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The Underground Railroad

  • TV Mini Series
  • 2021
  • TV-MA
  • 59m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
9.1K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,842
517
Joel Edgerton, William Jackson Harper, Aaron Pierre, and Thuso Mbedu in The Underground Railroad (2021)
A young woman named Cora makes an amazing discovery during her attempt to break free from slavery in the deep south.
Play trailer2:00
6 Videos
91 Photos
Period DramaDramaFantasyHistoryWar

A young woman named Cora makes an amazing discovery during her attempt to break free from slavery in the deep south.A young woman named Cora makes an amazing discovery during her attempt to break free from slavery in the deep south.A young woman named Cora makes an amazing discovery during her attempt to break free from slavery in the deep south.

  • Stars
    • Thuso Mbedu
    • Chase Dillon
    • Joel Edgerton
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    9.1K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,842
    517
    • Stars
      • Thuso Mbedu
      • Chase Dillon
      • Joel Edgerton
    • 159User reviews
    • 48Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 7 Primetime Emmys
      • 15 wins & 63 nominations total

    Episodes10

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-ratedSeason2021

    Videos6

    May's Most Anticipated Streaming Titles
    Clip 3:51
    May's Most Anticipated Streaming Titles
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:00
    Official Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:00
    Official Trailer
    Teaser Trailer
    Trailer 0:31
    Teaser Trailer
    The Underground Railroad
    Trailer 1:53
    The Underground Railroad
    The Underground Railroad: Building The Underground Railroad
    Trailer 3:35
    The Underground Railroad: Building The Underground Railroad
    The Underground Railroad: Season 1
    Trailer 0:29
    The Underground Railroad: Season 1

    Photos91

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    + 85
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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Thuso Mbedu
    Thuso Mbedu
    • Cora
    • 2021
    Chase Dillon
    Chase Dillon
    • Homer
    • 2021
    Joel Edgerton
    Joel Edgerton
    • Ridgeway
    • 2021
    Reshonnah Harvey
    • House Slave
    • 2021
    Aaron Pierre
    Aaron Pierre
    • Caesar
    • 2021
    Sheila Atim
    Sheila Atim
    • Mabel
    • 2021
    Peter Mullan
    Peter Mullan
    • Ridgeway Senior
    • 2021
    William Jackson Harper
    William Jackson Harper
    • Royal
    • 2021
    Jeff Pope
    Jeff Pope
    • Connelly
    • 2021
    Lucius Baston
    Lucius Baston
    • Prideful
    • 2021
    Marcus Gladney Jr.
    Marcus Gladney Jr.
    • Ellis
    • 2021
    Kraig Dane
    Kraig Dane
    • Boseman
    • 2021
    Kylee D. Allen
    Kylee D. Allen
    • Molly
    • 2021
    Ryan James
    Ryan James
    • Red
    • 2021
    Mychal-Bella Bowman
    Mychal-Bella Bowman
    • Grace
    • 2021
    Luray Cooper
    Luray Cooper
    • Jockey
    • 2021
    Trevor David
    Trevor David
    • Samson
    • 2021
    Monique Grant
    Monique Grant
    • Agnes
    • 2021
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews159

    7.49K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'The Underground Railroad' is acclaimed for its storytelling, visuals, and performances, especially Thuso Mbedu and Joel Edgerton. It is celebrated for emotional depth and world-building, blending historical and magical realism. Criticisms include historical inaccuracies, slow pacing, and dramatic scenes. Viewers are divided on its artistic liberties versus historical representation. Despite this, many find it impactful, highlighting slavery's horrors and character resilience.
    AI-generated from the text of user reviews

    Featured reviews

    6angeljs-1

    Not as gripping as it tries to be

    First of all, I was a bit shocked to see this rated PG. It should have been at the very least a 12. The first episode, especially, is very gritty with some disturbing scenes. Perhaps not at graphic as some shows today, but still not for children, IMHO.

    Secondly, after the gripping first 2 episodes, this becomes very, very slow, with scenes stretched out for far, too long.

    I didn't mind the flashbacks, but it would have been so much better if the pace had been faster, rather than showing everything in excruciating detail.

    Thirdly, I know it wasn't supposed to be historically accurate, but having actual trains running underground with no-one up above ever hearing or finding them was too far-fetched, never mind how long it would have taken to dig the tunnels and steal a train to run down there!

    Also, not all whites were abusers, even in the deep South. Many hated slavery and helped a lot of slaves to escape to the North, but in this portrayal almost all whites are bad and use the 'N' word far, too often.

    The program did, however, show how slaves were treated as less than nothing. Property to be used and disposed of on a whim. Sometimes it's easy to forget just how bad it was.

    All-in-all it was watchable, but slow-paced, far-fetched and graphic in parts.
    9glenn_gallagher

    Forget the last 4 years and enjoy!!!

    Dont let today's world climate affect your decision to watch this show. Across the board a fantastic production that ticks all the boxes. Visually amazing, Great story, Good acting but most importantly it captures you from the start. This will be an extremely easy binge watch. The content is pretty fully on so tread lightly, this is not a family watch.
    6drashyagoel

    Has a few highs, but overall a dreadful bore-fest

    The enormously well-received series starts strong with an incredibly powerful pilot episode, and a very interesting second one. But that's where the charm ends, and the show becomes obsessed with incredibly boring white characters. I dragged it out till episode 8 so far, and will definitely finish the show - but I think it should just have ended at Episode 2.

    Arnold Ridgeway - the most pathetically boring character invented in 2021.
    7steiner-sam

    Deeply moving magical realist interpretation of the Underground Railroad

    This 10-part series is filled with deeply impactful scenes of the African-American experience in the South and southern Indiana in the pre-Civil War era.

    Cora Randall, the escaped slave, and Arnold Ridgeway, the slave catcher, are unforgettable characters. Some of the violence is extremely graphic.

    The series takes a magical realist approach to the story, which is not my favored approach to fiction. I found some symbolism very distracting and the many very dimly-lit scenes hard to follow.

    Worth watching.
    9Alwnva

    Must see tv

    Barry Jenkins does what he does best! Beautiful cinematography, amazing score, excellent casting and acting, the pace is deliberate (if not a bit slow). Stand out episodes South Carolina, Fannie Briggs (for the cinematography), Indiana Winter (whew). I love that there aren't any standout stars to distract you as well....that being said you will see a lot for this cast in the future. I definitely recommend but I don't think you should binge it. The subject matter is heavy and you need to allow time to absorb the subtle details.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The "Underground Railroad" as a train/railroad had never really existed. That name describes a network of secret routes and safe houses during the 19th century across the Eastern Seaboard of the United States of America. The "railroad" helped enslaved African Americans escape to Northern states, and, after the Fugitive Slave Act, to Canada. The first literal subway/tube/underground railroad was built in London, England, in 1863, while America was embroiled in the Civil War to end slavery.
    • Connections
      Featured in Late Night with Seth Meyers: Joel Edgerton/Edward-Isaac Dovere (2021)

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    FAQ19

    • How many seasons does The Underground Railroad have?Powered by Alexa
    • My kids are studying "The Underground Railroad". Would this be a good movie to watch? Language, Violence, Sex, Nudity. Please advise, thank you. I know it is rated R, but why is it rated R
    • I realize the series is based on a book. Is this series based on factual people or stories?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 14, 2021 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
      • Thailand
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Підземна залізниця
    • Filming locations
      • Dawsonville, Georgia, USA
    • Production companies
      • Amazon Studios
      • Big Indie Pictures
      • PASTEL
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      59 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Atmos
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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