Cry Freedom
“The true story of the friendship that shook South Africa and awakened the world.”
Synopsis
A dramatic story, based on actual events, about the friendship between two men struggling against apartheid in South Africa in the 1970s. Donald Woods is a white liberal journalist in South Africa who begins to follow the activities of Stephen Biko, a courageous and outspoken black anti-apartheid activist.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Donald Woods Escapes South Africa with His FamilyOfficial
Type: Clip • Published 2025-09-30
Top Cast
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Kevin Kline
Donald Woods
Denzel Washington
Steve Biko
Penelope Wilton
Wendy Woods
Kate Hardie
Jane Woods
John Matshikiza
Mapetla
Zakes Mokae
Father Kani
John Thaw
Kruger
Kevin McNally
Ken
John Hargreaves
Bruce
Juanita Waterman
Ntsiki Biko
Julian Glover
Don Card
Josette Simon
Dr Ramphele
Timothy West
Capt. De Wet
Miles Anderson
Lemick
Ian Richardson
State Prosecutor
Andrew McCulloch
Policeman Nel
Gerald Sim
Police Doctor
Gary Whelan
Guard
Release History & Theatrical Window
Berlin International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
November 6, 1987
Wide Cinema Exhibition
May 31, 2020
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$29M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$25.9M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.89x
-$3.1M deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Richard Attenborough
- Screenplay & Story
- John Briley
- Original Score
- Jonas Gwangwa, George Fenton
- Original Title
- Cry Freedom
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom, Zimbabwe
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 37m
- Production Budget
- $29M
- Worldwide Gross
- $25.9M
- Production Studios
- Universal Pictures, Marble Arch Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Richard Attenborough
John Briley, Donald Woods
Jonas Gwangwa, George Fenton
Ronnie Taylor
Lesley Walker
Richard Attenborough, Terence A. Clegg
Department Leadership Roster
John Briley
Screenplay
Richard Attenborough
Producer
Jonas Gwangwa
Original Music Composer
Ronnie Taylor
Director of Photography
George Fenton
Original Music Composer
Lesley Walker
Editor
Richard Attenborough
Director
Stuart Craig
Production Design
John Mollo
Costume Design
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
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Cry Freedom.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About Cry Freedom
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Cry Freedom about?
A dramatic story, based on actual events, about the friendship between two men struggling against apartheid in South Africa in the 1970s. Donald Woods is a white liberal journalist in South Africa who begins to follow the activities of Stephen Biko, a courageous and outspoken black anti-apartheid activist.
Who directed Cry Freedom?
Cry Freedom was directed by Richard Attenborough.
Who stars in Cry Freedom?
The principal cast of Cry Freedom includes Kevin Kline, Denzel Washington, Penelope Wilton, Kate Hardie, John Matshikiza.
When was Cry Freedom released and how long is it?
Cry Freedom was released in 1987 with a total runtime of 2h 37m.
What was the box office and production budget of Cry Freedom?
Cry Freedom had a reported production budget of $29M and grossed $25.9M at the worldwide box office (0.89 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for Cry Freedom?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Cry Freedom was composed by Jonas Gwangwa, George Fenton.
Is Cry Freedom based on a book or true story?
Cry Freedom is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Donald Woods".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Cry Freedom?
Cry Freedom holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).