Amistad
“Freedom is not given. It is our right at birth. But there are moments when it must be taken.”
Synopsis
In 1839, the slave ship Amistad set sail from Cuba to America. During the long trip, Cinque leads the slaves in an unprecedented uprising. They are then held prisoner in Connecticut, and their release becomes the subject of heated debate. Freed slave Theodore Joadson wants Cinque and the others exonerated and recruits property lawyer Roger Baldwin to help his case. Eventually, John Quincy Adams also becomes an ally.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Theatrical TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2019-03-08
Top Cast
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Morgan Freeman
Theodore Joadson
Nigel Hawthorne
Martin Van Buren
Anthony Hopkins
John Quincy Adams
Djimon Hounsou
Cinque
Matthew McConaughey
Roger Sherman Baldwin
David Paymer
Secretary John Forsyth
Pete Postlethwaite
Holabird
Stellan Skarsgård
Tappan
Razaaq Adoti
Yamba
Abu Bakaar Fofanah
Fala
Anna Paquin
Queen Isabella
Tomas Milian
Calderon
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Ensign Covey
Derrick N. Ashong
Buakei
Geno Silva
Ruiz
John Ortiz
Montes
Ralph Brown
Lieutenant Gedney
Darren E. Burrows
Lieutenant Meade
Release History & Theatrical Window
Göteborg Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
December 10, 1997
Wide Cinema Exhibition
May 4, 1999
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$36M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$44.2M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
1.23x
+$8.2M net gain
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Steven Spielberg
- Screenplay & Story
- David Franzoni
- Original Score
- John Williams
- Original Title
- Amistad
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English, Spanish
- Runtime
- 2h 35m
- Production Budget
- $36M
- Worldwide Gross
- $44.2M
- Production Studios
- DreamWorks Pictures, HBO Films
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Steven Spielberg
David Franzoni
John Williams
Janusz Kamiński
Michael Kahn
Debbie Allen, Colin Wilson, Steven Spielberg, Walter F. Parkes, Laurie MacDonald
Department Leadership Roster
Steven Spielberg
Director
Debbie Allen
Producer
Colin Wilson
Producer
Steven Spielberg
Producer
John Williams
Original Music Composer
Michael Kahn
Editor
Janusz Kamiński
Director of Photography
David Franzoni
Writer
M. James Arnett
Stunt Coordinator
Ruth E. Carter
Costume Design
Rick Carter
Production Design
Pat Romano
Stunt Coordinator
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Amistad.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Amistad
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Amistad about?
In 1839, the slave ship Amistad set sail from Cuba to America. During the long trip, Cinque leads the slaves in an unprecedented uprising. They are then held prisoner in Connecticut, and their release becomes the subject of heated debate. Freed slave Theodore Joadson wants Cinque and the others exonerated and recruits property lawyer Roger Baldwin to help his case. Eventually, John Quincy Adams also becomes an ally.
Who directed Amistad?
Amistad was directed by Steven Spielberg.
Who stars in Amistad?
The principal cast of Amistad includes Morgan Freeman, Nigel Hawthorne, Anthony Hopkins, Djimon Hounsou, Matthew McConaughey.
When was Amistad released and how long is it?
Amistad was released in 1997 with a total runtime of 2h 35m.
What was the box office and production budget of Amistad?
Amistad had a reported production budget of $36M and grossed $44.2M at the worldwide box office (1.23 return on budget, classified as a budget recovered).
Who composed the musical score for Amistad?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Amistad was composed by John Williams.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Amistad?
Amistad holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: TP; GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).