Native Son
“The story that shocked the country.”
Synopsis
In 1940s Chicago, a young black man takes a job as a chauffeur to a white family, which takes a turn for the worse when he accidentally kills the teenage daughter of the couple and then tries to cover it up.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Native Son (1986) Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2010-01-10
Top Cast
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Victor Love
Bigger Thomas
Matt Dillon
Jan
Elizabeth McGovern
Mary Dalton
Geraldine Page
Peggy
Oprah Winfrey
Mrs. Thomas
Akosua Busia
Bessie
Carroll Baker
Mrs. Dalton
John McMartin
Mr. Dalton
Art Evans
Doc
John Karlen
Max
Willard E. Pugh
Gus
David Rasche
Buckley
Ving Rhames
Jack
Lane Smith
Britton
George D. Wallace
Judge
Chuck Hicks
White Man #4
Shavar Ross
Buddy
Richard Wesley
Bartender
Release History & Theatrical Window
December 24, 1986
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$2M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$1.3M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.65x
-$699K deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Jerrold Freedman
- Screenplay & Story
- Richard Wesley
- Original Score
- James Mtume
- Original Title
- Native Son
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 51m
- Production Budget
- $2M
- Worldwide Gross
- $1.3M
- Production Studios
- American Playhouse, Cinétudes Films
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Jerrold Freedman
Richard Wesley, Richard Wright
James Mtume
Thomas Burstyn
Aaron Stell
Diane Silver, Lindsay Law
Department Leadership Roster
Diane Silver
Producer
Richard Wesley
Screenplay
Richard Wright
Writer
Jerrold Freedman
Director
Aaron Stell
Editor
Thomas Burstyn
Director of Photography
Stephen Marsh
Production Design
Hilary Cochran
Costume Design
James Mtume
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Native Son.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Native Son.
list2
1980
Urban Movies
Matt Dillon 🇺🇲
MovieLens[:10K]
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Frequently Asked Questions About Native Son
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Native Son about?
In 1940s Chicago, a young black man takes a job as a chauffeur to a white family, which takes a turn for the worse when he accidentally kills the teenage daughter of the couple and then tries to cover it up.
Who directed Native Son?
Native Son was directed by Jerrold Freedman.
Who stars in Native Son?
The principal cast of Native Son includes Victor Love, Matt Dillon, Elizabeth McGovern, Geraldine Page, Oprah Winfrey.
When was Native Son released and how long is it?
Native Son was released in 1986 with a total runtime of 1h 51m.
What was the box office and production budget of Native Son?
Native Son had a reported production budget of $2M and grossed $1.3M at the worldwide box office (0.65 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for Native Son?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Native Son was composed by James Mtume.
Is Native Son based on a book or true story?
Native Son is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Richard Wright".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Native Son?
Native Son holds official age classifications: US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).