Roots (1977): cast, story & where to watch
1977 · Series · ★ 7.4
Released in 1977, Roots is a drama series.
What it’s about. The epic tale of celebrated Pulitzer-prize winning author Alex Haley's ancestors as portrayed in the acclaimed twelve hour mini-series Roots, was first told in his 1976 bestseller Roots: The Saga of an American Family. The docu-drama covers a period of history that begins in mid-1700s Gambia, West Africa and concludes during post-Civil War United States, over 100 years later. This 1977 miniseries eventually won 9 Emmy awards, a Golden Globe award, and a Peabody award, and still stands as the most watched miniseries in U.S. history.
Who’s in it. Roots stars LeVar Burton as Kunta Kinte, Olivia Cole as Mathilda, Ben Vereen as Chicken George Moore and Cicely Tyson as Binta, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.4/10, Roots has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Roots page.
If you liked it. Fans of Roots tend to enjoy Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and Attack on Titan.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Roots (1977)?
- In US, Roots is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Roots worth watching?
- Roots holds an audience score of 7.4 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Roots?
- Roots stars LeVar Burton, Olivia Cole, Ben Vereen, Cicely Tyson and Louis Gossett Jr..
- When was Roots released?
- Roots was released in 1977.