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Emperor
Directed by
Mark Amin
PG-13
2020
1h 39m
Drama
,
History
,
and more
5.9
67%
63%
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An escaped slave travels north and has chance encounters with Frederick Douglass and John Brown. Based on the life story of Shields Green.
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Where to Watch Emperor
Philo
Subscription
Starz
Subscription
Starz Apple TV Channel
Subscription
+7 more
Cast of Emperor
Dayo Okeniyi
Shields Green
Bruce Dern
Levi Coffin
James Cromwell
John Brown
Kat Graham
Delores
Ben Robson
Luke McCabe
Naturi Naughton
Sarah Green
Paul Scheer
Duvane Henderson
Keean Johnson
Rufus Kelly
M.C. Gainey
Randolph Stevens
Mykelti Williamson
Truesdale
Harry Lennix
Frederick Douglas
Nicholas Logan
Gunther Bowman
Brad Carter
Grady
Trayce Malachi
Tommy
Dorothy Steel
Slave
Patrick Roper
Hank Beaumont
Mark Amin
Director / Writer / Producer
Pat Charles
Writer
Cami Winikoff
Producer
Reginald Hudlin
Producer
Emperor Ratings & Reviews
Joe Os
July 1, 2025
Grand title for a turd of a movie, crap acting,and a budget of 20 dollars. The white actors are portrayed as imbeciles and the black kids sit around reading math books, usual black man stands up to the evil white guy bollocks.
Mama's Geeky
Tessa Smith
a powerful film that is based on the real life story of an escaped slave named Shields Green. However, most of it feels forced and exaggerated.
Assignment X
Abbie Bernstein
Green is an active, charismatic figure as played by [Dayo] Okeniyi, and we're firmly on his side.
Orca Sound
Carey-Ann Pawsey
Based on the real life story of an escaped slave named Shields Green, it shows the horrors lived and the bravery shown in their fight for freedom of blacks in the United States.
Elements of Madness
Douglas Davidson
Despite some very clear liberties being taken with the truth, Emperor is a strong gateway for those less familiar with one of history's lesser known significant leaders.
Cinemalogue
Todd Jorgenson
This speculative and highly embellished biopic of 19th century freedom fighter Shields Green nevertheless is a timely portrait of courage and resilience.
Blerd Galaxy Magazine
Jonita Davis
'Emperor' is an action-packed film that recognizes the value of Black America's traumatic past and uses that past to embolden us today.
Common Sense Media
Lynnette Nicholas
Fact-based historical drama has courage, violence.
Houston Community Newspapers
Danny Minton
This version of the story feels rushed at 99 minutes, and by the end it is too apparent that this is a highlights reel rather than the historical epic it might deserve.
WBAI Radio
Prairie Miller
Yet another greatest story never told of all too often buried courageous black history. And though released by chance in this BLM moment, Emperor could not be more timely. Along with bracing Brechtian interludes confronting essential ideological issues.
The Hollywood Reporter
John DeFore
As the film progresses, several cast members look like they'd be more comfortable in a Drunk History short; others just look like they'd be more comfortable working for somebody with experience directing actors.
RogerEbert.com
Simon Abrams
[Emperor] re-presents a dark period in American history without being inspired or insightful enough to be worth your curiosity or emotional investment.
Solzy at the Movies
Danielle Solzman
Emperor depicts an important piece of American history and gives Shields Green his due years after being forgotten.
New York Times
Glenn Kenny
Okeniyi has a strong presence that conveys a genuine moral authority. It stands in stark relief against the movie's consistently cartoonish portrayals of the white slavers.
Variety
Peter Debruge
'Black Panther' meets 'The Birth of a Nation' in this rousing account of Shields Green, who escaped the shackles of slavery to fight alongside abolitionist John Brown.
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