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Newborn

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Movie Info & Cast

Release Date:

Apr 10, 2026

Runtime:

1hr 42m

Synopsis

After serving seven years in solitary confinement, Chris Newborn seeks to rebuild his life and reconnect with his family only to find that freedom has become a terrifying psychological battleground.
Moviegoers are saying
Nate Parker's 'Newborn' emerges as a divisive psychological thriller that transforms what could have been straightforward social commentary into a haunting 'Shining'-inspired examination of prison trauma. While David Oyelowo's powerhouse performance as a wrongfully imprisoned man struggling with solitary confinement's aftermath earns universal praise, audiences are split between those who find it a profound critique of systemic injustice and others who see it as an undercooked, boring execution of brilliant concepts.
Top Mentions
Mind-Bending
Psychologically-Haunting
Socially-Conscious
Undercooked-Execution
Powerhouse-Performance
Visually-Striking
Summary generated from the text of Atom User reviews

Letterboxd User Reviews

3.0
1.3K
690
268
RATINGS 2 FANS
3.0
  • Apr 10, 2026

    I saw this in theaters back to back with You, Me and Tuscany to double up on black led movies. ------------------------------------------------ Nate Parker, who famously wrote and directed Birth of a nation(2014), has David Oyelowo (Who played MLKjr in Selma) star in what…

    44 Likes
    ConsciousReview
    ConsciousReview
    Apr 14, 2026

    Another hard watch from Nate Parker. While the man is a whole other story, I absolutely loved American Skin so I showed up to Parker’s latest Newborn without knowing a single thing about it. Consider me happy about that because Parker is an exceptional writer who’s capable…

    30 Likes
    Danielle
    Danielle
    Apr 10, 2026

    The inner saboteur really became his downfall LOL. I understand the intent and what the filmmakers are going for in terms of the story and social commentary, but there’s no reason for it to be this boring, uneventful, and predictable. The cast is solid tho. David Oyelowo…

    29 Likes
    Oney M.
    Oney M.
  •
    Apr 10, 2026

    maybe i am a bad person because i would never take the fall for my brother. Also im probably a bad partner because i don’t think i could stay for those 7 years.

    24 Likes
    ATrainn
    ATrainn
    Apr 9, 2026

    conceptually genius critique of the evils of our prison system. david oyelowo is phenomenal as the lead where he gives a truly haunting performance as a man lost in a world he used to call home, consumed by the trauma inflicted on him by the penal system, he is the ENTIRE…

    24 Likes
    gustavo
    gustavo
    Apr 9, 2026

    Tricked by a cleverly edited trailer again! They made it seem like this would be a twisted psychological horror. What it was: a 'The Shining' inspired (sorta) criticism of racism, the prison industrial complex, and it's effects on mental health. The concept:…

    23 Likes
    Steve Saint. Eve
    Steve Saint. Eve
  •
    Apr 10, 2026

    From the outset of “Newborn,” writer/director Nate Parker’s discombobulated psychological thriller opts for tawdry genre conventions over consistent human grounding. In the taxing opening, Chris (David Oyelowo, the film’s producer) is nestled with his wife Tara (Olivia…

    21 Likes
    Robert Daniels
    Robert Daniels
    Apr 10, 2026

    Cried my eyes out. This is real life. Every day, every year the system wrongfully incarcerates and fails Black women and men. Some make it through their sentence and are released but never given help/assistance--or the system makes it extremely difficult for them to get…

    19 Likes
    hibachiteriyaki
    hibachiteriyaki
    Apr 9, 2026

    Has a great twist! (If you have never seen a film with a twist before.)

    17 Likes
    Xavier Soliz
    Xavier Soliz
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Top Reviews
  • The Night King
    The Night King liked
    Newborn

    Subliminal and powerful messaging all throughout the film, with a great performance from the lead actor

    1M
    Cinematic Joshua
    Cinematic Joshua is "meh" on
    Newborn

    An unthrilling Drama that struggles with its identity post lockup.

    29D
View More Popular Newborn Reviews on Queue

Atom Users Reviews

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  • MH
    Margaret Hoang

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Newborn (2026) family-friendly?
The movie has been rated as R, meaning that Under 17 requires an adult accompaniment.
How long is Newborn (2026)?
The movie is 1hr 42min long.
What's Newborn (2026) about?
After serving seven years in solitary confinement, Chris Newborn seeks to rebuild his life and reconnect with his family only to find that freedom has become a terrifying psychological battleground.