Free State of Jones | Rotten Tomatoes

Free State of Jones

R

Released Jun 24, 2016

2 hr. 19 min.

History

Drama

Biography

War

TRAILER

for Free State of Jones: Trailer 2

List

48%

193 Reviews

Tomatometer

64%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In 1863, Mississippi farmer Newt Knight serves as a medic for the Confederate Army. Opposed to slavery, Knight would rather help the wounded than fight the Union. After his nephew dies in battle, Newt returns home to Jones County to safeguard his family but is soon branded an outlaw deserter. Forced to flee, he finds refuge with a group of runaway slaves hiding out in the swamps. Forging an alliance with the slaves and other farmers, Knight leads a rebellion that would forever change history.

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Critics Consensus

Free State of Jones has the noblest of intentions, but they aren't enough to make up for its stilted treatment of a fascinating real-life story.

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Kevin P

A movie of two halves. Plenty of gritty storytelling in the first half, but then strangely pulls its punches in the second. What could have been a dramatic tale of the realities of the South resisting Emancipation, it waters most of it down into a docu-drama. Still well worth a watch to learn about the history.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/24

Full Review

T R

Great movie! People nowadays should watch this and get some truth and knowledge! Know history and you won't repeat it!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/31/23

Full Review

Cfunk D

Very raw, very personal. Accurate. Interesting story that the middle class and working class of all races can relate to

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/24/23

Full Review

Taran J

I think the message of the movie is great and the characters are very convincing, not quite sure on the history it is based on or why it has so many bad reviews. All I can say is it's clear the message it gives, especially in the declaration of what the Free state of Jones's own founding constitution is. Freedom for all and no form of material to make another unequal. alongside showing that the United State were always founded on the idea of an Oligarchical higher class, with confederate leaders returning to power after the war.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

One of my favorite movies that I can watch over and over again!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/16/23

Full Review

Paul B

Even though the critics have rubbished this film I actually enjoyed it, but then I am a nerd for any US Civil War period film. Very interesting retelling of a true story. Matthew McConaughey is very good as usual and is ably supported by the rest of the cast. Worth watching.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/22/23

Full Review

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Gary Ross

Director

Matthew McConaughey

Newt Knight

Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Rachel

Mahershala Ali

Moses

Keri Russell

Serena Knight

Brendan Gleeson

Actor

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Free State of Jones: Trailer 2

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Free State of Jones: Trailer 1

2:37

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Soraya Nadia McDonald

Andscape

Because Free State of Jones concentrates so singularly on making [Matthew] McConaughey the hero of the film, it ends up being a series of missed opportunities.

Sep 26, 2017

Full Review

Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

While all the performances are solid, there's too much of a distance from the setting of the story to truly create an immersive experience between the audience and the film.

Rated: C

Mar 21, 2017

Full Review

Dwight Brown

National Newspaper Publishers Association

A surprisingly enlightening film.

Nov 8, 2016

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

...a well-made film that’s both gripping and informative.

Rated: 3.5/5

Aug 20, 2022

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

No matter what's happening in the story, Ross finds a way to formally detach his audience from the drama to a frustrating degree.

Rated: 2/4

Apr 11, 2022

Full Review

Victoria Luxford

City AM

There are countless ways such an interesting story could have gone the Robin Hood parallels practically scream at you but Ross indecisiveness results in a film that goes nowhere, and takes a long time to get there.

Rated: 2/5

Feb 18, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

In 1863, Mississippi farmer Newt Knight serves as a medic for the Confederate Army. Opposed to slavery, Knight would rather help the wounded than fight the Union. After his nephew dies in battle, Newt returns home to Jones County to safeguard his family but is soon branded an outlaw deserter. Forced to flee, he finds refuge with a group of runaway slaves hiding out in the swamps. Forging an alliance with the slaves and other farmers, Knight leads a rebellion that would forever change history.

Director: Gary Ross
Executive Producer: Robin Bissell, Leonard Feder, Leonard Hartman, Bruce J. Nachbar, T.G. Herrington, Zhongjun Wang, Zhonglei Wang, Jerry Ye, Donald Tang, Stuart Ford, Matt Jackson, Russell Levine, Lee Jea Woo, Christopher Lytton
Screenwriter: Gary Ross, Leonard Hartman
Distributor: STX Entertainment
Production Co: Huayi Brothers, Vendian Entertainment, IM Global, Route One Films, Larger Than Life, Bluegrass Films
Rating: R (Disturbing Graphic Images|Brutal Battle Scenes)
Genre: History, Drama, Biography, War
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 24, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 6, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $20.8M
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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