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The Best of Enemies

  • 2019
  • PG-13
  • 2h 13m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
21K
YOUR RATING
Sam Rockwell and Taraji P. Henson in The Best of Enemies (2019)
Civil rights activist Ann Atwater faces off against C.P. Ellis, Exalted Cyclops of the Ku Klux Klan, in 1971 Durham, North Carolina over the issue of school integration.
Play trailer2:42
9 Videos
37 Photos
DocudramaBiographyDramaHistory

Civil rights activist Ann Atwater faces off against C.P. Ellis, Exalted Cyclops of the Ku Klux Klan, in 1971 Durham, North Carolina over the issue of school integration.Civil rights activist Ann Atwater faces off against C.P. Ellis, Exalted Cyclops of the Ku Klux Klan, in 1971 Durham, North Carolina over the issue of school integration.Civil rights activist Ann Atwater faces off against C.P. Ellis, Exalted Cyclops of the Ku Klux Klan, in 1971 Durham, North Carolina over the issue of school integration.

  • Director
    • Robin Bissell
  • Writers
    • Robin Bissell
    • Osha Gray Davidson
  • Stars
    • Taraji P. Henson
    • Sam Rockwell
    • Babou Ceesay
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    21K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Robin Bissell
    • Writers
      • Robin Bissell
      • Osha Gray Davidson
    • Stars
      • Taraji P. Henson
      • Sam Rockwell
      • Babou Ceesay
    • 144User reviews
    • 68Critic reviews
    • 49Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 nominations total

    Videos9

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:42
    Official Trailer
    Weekend Box Office: April 5 to 7
    Clip 0:56
    Weekend Box Office: April 5 to 7
    Weekend Box Office: April 5 to 7
    Clip 0:56
    Weekend Box Office: April 5 to 7
    The Best Of Enemies: Women's Day (Featurette)
    Featurette 1:47
    The Best Of Enemies: Women's Day (Featurette)
    The Best Of Enemies: Make A Connection (Featurette)
    Featurette 1:28
    The Best Of Enemies: Make A Connection (Featurette)
    The Best Of Enemies: Sam Rockwell On His Character C.P. Ellis
    Featurette 0:45
    The Best Of Enemies: Sam Rockwell On His Character C.P. Ellis
    The Best Of Enemies: Taraji P. Henson On Ann Atwater (Featurette)
    Featurette 0:45
    The Best Of Enemies: Taraji P. Henson On Ann Atwater (Featurette)

    Photos36

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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Taraji P. Henson
    Taraji P. Henson
    • Ann Atwater
    Sam Rockwell
    Sam Rockwell
    • C.P. Ellis
    Babou Ceesay
    Babou Ceesay
    • Bill Riddick
    Anne Heche
    Anne Heche
    • Mary Ellis
    Wes Bentley
    Wes Bentley
    • Floyd Kelly
    Nick Searcy
    Nick Searcy
    • Garland Keith
    Bruce McGill
    Bruce McGill
    • Carvie Oldham
    John Gallagher Jr.
    John Gallagher Jr.
    • Lee Tromblay
    Nicholas Logan
    Nicholas Logan
    • Wiley Yates
    Gilbert Glenn Brown
    Gilbert Glenn Brown
    • Howard Clement
    Caitlin Mehner
    Caitlin Mehner
    • Maddy Mays
    Dolan Wilson
    Dolan Wilson
    • Councilman Bill Atkins
    Morgan Mackey
    • Young Mother
    Kendall Ryan Sanders
    Kendall Ryan Sanders
    • Ben Butler
    Chris Cavalier
    • Leonard
    Malerie Grady
    • Singing White Woman
    Ryan Dinning
    Ryan Dinning
    • Jeb
    Najah Jackson
    Najah Jackson
    • Operation Breakthrough Staffer
    • Director
      • Robin Bissell
    • Writers
      • Robin Bissell
      • Osha Gray Davidson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews144

    7.320.8K
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    Featured reviews

    8richbclarke

    A horrible, yet beautiful story.

    I'm never surprised by Sam Rockwell; always a performance to admire, and this movie is no different. Taraji P. Henson is without doubt the star here and she plays her character beautifully. Both leads drew me in to their individual "story" and, knowing this was based on a true story, I found it both deeply upsetting and equally uplifting. A story that was very well told throughout and supported by a super cast that had me enthralled from the start. An aspect of humanity that is thoroughly abhorrent told by two sides simultaneously and told with a passion that can only be commended.
    8jokeritt

    Any film with Sam Rockwell is good with me

    Taraji P. Henson and Sam Rockwell were tremendous in this film. Sammy has always been a true actor and steals the scenes.
    8Calicodreamin

    Fabulous acting

    A moving and true story brilliantly brought to light by Rockwell and Henson. The characters are well cast and well acted, the leads have great chemistry, and the story is moving. It hits some deep topics in an easy to handle way and ends on a hopeful note, which I appreciate. Love seeing the real people at the end.
    7jaynekranc

    Worth your time

    I actually had friends puzzled that I wanted to see this, because they told me it was a movie just for black people. It's worth seeing just to understand exactly how dumb that kind of comment is. The performances are outstanding. I love "based on true events" films anyway, and understand their limitations, so maybe I"m biased, but I think this is an important film..The sets captured that small town feel in the past south perfectly. Is it heavy handed at times? Sure, but it really shows how both characters changed their minds. I"m sorry it's not doing better. I missed seeing it last weekend and this weekend there were only two showings of it at my theater and expect it to be gone next week.
    7damianphelps

    Fighting The Good Fight

    The Best of Enemies is a movie, that on the surface, is about the integration of mixed cultures in school, but in reality is much more about people and change.

    The film, cleverly in my opinion, stays away from cliched, cartoonish characters, choosing instead to have a more nuanced approach for its characters. It makes them people, with needs, concerns, beliefs and so on.

    The result is an enjoyable film showing that with great courage, great things can be accomplished.

    Any movie where you can be entertained and educated at the same time is always off to a good start in my opinion, recommended viewing :)

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The restaurant scene was shot at Ross's Diner in Cartersville, Georgia.
    • Goofs
      On the plaque honoring Claiborne as Exalted Cyclops of the Year, misspellings include "Claibourne" and "exhalted".
    • Quotes

      C.P. Ellis: She looked at me like I was some kind of monster.

      Mary Ellis: What did you expect?

    • Soundtracks
      Blue Bayou
      Written by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson

      Performed by Roy Orbison

      Courtesy of Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment

      By arrangement with Sony Music Entertainment

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    FAQ18

    • How long is The Best of Enemies?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 5, 2019 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • Los mejores enemigos
    • Filming locations
      • Bartow County Courthouse, Cartersville, Georgia, USA(Court house scene)
    • Production companies
      • Astute Films
      • Material Pictures
      • Talent One
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $10,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $10,205,616
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,446,190
      • Apr 7, 2019
    • Gross worldwide
      • $10,209,813
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 13 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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