Once Upon a Time in Harlem

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Once Upon a Time in Harlem

PG-13

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1h 40m

Documentary

History

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64 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

A decade after his death, filmmaker William Greaves's estate releases footage from a 1972 gathering of Harlem Renaissance artists.

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Critics Consensus

Director David Greaves finishes what his father started with Once Upon a Time in Harlem, a strikingly immersive glimpse into a unique time and place that feels like getting to bask in a community's collective heart.

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Robert Abele

Los Angeles Times

1 day ago

David Greaves’ “Once Upon a Time in Harlem” is loving, indispensable history, unabashedly enjoyable.

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Sarah-Tai Black

Globe and Mail

1 day ago

What the Greaves family gives life to in this extraordinary film is a history still animated by the people who made it, with all the pleasure and difficulty of finding room for one another within it.

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Jake Coyle

Associated Press

3 days ago

4/4

In “Once Upon a Time in Harlem,” a documentary shared by father and son, the collective spirit and enduring sound of the Harlem Renaissance come thundering into now.

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Al Alexander

Movies Thru the Spectrum

7 hrs ago

B+

What’s here delivers a giant chef’s kiss, a living history lesson in which Renaissance alums reminisce, pontificate, analyze, and debate their invaluable contributions not just to Black pride but to the creative arts in general.

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Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

2 days ago

4/5

An invaluable document of the Harlem Renaissance, the documentary One Upon a Time in Harlem is like an invitation to a party with the most interesting people you’ll likely ever meet.

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Louisa Moore

Screen Zealots

3 days ago

A remarkable time capsule that brings the Harlem Renaissance to life through candid, fascinating stories from the legends who lived it.

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B P

@Bradster69 1 day ago

Definitely Recommend It

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David Greaves

Director

William Greaves

Screenwriter

Liani Greaves

Producer

Anne De Mare

Producer

William Greaves

Cinematographer

Lynn True

Film Editor

Once Upon a Time in Harlem: Trailer 1

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Once Upon a Time in Harlem: Teaser Trailer

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Synopsis

A decade after his death, filmmaker William Greaves's estate releases footage from a 1972 gathering of Harlem Renaissance artists.

Director: David Greaves
Producer: Liani Greaves, Anne De Mare
Screenwriter: William Greaves
Distributor: NEON
Production Co: William Greaves Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Strong Racial Language|Brief Partial Nudity|Some Disturbing Images|Smoking)
Genre: Documentary, History
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 16, 2026, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA): $65.1K
Runtime: 1h 40m

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