Cry Freedom (1987): cast, story & where to watch
1987 · Film · ★ 7.1
Released in 1987, Cry Freedom is a drama and history film directed by Richard Attenborough, running about 157 minutes. “The true story of the friendship that shook South Africa and awakened the world.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s 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’s in it. Cry Freedom stars Kevin Kline as Donald Woods, Denzel Washington as Steve Biko, Penelope Wilton as Wendy Woods and Kate Hardie as Jane Woods, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.1/10, Cry Freedom has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $25.9M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Cry Freedom page.
If you liked it. Fans of Cry Freedom tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Cry Freedom (1987)?
- In US, Cry Freedom is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Cry Freedom worth watching?
- Cry Freedom holds an audience score of 7.1 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and history. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Cry Freedom?
- Cry Freedom stars Kevin Kline, Denzel Washington, Penelope Wilton, Kate Hardie and John Matshikiza.
- When was Cry Freedom released?
- Cry Freedom was released in 1987, with a runtime of about 157 minutes.