Spike Lee tackles black history as always, but this time presents more rounded arguments and opinions.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Fictionalized account of the million man march is marred by slow pacing and one dimensional stock characters.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

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Spike Lee

Director

Richard Belzer

Rick

De'aundre Bonds

Junior, aka 'Smooth'

Andre Braugher

Flip

Thomas Jefferson Byrd

Evan Thomas Sr.

Gabriel Casseus

Jamal

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David Ansen

Newsweek

The wonder of this funky, heartfelt film is that its humanity easily eclipses its didacticism. Working fast and cheap, Lee seems revitalized by the urgency of the endeavor.

Feb 26, 2018

Full Review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: B+

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Desson Thomson

Washington Post

It's a simple, appealing premise and filmmaker Spike Lee uses it to full comic advantage.

Oct 18, 2008

Full Review

Keith Boykin

The Advocate

Lee's movie should be credited for portraying what no other black feature film (including John Singleton's Higher Learning, Forest Whitaker's Exhale, and Lee's own previous films) has shown before: three-dimensional black gay characters.

Apr 5, 2022

Full Review

Andrea Beach

Common Sense Media

Absorbing tale of unique moment in history; strong language.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 29, 2020

Full Review

Aaron Neuwirth

We Live Entertainment

The issues presented are the same as they were in years past, as well as fitting for today.

Rated: 9/10

Jun 18, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

A disparate group of African-American men climb on a bus bound for the Million Man March in Washington, D.C. -- among them, Evan Sr. (Thomas Jefferson Byrd) and his son, Smooth (De'aundre Bonds), who have been shackled together as a condition of Smooth's temporary probation. Although the group begins the trip as strangers, their shared stories and experiences unite them as their discourse builds a portrait of what it means to be black in America.

Director: Spike Lee
Executive Producer: Spike Lee
Screenwriter: Reggie Rock Bythewood
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia Pictures
Production Co: 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 16, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.7M
Sound Mix: Surround