When We Were Kings
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- Trailer 1 (01:43)
Movie Info & Cast
Synopsis
Boxing documentary on the 1974 world heavyweight championship bout between defending champion, George Foreman, and the underdog challenger, Muhammad Ali.
Cast
- Muhammad Ali
- George Foreman
- Don King
- B.B. King
- Mobutu Sese Seko
- Spike Lee
- Norman Mailer
- George Plimpton
- Thomas Hauser
- Malick Bowens
Letterboxd User Reviews
4.1
34.9K
15.7K
9.9K
- Jan 6, 2025
"I have wrestled with an alligator. I done tussled with a whale. I done handcuffed lightning, thrown thunder in jail. That's bad! Only last week I murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalised a brick! I'm so mean I make medicine sick!" In 1974, boxer Muhammad Ali…
DanielJan 28, 2021Ali is a supreme athlete, an indelible cultural icon, but an even greater performer. He was a poet, dancer, provocateur, and politician all rolled into one. A sight to behold.
Will SteeleMar 7, 2025100-word review: Capturing the historic 1974 Rumble in the Jungle between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, When We Were Kings portrays sporting greatness and cultural significance. At its heart is Ali's magnetic charisma, which shines through as he prepares for the iconic…
Deckk - May 21, 2020
☆"Come get me sucka, I'm dancin'!"☆ Heralded by many as one of the best sports documentaries ever made, Leon Gast's When We Were Kings took over two decades to craft and edit. It was worth the wait, winning the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, and remains a…
🐱Andrew Chrzanowski🐱Jun 12, 2016"They speak English, French, and African. We can't even speak English good!" A great reminder that any major sporting event is never just about what happens in the ring or court or field, but a culmination of personalities, political and business interests, social…
JoeMar 24, 2025The film not only showcases the fight but also delves into the cultural and political significance of the event in Zaire, highlighting Ali's charisma, resilience, and the broader African-American experience. With powerful archival footage and interviews, the film presents a…
imthatjeremyguy - Jul 11, 2023
A perfect documentary. Great music, great setting, great historical context, and of course, the greatest of all time, Muhammad Ali.
Jeff RauseoDec 26, 2022Me, we
Sergio Muñoz EsquerAug 29, 2019Afterthoughts: Well now, despite wide acclaim, a Best Documentary Feature Academy Award and strong recommendations from my Letterboxd friends, StormofCuteness and Matthew B., I did not expect to love this or find it as incredible as I did. Although I do admittedly have…
Michael's Cinema Paradiso
Queue Community Reviews
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Community 388
Top Reviews
- Matt Ortiz lovedWhen We Were Kings
A fantastic documentary about a monumental sporting event of the past! With a soulful soundtrack and quick paced editing, this documentary almost plays like a Rocky style sports film! Filled with twists and turns, even if you know the story this doc is bound to be mesmerizing.
Mickerdoo likedWhen We Were KingsHeard of the fight but this is a great look at the reasoning, thought, culture and effects of it. Ali liked to talk but he backed it up. Cool that he used the spotlight the way he did.
victoria v. is "meh" onWhen We Were Kings“Although my religion would change later in my life, God was always in my heart."
- Alex . . . lovedWhen We Were Kings
epic modern history
Steepz lovedWhen We Were KingsALI boma aye !
Atom Users Reviews
Metacritic
The stunning vitality and passion of this film arises not only from the high-voltage personalities involved (especially Ali and King) but from the way they galvanized political and ethnic pride among the people of the poor West African nation.
Russell Smith
Austin Chronicle
Gast does a nice job of building the suspense leading up to the fight, fleshing out the story with some good color commentary by a handful of people (filmed by director Taylor Hackford, who wisely convinced Gast that these reminiscences and remarks would fill in some historical gaps).
Reece Pendleton
Chicago Reader
It is a new documentary of a past event, recapturing the electricity generated by Muhammad Ali in his prime.
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Frequently Asked Questions
Is When We Were Kings (1996) family-friendly?
The movie has been rated as PG (Parental Guidance Suggested). It's generally considered a family-friendly movie.
How long is When We Were Kings (1996)?
The movie is 1hr 28min long.
What's When We Were Kings (1996) about?
Boxing documentary on the 1974 world heavyweight championship bout between defending champion, George Foreman, and the underdog challenger, Muhammad Ali.
Who's the cast of When We Were Kings (1996)?
- Muhammad Ali
- George Foreman
- Don King
- B.B. King
- Mobutu Sese Seko
- Spike Lee
- Norman Mailer
- George Plimpton
- Thomas Hauser
- Malick Bowens
Who's the director behind When We Were Kings (1996)?
Leon Gast directed When We Were Kings (1996).
Who produced When We Were Kings (1996)?
David Sonenberg, Taylor Hackford and Leon Gast produced When We Were Kings (1996).
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