Fresh
If anyone deserves an award, it is Ali; his charisma makes the film.
Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine
When We Were Kings
The untold story of the Rumble in the Jungle.
1996 · 1h 29m · PG
Documentary
Directed by
Leon Gast
Free account saves your watchlist and ratings.
When We Were Kings
Overview
It's 1974. Muhammad Ali is 32 and thought by many to be past his prime. George Foreman is ten years younger and the heavyweight champion of the world. Promoter Don King wants to make a name for himself and offers both fighters five million dollars apiece to fight one another, and when they accept, King has only to come up with the money. He finds a willing backer in Mobutu Sese Suko, the dictator of Zaire, and the "Rumble in the Jungle" is set, including a musical festival featuring some of America's top black performers, like James Brown and B.B. King.
Director and cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
100%
Tomatometer
Fresh
Enormously entertaining.
Todd McCarthy, Variety
Fresh
No comedian was ever funnier, no fighter ever faster than Muhammad Ali, who is caught at the top of his game in Leon Gast's valentine, When We Were Kings.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
Fresh
When Muhammad Ali achieved victory in Kinshasa on Oct. 30, 1974, he did far more than win a prize fight.
Lawrence Van Gelder, New York Times
Fresh
By portraying the young Ali as hero -- and moving beyond the media image of the poetry-spouting peacock -- Gast reminds us that Ali didn't follow the path of earlier black superstars or earn his stripes by conforming to white society's expectations.
Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle
More films
Jackie Chan: My Story (1998)
Documentary · PG-13
Jackie Chan is one of the world's biggest action stars, famed for his wacky sense of humor, remarkable martial arts techniques, and willingness to perform incredible stunts without the use of doubles -- or a net. This video takes a personal look at Chan as he works on screen projects in Hollywood and Beijing and candidly discusses his ...
- Runtime
- 1h 15m
- Director
- Jackie Chan
- Cast
- Willie Chan Chi-Keung, Charles Chan
IMDb
6.9
Sidney (2022)
Documentary · PG-13
This revealing documentary honors the legendary Sidney Poitier—iconic actor, filmmaker, and civil rights activist. Featuring interviews with Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, Halle Berry, and more.
- Runtime
- 1h 52m
- Cast
- Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte, Halle Berry
IMDb
7.8
Metacritic
70
I Am Not Your Negro (2017)
Documentary · PG-13
Working from the text of James Baldwin’s unfinished final novel, director Raoul Peck creates a meditation on what it means to be Black in the United States.
- Runtime
- 1h 33m
- Director
- Raoul Peck
- Cast
- Samuel L. Jackson, James Baldwin, JoeyStarr
IMDb
7.9
Rotten Tomatoes
99%
Metacritic
95
Searching for Sugar Man (2012)
Documentary · Music · PG-13
Two South Africans set out to discover what happened to their unlikely musical hero, the mysterious 1970s rock 'n' roller, Rodriguez.
- Runtime
- 1h 25m
- Director
- Malik Bendjelloul
- Cast
- Stephen Segerman, Dennis Coffey, Mike Theodore
IMDb
8.2
Rotten Tomatoes
95%
Metacritic
79
Untold: Chess Mates (2026)
Documentary · N/A
Magnus Carlsen, widely regarded as the greatest chess player of all time, is challenged by Hans Niemann, a rising star who capitalizes on the meteoric growth of online chess. Niemann’s ascension culminated in an epic, controversy-shrouded victory over Carlsen at the 2022 Sinquefield Cup, which eventually led to allegations and revelati...
- Runtime
- 1h 15m
- Director
- Thomas Tancred
- Cast
- Magnus Carlsen, Hans Niemann, Danny Rensch
IMDb
6.9
Snow (1963)
Documentary · N/A
Comprising train and track footage quickly shot just before a heavy winter's snowfall was melting, the multi-award-winning classic that emerged from the cutting-room compresses British Rail's dedication to blizzard-battling into a thrilling eight-minute montage cut to music. Tough-as-boots workers struggling to keep the line clear are ...
- Runtime
- 8m
- Director
- Geoffrey Jones
IMDb
7.0
Rail (1967)
Documentary · N/A
"Rail" captures British Railways at a major turning-point in its history. In certain respects, this was a period of considerable upheaval and loss. There was a facing-up to the increasing need for a big modernisation drive. Full and speedy electrification, or the wider promotion of diesel-power on remaining lines, became a matter of to...
- Runtime
- 14m
- Director
- Geoffrey Jones
IMDb
7.4
Locomotion (1975)
Documentary · N/A
Collage film about the history of trains set to music.
- Runtime
- 16m
- Director
- Geoffrey Jones
IMDb
7.2
Shell Spirit (1963)
N/A
Directed by Geoffrey Jones.
- Runtime
- 2m
- Director
- Geoffrey Jones
IMDb
6.8
Comments
Talk about the film with other members