← Back to results
Race
2016 134 min Canada, Germany PG-13 18+
★7.0
Drama, History
Director: Stephen Hopkins
Trailers
EN
EN
EN
EN
EN
EN
Description
Based on the story of Jesse Owens, the athlete whose quest to become the greatest track and field athlete in history thrusts him onto the world stage of the 1936 Olympics, where he faces off against Adolf Hitler's vision of Aryan supremacy.
Budget:
$5M
US Gross:
$19.21M
Worldwide:
$24.8M
Starring
Stephan James
Actor
Jason Sudeikis
Actor
Eli Goree
Actor
Awards
6 wins & 11 nominations total
Key opinion
Race is a competent and visually polished biopic that captures the historical gravity of Jesse Owens' 1936 Olympic triumph. While generally praised for its production design and respectful tone, the film is often criticized for its uneven narrative focus and a lack of deep emotional resonance.
| Production | The production design and period-accurate visuals effectively recreate the atmosphere of 1930s America and Nazi Germany. | |
| Acting | Jason Sudeikis delivers a surprisingly effective and grounded performance as Owens' coach, marking a successful shift into dramatic acting. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is viewed as a functional but shallow collage of historical events that occasionally relies on caricatures and filler subplots. | |
| Pacing | The film's pacing and structural balance are divisive; some appreciate the contemplative tempo, while others find the narrative flow routine and lacking in athletic excitement. | |
| Theme | Opinions on the thematic depth are split, with some praising its honest look at systemic racism and propaganda, while others argue it oversimplifies complex political history. |